Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Narrative-drive, visual novel, exploration, atmospheric, supernatural

Southeast Asia boasts a rich tapestry of ghost stories, each unique to its region. Whether it’s Thai tales of Pee Mak, Filipino folklore of the Aswang, Indonesian stories of the Pocong, or the myriads of Malaysian horror stories drawing from Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other cultural influences, there’s no shortage of spooky tales. While horror video games have always been popular, there’s a growing trend of incorporating Southeast Asian cultural elements into these games. One such example is the recent release from Chorus Worldwide Games and Cellar Vault Games called Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open, which brings to life a Malaysian coming-of-age haunting with unexpected twists and a stunning paper craft art style.

Early Days

In the game, players take on the role of Ting, a 5-year-old girl who has just moved to a new house with her parents. Ting possesses the third sight, allowing her to see and interact with ghosts. She encounters Xiu, a ghost girl older than her, who has lost her memories and is in need of a friend. Despite her parents’ dismissal of Ting’s abilities as mere imagination, Ting befriends Xiu, and they become inseparable.

As Ting navigates her daily life, she must juggle school, fitting in, and dealing with spirits seeking help or causing mischief. To complicate matters further, her family is falling apart, and she grapples with tough situations, sometimes finding herself alone in a haunted house. Ting’s actions cause rifts within her family, and she must confront the fallout, especially as one of her family members falls ill. Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open unfolds across multiple chapters, each presenting new challenges for Ting to overcome.

The game controls are uncomplicated, and you can easily navigate through without the need for a tutorial. A significant portion of the game involves interacting through conversations, as there is no voice acting, requiring you to read through the dialogue. The remaining gameplay focuses on exploration and occasional mini-games that are tied to the storyline. Some of my favorite mini-games involve activities such as shooting rubber bands at empty bottles and preparing herbal soup. While some of the mini-games allow you to progress at your own pace, others introduce a time constraint, adding an element of urgency. However, none of the tasks are overly difficult and mainly require logical thinking or exploration. A noteworthy feature is that all the tasks you need to accomplish are automatically recorded in Ting’s notebook.

The standout aspect of the game is its portrayal of Malaysian culture. As a Malaysian, the game’s depictions of Ting’s home, neighborhood streets, and local markets resonate deeply with me, capturing the essence of life in early 2000s Malaysia. The portrayal of the Night Market, complete with authentic renditions of Malaysian street food and a vibrant suburban atmosphere, evokes a strong sense of nostalgia. I do love the paper fortune teller the developer used as the symbol of the game screen loading, The incorporation of “Broken English” within the language settings adds an extra layer of authenticity, with the developer providing helpful descriptions for non-local players to understand the nuances of the language. For individuals interested in gaining insight into Malaysian culture, Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open offers an enriching experience.

Third Eye Open’s art style is truly remarkable. In Chapter 8: The Show, the game creatively adopts a “wayang kulit” format, leaving a lasting impression. The background music and sound effects further immerse you in the papercraft world, showing a level of care and attention to detail that I find many will appreciate.

Settling In

While the pacing may be a bit slow at first, the game gradually builds suspense, culminating in thrilling horror moments by Chapter 4. However, for those who enjoy reading ghost stories but prefer not to confront them in a video game, this installment strikes a good balance. One aspect that could be improved is the camera angle, especially during Ting’s encounters with malevolent ghosts in haunted houses. The inability to adjust the point of view (POV) often leads to unexpected confrontations, requiring players to restart from the beginning. Plus, the lack of a map in new environments makes navigation within the haunted house quite challenging.

Still, Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open stands out with its rich cultural elements and unique plot, providing a fresh and engaging experience for gamers, while also offering a rare portrayal of Malaysia in video games. It’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane for local players and provides a compelling portrayal of Malaysia for a global audience.

Pros

• Longer gameplay with 9 hours to complete the main story.
• Improved paper craft art style compared to the first game.
• Unexpected plot twists.
• Portrayed the early 2000s Malaysia.
• Gameplay is fairly linear and doesn’t required tutorials.
• Plenty of minigames.

Cons

• Slow story pacing with lots of reading required.
• Fixed camera angles in certain chapters.
• No map presented during the exploration moments.

Final Score: 80/100

Review copy provided by the publisher.