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Universal
Paperclips

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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Universal Paperclips (2017) is an adventure game about making paperclips. It sounds simple, but behind the incremental process of clicking a button to create these paperclips is a story about how the desire to make paperclips (or anything) if fully realised and unrestrained will take over the entire world.

You play an entity whose sole purpose is to make paperclips. It starts by clicking on a box to create a single paperclip at a time but soon develops into a mechanised process to automatically churn out ever more paperclips. As you go on, more options open up. Soon you are investing the profits in the stock market, and investing the stock market profits into computer upgrades, all for the sake of making paperclips at the cost of all else. Steadily everything else is commodified in pursuit of more paperclips.

It's as much a thought experiment as it is a game. But it succeeds at being both. It's enjoyable to play, and just as much fun to talk about.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Universal Paperclips 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 8 months ago.
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Play StylePlay Style

This is a Simulation and Strategy game with Adventure and Point-and-Click elements. This is a single-player game.

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 7 hours and 8 hours to complete.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

This game has been rated PEGI 3.

Skill Level

9+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. It's the silliness and novelty of this endless-clicking game that appeals to really young players. Provided you have enough numerical understanding to parse the large numbers this can be a game that gets kids laughing.

CostsCosts

There are no additional in-game purchases, loot boxes, adverts or subscription costs.

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 09/10/2017

Out Now: Android, Web and iOS

Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Simulation, Strategy (Adventure and Point-and-Click)

Accessibility: 17 features

Components: 2D Side-On and Text

Developer: Flantz (@Flantz)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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