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Paper Trail
Paper Trail
Paper Trail
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Paper Trail
Studio album by
T.I.
ReleasedSeptember 30, 2008 (2008-09-30)
Recorded2007–2008
GenreHip hop
Length73:17
Label
Producer
T.I. chronology
T.I. vs. T.I.P.
(2007) 		Paper Trail
(2008) 		No Mercy
(2010)
Singles from Paper Trail
  1. "No Matter What"
    Released: April 29, 2008
  2. "Whatever You Like"
    Released: July 29, 2008
  3. "Swing Ya Rag"
    Released: August 26, 2008
  4. "What Up, What's Haapnin'"
    Released: September 2, 2008
  5. "Swagga Like Us"
    Released: September 6, 2008
  6. "Live Your Life"
    Released: September 16, 2008
  7. "Ready for Whatever"
    Released: September 23, 2008
  8. "Dead and Gone"
    Released: January 13, 2009

Paper Trail is the sixth studio album by American rapper T.I., released September 30, 2008, on Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. He began to write songs for the album as he awaited trial for federal weapons and possession charges. Unlike his past albums, he wrote his lyrics down on paper, which he had not done since his debut album, I'm Serious (2001).

The album features guest appearances from rappers Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, M.I.A. and Ludacris, along with singers Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Usher and John Legend, among others. The production on the album was handled by many high-profile record producers, including Nard & B, Rob Knox, Danja, The Runners, Toomp, Drumma Boy, Kanye West, Lil' C, Polow da Don, Jim Jonsin, Just Blaze, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Timbaland, Tha Bizness, Khao, Swizz Beatz, Blac Elvis and many more.

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 568,000 copies in its first week, becoming T.I.'s highest debut sales to date, and the fourth highest debut of the year. The album was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It received generally favorable reviews from critics, and is T.I.'s most successful to date.[1] The album spawned eight singles, four of which peaked within the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, with two singles peaking at number one.

Background and recording

[edit]

On November 12, 2007, while awaiting a trial for federal weapons charges, T.I. announced he had been writing songs for a new album to be entitled Paper Trail. He wrote his lyrics down on paper, which he had not done since his debut album, I'm Serious.[2] The album highlights his "fear, anger and guilt" as he awaited trial.[3]

T.I. recorded nearly 100 tracks during the production for Paper Trail,[4] including a collaboration with Fall Out Boy on a track entitled "Out in the Cold".[5] However the song was left out of the final cut, but T.I. told MTV that he may add some of the cut tracks to his next album.[6] On August 22, 2008, the songs "Like I Do" featuring The-Dream, "Let My Beat Pound", "My Life Your Entertainment" featuring Usher, and "Swagga Like Us" were all leaked online.[7]

The album was scheduled to be released in September 2008, but was subsequently moved up to an August 12 after the release of the promotional and lead single "No Matter What" and high demand of the album. At the time, T.I. said that the first single may have been "Top of the World", originally featuring B.o.B and Ludacris, explaining that the song was "a reflective song about our humble beginnings and how far we've come".[8] The album was pushed back for a release date of September 2, then September 9 and to its final release date of September 30, 2008, in the US.[9] The album was first released on September 29, 2008, in continental Europe.[10]

Promotion

[edit]
"No Matter What"
In the album's first single, the song narrates T.I. rising above his misfortunes, including a prison sentence for weapons charges.
"Whatever You Like"
In the second single, T.I. melodically raps along a beat of lead synthesizers and drum pattern.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

The first single released from the album was a song titled "No Matter What". It was posted on StreetCred's website on April 29, 2008, as a promotional recording, then released as a single on May 6, along with a music video, which he premiered on MTV's FNMTV.[11] The song narrates T.I. rising above his misfortunes, including a prison sentence for weapon charges.[12]

On August 19, 2008, the album's lead single "Whatever You Like", was made available for digital download.[11] The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 2008, and set a new record for biggest one-week jump to the top position, going from number seventy-one to number one, becoming his first number one song on the chart as a lead artist and best opening-week sales by a rap track since Nielsen SoundScan began compiling download data in 2003.[13] T.I. announced that he was "ecstatic" and "overjoyed" after setting a record for the biggest jump to top of the Billboard Hot 100.[14]

After the success of "Whatever You Like", iTunes published the release dates for the upcoming singles, "Swing Ya Rag" on August 26, "What Up, What's Haapnin'" on September 2, and "Ready for Whatever" on September 23, 2008.[11][15] Additionally, a song titled "Swagga Like Us", featuring T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West - which samples "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. - was then released as a single on September 4, for Paper Trail and debuted in the Hot 100 at number five.[7]

