This unique action platformer lets you transform into animal forms, but I got obsessed with being flat piece of paper

The market is tough these days and smaller developers have to do anything to survive. Gyaar Studio, a small developer, had to make a game entirely out of paper in order to save money.

Hirogami is a mysterious, origami-themed world that was announced at the Tokyo Games Show in 2024. Our protagonist is made of paper. The trees, the earth, and even the world itself are all made of paper. It does have some advantages, however. He can unfold into a page and then refold himself into animal forms which give him powerful abilities.

I wasn't certain if I would enjoy the game when I got an early hands-on. I've become jaded by certain indie action-platformers. Although technically Gyaar Studio is not indie, it still ticks many of the usual boxes. You know the formula. A peaceful world is threatened with a glowing purple corruption. Only a hero who has a special power can clean it up, by going on an adventure that ends up as a metaphor for grieving or something.

Hirogami's charm penetrated my cynicism. Its looks are a big part of it. Its slightly crumpled world is wonderfully tactile, and believably delicate in its papery construction--immediately you buy the idea that it needs your protection. You'll recognize this technique from the Spiderverse films. It gives your character a paper-like appearance by rendering him at a slower frame rate. All of this is contrasted with the corruption, which is a swarm of fuzzy, glitchy shapes reminiscent of early 3-D graphics. It's as if technology was trying to intrude on the hyper-traditional world.

The animal forms that you can obtain are adorable too. I was told by the person who ran the demo that I may have spent a little too much time admiring the cute little trotting animation of the armadillo.

But they're not just pretty faces. Each animal has its own special power, and they all feel great when you use them. The frog’s leap allows you to soar through the sky, which is a thrilling experience after a long stretch of traditional platforming. Meanwhile, the armadillo’s roll lets your smash into enemies without fear. I found that the in-between format, which is a piece of flat paper, was also very enjoyable. It's useful for sliding under gaps and gliding along thermals. But the way it drifts is so satisfying that I even went 2D when I wasn't supposed to. I wish I could do this in real life.

It's not a huge or in-depth game, but there are simple metroidvania features that encourage you to return to old levels to unlock new secrets. It is a linear and light adventure. It does stand out from other similar titles. After an hour, I mentally blocked out a sunday afternoon in the future for the full release.

You can wishlist the launch for early 2025 on Steam.