I’ve never been great at origami; my folding usually ends up more chaos than art, but in Hirogami, folding to fight the blight and save a village was surprisingly satisfying. The game immediately draws you in with its delicate, paper-crafted world and intricate puzzles.
Developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by Kakehashi Games, Hirogami is a 3D action platformer where you play as Hiro, a fan-wielding entertainer and master of folding. When the blight invades — corrupting creatures and threatening the paper realm — Hiro must reclaim his stolen folded forms and fight to heal a world as fragile as the art that inspired it.
A delicate craft
What makes Hiro’s story compelling is that he was never meant to be a warrior. His life was once dedicated to performance and creation, using his folding skills to spread joy.
When the blight descends, Hiro is forced into a role he never sought. Each battle becomes more than survival; it’s a rescue mission to purify friends who have succumbed to the blight. Defeated creatures are freed from corruption and returned to their true selves. Once freed, Hiro can take on their form and gain special abilities. These transformations become symbols of his growth, giving him new ways to move forward to help purify the land.
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Yet Hiro’s journey is not one he carries alone. Shiori, a village leader, is strong-headed and sharp-tongued, reminding him that acceptance into the village comes with responsibility. She places the weight of expectation squarely on his shoulders, challenging him to prove he belongs. In contrast, Ruz Pappy, the village elder, is a constant voice of reassurance, guiding Hiro with patience and wisdom. Between Shiori’s pressure and Ruz Pappy’s encouragement, Hiro’s path becomes a balance of expectation and hope, a story not just of saving his home, but of growing into the role of protector he didn’t know he could be.
Fold, Fight, Find
Hirogami mixes action-platforming with clever twists rooted in origami. Hiro fights with a fan, but his real versatility comes from unfolding into a sheet of paper to glide across gaps or slip through narrow spaces. The world keeps things engaging by shifting perspectives, dangerous elements and adding variety to exploration. There’s also extra little challenges that add replayability, like collecting relics, avoiding damage, or beating timed missions.
The core gameplay loop starts out easy, but becomes increasingly challenging with every new level and chapter. I often knew exactly what I needed to do, but getting Hiro to do it was another story, and many puzzles ask you to line up with absolute precision, which became more frustrating than challenging.
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Boss battles, however, stand out. Some are tricky and demand dexterity or quick thinking rather than brute force. These encounters break up the pacing and provide some of the most satisfying and memorable moments in the game.
Hiro has multiple transformations that change the way you explore and fight. Out of the forms available, my favourite was the Armadillo — a speed machine, letting you tear through levels and obstacles. The Armadillo also makes combat smoother and easier compared to the Frog or the Ape. The frog’s high jumps and sticky spit are fun for puzzles, and the ape adds raw strength, but nothing matches the flow and pace the Armadillo brings to the game.
Zen…
Hirogami’s visual design is a highlight and the folded world is fascinating to explore, filled with intricate origami details that add charm and depth. Every environment feels carefully crafted, giving the world a tactile, fragile quality that reinforces the theme.
The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully. Japanese-inspired themes create a calming, zen atmosphere during exploration, and the battle music ramps up the intensity just enough without feeling overly stressful.
Final Thoughts
Hirogami delivers a world as fragile and creative as origami itself, with combat, exploration, and puzzles woven into a story of corruption and renewal. Shiori’s unyielding expectations and Ruz Pappy’s gentle encouragement give Hiro’s role emotional weight, grounding his journey as more than just a fight against the blight. Multiple transformations keep the gameplay fresh and add personality to the adventure.
The game isn’t without flaws however; the inability to save mid-level feels restrictive, and perspective issues can also frustrate when completing puzzles. Yet these stumbles are outweighed by the game’s creativity and intricate origami-inspired world, making it a dimensional and enjoyable platformer.
Hirogami is out now on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation 5.
Quest Daily scores Hirogami:
7/10
A review copy of Hirogami was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