The album's seventh single, "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna, broke T.I's own record for biggest leap to number one, when it jumped from number eighty to number one on the Hot 100, giving T.I. his second Hot 100 number one as a lead artist, and Rihanna her fifth overall. The song also set a first week digital record, when it sold 334,000 digital downloads in its first week of availability, a record that was previously held by Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body."[16]

The eighth single was confirmed to be "Dead and Gone" featuring Justin Timberlake, by the song's co-producer Rob Knox.[17] T.I. himself later confirmed the release of the single.[18] The song was charted by Billboard before the announcement of the single. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 27, 2009.[19] Overall, eight songs from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100, including "56 Bars (Intro)", "I'm Illy" and "My Life Your Entertainment", despite not being singles. A music video was released for the song "Slide Show" which highlighted a photo collage that followed T.I.'s career as a recording artist. The track "Every Chance I Get" was featured on the promotional trailer for Armored starring Columbus Short.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[20]
The A.V. ClubB+[21]
BlenderStarStarStarHalf star[22]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[24]
The GuardianStarStarStar[25]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)A−[23]
Pitchfork6.2/10[26]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[27]
Slant MagazineStarStarStar[28]
USA TodayStarStarStarHalf star[29]

Paper Trail was met with positive reviews.[30] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 19 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[30] Several critics praised the production on the album; Andy Kellman of AllMusic noted that DJ Toomp's and Danja's production appearance provided "some much needed punch", which placed the album above T.I.'s previous album, T.I. vs. T.I.P..[20] Margeaux Watson of Entertainment Weekly said that the "outstanding production" proved that T.I. "still knows how to have a good time".[24] Wilson McBee of Slant Magazine called the songs produced by Toomp the "vintage T.I.", describing the sound as "ecstasies of sweltering synth lines, ground-shaking 808 patterns and breathless verbalizing".[28] However, McBee felt that the songs that were directly about T.I.'s prison sentence for weapons charges ("No Matter What", "Ready for Whatever") were among the weakest on the album, saying that "admitting guilt, making excuses and expressing no regrets falls flat".[28] Sharing a similar sentiment, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone called the songs "mostly dispenses with the Tupac-wannabe gangsta-confessor pretensions to deliver catchy, tight, bombastic pop-rap alongside a who's-who of megastar guests", saying that T.I. was a "well-oiled hit machine who's more fun than deep".[27]

Newsday's Glen Gamboa gave Paper Trail a B rating and commented that "[T.I.] is still bouncing between pop-leaning hip-hop anthems [...] and spare, often violent, tales of crime and brutality".[31] Michael Saba of Paste said that, "Even with the burden of sloppy crossover tracks, Paper Trail has enough standout moments for T.I.’s throne to remain secure for now."[32] Shannon Barbour of About.com said that, "Regardless of the outcome of reality, Paper Trail is a solid combination of rhyme, repentance, swagger and substance."[33] People magazine gave the album four out of four stars, saying that the album was "a near-perfect hip-hop album for 2008."[34] In his consumer guide for MSN Music, critic Robert Christgau called Paper Trail an "expediently excessive piece of rich-get-richer" and gave it an A− rating,[23] indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction. Anyone open to its aesthetic will enjoy more than half its tracks".[35]

Commercial performance

[edit]

