Mini Review: Hirogami (PS5) – Origami Adventure Looks Great But Lacks Depth

Even though papercraft-style games are not common, they gained cult popularity through Tearaway and its PS4 remake. After five years since the adventures of Iota/Atoi, Hirogami by Kakehashi Games offers a refreshing reminder of the unique charm of interactive paper art. It’s a light and airy game, but with an incredibly captivating visual design.

In simpler terms, you take on the role of Hiro, a skilled artisan, tasked with journeying across his realm to eradicate a malady that has affected the majestic celestial crane of great significance. The narrative, while grand, is not overly complex, as the main objective remains eliminating this blight from your kingdom.

In simpler terms, Hiro navigates through a large-scale model landscape, known as an overworld, which is set up like a diorama on a table. Here, he enjoys playful conversations with his fellow villagers. Afterward, he moves into various stages and works to eliminate the corruption plaguing his homeland.

A game that focuses primarily on navigating platforms, featuring levels with changing viewpoints and minimal yet tactical combat. In

As the dominator of folds, Hiro is capable of assuming the shape of defeated creatures to unveil hidden talents and navigate challenges more effectively. Each folded form offers both tactical and mobility advantages, with some essential for advancing.

The armadillo navigates past barriers by rolling, whereas the frog jumps over them. The monkey swings from one level to another using vines and is particularly effective at pounding bugs (glitches) into digital images (pixels).

Hiro is additionally capable of changing into a piece of paper, maneuvering smoothly through narrow openings or above windy areas. Such metamorphoses are delightful to perform, and we’ve never grown weary of the satisfying sounds produced when he transforms into a crumpled sheet of paper.

Moving around on this platform might feel a tad rigid, and the frog transformation seems particularly hefty and erratic. On the other hand, Hiro’s regular form benefits from a double jump that adds an almost unnoticeable extra leap.

Beyond its mechanical flaws, Hirogami remains appealing and lavishly beautiful. It may not be a prolonged journey, yet it offers ample motivation to revisit stages with newly acquired skills, searching for hidden treasures and undiscovered regions.

Despite some technical hiccups, Hirogami is a delightful visual feast. You might not find it a long game, but there’s much reason to come back to levels as you unlock new powers, hunt for collectibles, and discover secret areas.

Hirogami showcases a lesser-known aesthetic elegance, and its refined origami setting is visually stunning on the PS5. While the platforming can be a bit disorganized, and there isn’t a lot of gameplay variety, if you appreciate style over substance, it’s definitely worth checking out.

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2025-09-02 17:07