Papers, Please as Critical Making: A Review

Papers, Please serves as a primary case study for the concept of critical making within the digital humanities. By placing players in the role of an immigration officer in the fictional, totalitarian state of Arstotzka, the game utilizes expressive design to force engagement with complex moral, social, and political realities. The central thesis posits that such serious, anti-fun game design functions as a critical intervention, moving beyond traditional entertainment to foster an ethical awareness of bureaucratic power, national security, and the dehumanizing effects of state-controlled environments.

The game mechanics require players to cross-reference documents under strict time constraints, creating a sense of monotony and pressure that mirrors the actual experience of border control. While the gameplay is intentionally repetitive, it succeeds in generating an affective, embodied experience that challenges players to weigh personal empathy against state-mandated duties. Key findings indicate that the game’s value-sensitive design effectively prompts reflection on moral dilemmas, such as separating families or accepting bribes, thereby transforming the act of document processing into a medium for political inquiry.

Although the narrative structure and repetitive nature of the tasks can lead to fatigue, the game remains a significant contribution to independent game development. By integrating material and conceptual practices, it demonstrates how digital tools can be used to explore humanistic concerns. Ultimately, the game provides a model for creative critical media that encourages an ethical turn within the digital humanities, suggesting that interactive experiences are uniquely capable of evoking the felt sensations necessary to contemplate systemic injustice and the complexities of modern border politics.