Hirogami Review
Sometimes, the simplest games leave the most lasting impressions. Hirogami, developed as a love letter to both classic 3D platformers and the art of origami, stands out as one of those titles that captures imagination through elegance and charm rather than spectacle.
This unique platformer blends art and action, transforming the delicate folds of paper into a vibrant, living world. While it may not redefine the genre, Hirogami succeeds by offering a heartfelt experience filled with personality, creativity, and accessible gameplay that both newcomers and long-time fans of the genre can enjoy.
A World Made of Paper
Set in a universe inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics, Hirogami’s world looks as if it’s been carefully folded together by hand. Every leaf, bridge, and creature feels like it was crafted from textured origami paper, lending the game a storybook quality that is both whimsical and immersive.
The game’s concept is beautifully simple: you play as a paper hero capable of transforming into various origami-inspired creatures to navigate obstacles, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies. The premise recalls the charm of Kirby, where absorbing abilities change how you interact with the world — and in Hirogami, that sense of wonder remains constant.
The armadillo form allows you to roll through barriers and crush foes, the ape form grants raw power for climbing and ground-pounding, while the frog form lets you leap across tall trees and unreachable ledges. Each transformation is satisfying to use and opens up new dimensions to exploration and platforming.
Gameplay and Design
At its best, Hirogami feels like a playable storybook. The platforming is straightforward yet rewarding, and the controls are smooth enough to make exploration feel natural. The levels are cleverly layered, encouraging experimentation with different forms and approaches to problem-solving.
The sound design adds significantly to the immersion. Every movement, flap, or fold carries a crisp, tactile feel, and the ambient soundscape — filled with paper rustles, soft flutes, and gentle drums — enhances the handcrafted aesthetic.
However, not all aspects unfold perfectly. The game’s difficulty curve can feel uneven. Early levels introduce mechanics gently, but later stages spike in challenge without much warning. This sudden ramp-up may frustrate casual players or younger audiences who were otherwise enjoying the game’s relaxed pace.
Another issue lies in the cube-breaking mechanic. When in animal form, certain barriers can’t be broken, which interrupts the flow of gameplay. It feels like an unnecessary limitation that slightly dampens the momentum during exploration.
Still, these issues never overshadow the joy of movement and discovery. Hirogami’s platforming remains fun and beginner-friendly, providing just enough challenge to keep players engaged without becoming punishing.
Art, Music, and Presentation
Visually, Hirogami is stunning in its simplicity. The paper textures, soft lighting, and fold animations come together to create a world that feels alive and tactile. Every level looks like it could leap straight out of a pop-up storybook, with subtle motion and layered perspective giving it remarkable depth.
The decision to have the main characters animate at their own frame rate adds a unique stylistic flair. It gives movement a stop-motion quality, reminiscent of hand-drawn animation, and it fits perfectly with the origami theme.
The music, while pleasant, suffers from repetition. The main theme loops frequently without much variation, and while it fits the tone early on, it begins to wear thin after extended play sessions. Still, the sound effects and environmental audio are top-tier, keeping you immersed in the tactile, papery world.
Story and Emotion
The story of Hirogami is light and minimal, serving more as a thematic backdrop than a narrative centrepiece. It’s a tale of self-discovery and restoration, told through environmental cues rather than dialogue. While this works in service of the game’s tone, it also means the story lacks memorability.
Players seeking an emotional or complex plot may find the narrative too shallow. But for those who approach it as an artistic platforming experience, the minimalist storytelling complements its meditative atmosphere.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Hirogami’s strengths lie in its presentation, charm, and accessibility. The art style is gorgeous, the gameplay is inviting, and the various animal transformations bring creativity and joy to the platforming formula. The sound design and aesthetic cohesion elevate what could have been a simple concept into something truly delightful.
However, its weaknesses come from uneven pacing and minor gameplay frustrations. The difficulty doesn’t scale smoothly, and certain mechanics like cube-breaking unnecessarily slow things down. The music repetition also hurts the game’s replayability, and the story doesn’t leave a lasting emotional impact.
Final Verdict
Hirogami is a charming and visually inventive platformer that feels like a paper world brought to life. It’s beginner-friendly, fun to play, and built on a foundation of creativity and simplicity. Though it has a few rough edges, its beauty and originality more than make up for them.
This is a game that doesn’t try to be epic; it tries to be beautiful, and in that goal, it succeeds gracefully. For fans of artistic, lighthearted platformers, Hirogami is an experience worth unfolding.
Hirogami blends origami artistry with platforming creativity, offering a relaxing and visually stunning adventure filled with clever transformations. Its gorgeous presentation, great sound design, and beginner-friendly gameplay make it easy to love, even if uneven difficulty and repetitive music hold it back from greatness.
Reviewed on PC