Paper Chase
Platform: Unity Mobile
Completed: May 2024
Team Size: 1
Paper Chase is a casual mobile game experience where players chase, catch, and unfold origami.
Designed as a minigame for Genies’ avatar gaming network, this prototype focuses on gameplay clarity and memorability.
Heavily inspired by games such as Rodeo Stampede and Paper Mario, this project aims to tap into the joy of paper’s interactions to best serve Genies’ target demographic.
Much like folding origami, there’s a certain playfulness of paper that I wanted to capture through action mechanics, level aesthetic, and AI-enemies.
Gameplay
Players use a joystick to navigate each biome to chase origami and unfold them by tapping in order.
Capture each origami and unfold them to unlock new regions and unfold the wishing star!
User Interface
Combined with visual effects and flat paper-like backgrounds, the UI helps clarify gameplay and support the paper aesthetic.
Joystick designed for one-handed play
Folding Points in clear numerical order
Highlight icon indicates next clickable point
Game Hints as instructions
Timer/Score systems to track gameplay
Origami
Each Origami asset was sourced from Runemark Studios on the Unity Asset Store. I visually scripted the origami’s idle animations, movement, and behavior to make each origami unique and lively.
Each origami caught increases the player’s capabilities, such as increased time, extra attempts, and more movement speed.
In the future, I’d expand on the origami through unique movement abilities and trait bonuses that feed into the Genies’ ecosystem.
Level Design
Each region is designed to look distinct and eye-catching, with various assets that I have flattened to create a paper-like environment to add to the storybook aesthetic.
Forest Biome (Dodging Origami) : Dogs, Monkeys, & Mice
Desert Biome (Jumping Origami) : Tigers, Dragons, & Snakes
Fields Biome (Speedy Origami) : Horses, Chickens, & Rabbits
Unfolding
Once players catch an origami, they have to unfold them by clicking randomized points in succession.
This mechanic tries to balance randomness with easy single-handed controls, making the gameplay both compelling and accessible.
Ultimately, unfolding prepares players to use their acquired bonuses to unfold the wishing star which has 8 unfolding points.