NEWS
PAPERHEAD Launches on Steam October 9
HypeTrain Digital and Paperhead te4m have announced that PAPERHEAD will launch on Steam on October 9, 2026.
PAPERHEAD is a fast-paced movement boomer shooter mixed with adventure horror, set in a handmade cardboard world where something has gone horribly wrong. Armed with a shotgun, explosives, a pair of mighty boots, and a magical pencil capable of changing the world around you, players will fight and explore their way through an abandoned research facility as its playful cardboard exterior gives way to disturbing creatures, unsettling spaces, and a darker mystery hidden beneath the surface. The deeper you go, the closer you get to answering one disturbing question: WHY WOULD CARDBOARD... BLEED?
The free prologue, PAPERHEAD EP.0, offered players an early taste of the game's world and combat. The full game expands far beyond it with more weapons and enemies, larger and more varied locations, new mechanics, and a much greater focus on narrative, exploration, and the horror lurking beneath the cardboard. PAPERHEAD has already built a strong following ahead of launch: PAPERHEAD EP.0 has received 3,800+ Steam reviews and a Very Positive rating, while the full game has surpassed 190,000 wishlists.
PAPERHEAD also features an original soundtrack by Finnish composer and sound designer Joonas Turner, known for his work on Cult of the Lamb, Noita, Atomicrops, ScourgeBringer, Go Mecha Ball, and CARRION. Moving between atmospheric soundscapes and intense industrial tracks, the soundtrack dynamically supports both exploration and combat.
Key Features
• Brutal, fast-paced combat: Blast enemies with a shotgun, toss them into the air, kick explosive barrels into their path, or simply jump on their heads.
• Movement is part of your arsenal: Use powerful kicks, headjumps, weapons, and the environment to keep fights fast, aggressive, and unpredictable.
• Change the world with a magical pencil: More than just a weapon, the pencil lets you interact with your surroundings in unusual ways—from sketching bombs to drawing doors you can kick down.
• Cute... but scary: Explore an abandoned research facility where a charming handmade cardboard world gradually becomes stranger, darker, and more disturbing.
• More than a shooter: Exploration, environmental storytelling, horror, and the mystery behind the facility become increasingly important as you venture deeper.
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