The scent of eucalyptus in the air, the scorching sun on your back and the rustle of gum leaves underfoot: welcome to Paperbark – a charming homage to the native Australian bush.
Part experiential art, part interactive storybook, this relaxing game takes you on a journey exploring the natural habitat of an adorable wombat as it saunters along the trails of the Victorian bush in high summer.
As you embark on your expedition through different landscapes and chapters, and take in the sights and sounds of the native flora and fauna, the experience is visceral – bringing back memories of carefree days spent wandering in nature.
Australian developers Paper House studio in Melbourne made it their mission to faithfully capture the essence of the Australian bush. They took field trips into the Victorian wilderness to record the sights and sounds, so that every noise you hear in the game – from birdsong to frog croaks and wombat shuffles – are original recordings unique to Paperbark.
Taking inspiration from acclaimed Australian artist Albert Namatjira and classic children’s storybooks such as Possum Magic, the animated illustrations bring the game to life in a beautifully nostalgic way.
Terry Burdak, Creative Director on the game, explains the inspiration behind Paperbark: “We wanted to create a game set in the Australian bush because we all [the creators of the game] grew up here, plus the kids’ books from our childhoods helped create a bias towards our own country.”
“We noticed that there weren’t really any games offering an authentic representation of the Australian bush, so we were driven to create an honest reflection of our homeland.”
The aim of the game is very much to ‘enjoy the journey’, rather than collect points or high scores. As you meander through the chapters, there will be plenty of chances to enjoy the native flowers and interact with other wildlife.
Drama comes in the form of a hazard to navigate around and an unexpected, thought-provoking ending where the wombat finds a new home.
Summed up simply by Burdak, the game is ultimately “a love letter to the bush”, and a beautiful one at that.