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Paper Trail sold 357,000 copies in the United States in the first three days of its release.[36] Ultimately, the album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 568,000 copies in its first week.[37] This became T.I.'s third consecutive US number one debut and the fourth highest debut of 2008. In its second week, the album remained at number one on the chart, selling an additional 177,000 copies.[38] In its third week, the album dropped to number two on the chart, selling 131,000 more copies.[39] In its fourth week, the album dropped to number three, selling 93,427 copies.[40] The album ended up spending a total of 55 weeks on the chart.[41] On August 26, 2009, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over two million copies.[42]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."56 Bars (Intro)"
DJ Toomp3:04
2."I'm Illy"
  • Harris, Jr.
  • Charles "Chuck Diesel" Spencer
Chuck Diesel4:07
3."Ready for Whatever"
Drumma Boy5:14
4."On Top of the World" (featuring B.o.B & Ludacris)
Nard & B5:00
5."Live Your Life" (featuring Rihanna)
5:39
6."Whatever You Like"
Jim Jonsin4:12
7."No Matter What"
Danja4:42
8."My Life Your Entertainment" (featuring Usher)
Drumma Boy5:13
9."Porn Star" (featuring Ricco Barrino)
Lil' C3:32
10."Swing Ya Rag" (featuring Swizz Beatz)
3:20
11."What Up, What's Haapnin'"
Drumma Boy5:21
12."Every Chance I Get"
  • Harris, Jr.
  • Davis
DJ Toomp4:50
13."Swagga Like Us" (with Jay-Z featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne & M.I.A.)
5:28
14."Slide Show" (featuring John Legend)
  • Harris, Jr
  • Jamal Jones
  • Simmons, Jr.
  • Elvis "Blac Elvis" Williams
3:43
15."You Ain't Missin' Nothing"
  • Harris, Jr.
  • Gholson
Drumma Boy5:10
16."Dead and Gone" (featuring Justin Timberlake)
5:00
United Kingdom (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
17."I Know You Missed Me"3:14
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Collect Call" (featuring Mitchelle'l)
Nard & B4:38
18."I Know You Missed Me"
  • Harris, Jr.
  • Wook Kim
  • Elliot Stroud
Two Band Geeks3:12
Paper Trail: Case Closed[43]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Live Your Life" (featuring Rihanna)
  • Harris, Jr.
  • Justin Smith
  • Makeba Riddick
  • Dan Balan
  • Just Blaze
  • Makeba Riddick
5:39
2."Dead and Gone" (featuring Justin Timberlake)
  • Harris, Jr.
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Robin Tadross
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Rob Knox
5:00
3."Whatever You Like"
  • Harris, Jr.
  • James Scheffer
  • David Siegel
Jim Jonsin4:12
4."Remember Me" (featuring Mary J. Blige)
4:05
5."Hell of a Life"  4:17
Notes
  • (add.) Additional production
  • "Whatever You Like" and "Porn Star" features additional vocals performed by Ricco Barrino
  • "Collect Call" features additional vocals performed by Mitchelle'l
  • "Ready for Whatever" uses the same beat from "Thugs Need Love Too" by Rocko.
Sample credits

Personnel

[edit]
  • Darren Ankenman – photography
  • Carol Briselli – viola (track 16)
  • Greg Gigendad Burke – art direction, design
  • Mike Caren – additional music producer (track 13)
  • Elliott Carter – recording engineer (tracks 1–11, 14–15), assistant
  • Jeff Chestek – string section recording engineer (track 16)
  • Eliza Cho – violin (track 16)
  • James J. Cooper III – cello (track 16)
  • Andrew Dawson – audio mixing (track 13)
  • Chuck Diesel – producer (track 2)
  • DJ Toomp – producer (tracks 1, 12)
  • Canei Finch – additional keyboards (track 5)
  • Ghislaine Fleishman – violin (track 16)
  • Gary Fly – audio mixing assistant (tracks 1, 12)
  • Paul Foley – recording engineer (tracks 5, 16)
  • John Frazier Jr. – producer (track 3, 11)
  • John Frye – audio mixing (tracks 1, 12)
  • Lanre Gaba – A&R
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Jason Geter – executive producer, A&R
  • Christopher "Drumma Boy" Gholson – producer (tracks 3, 8, 11, 15)
  • Larry Gold – conductor, string arrangements (track 16)
  • Rob Gold – producer
  • Josh Gudwin – assistant recording engineer (track 16), recording engineer (12)
  • Brad "Dirt" Horne – recording engineer (track 6, 8), assistant
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – audio mixing (track 16)
  • Bryan Huynh – technician
  • The Individuals – producer (track 10)
  • Jim Jonsin – producer (track 6)
  • Just Blaze – instrumental producer (track 5)
  • Hannah Kang – A&R
  • Billy Kim – producer
  • Rob Knox – producer (track 16)
  • Khoa Truong – engineer
  • Keke Smith – production coordinator (track 1,12)
  • Emma Kummrow – violin (track 16)
  • Kevin "Coach K" Lee – co-executive producer, A&R
  • Lil' C – producer (track 9)
  • Sydney Margetson – photography
  • Robert Marks – recording engineer, audio mixing (track 6)
  • Orlando McGhee – A&R
  • Darryl Morris – assistant recording engineer (track 8)
  • Peter Nocella – viola (track 16)
  • Bill Orcutt – cover illustration
  • Anthony Palazzole – assistant recording engineer (track 6)
  • Douglas Peterson – A&R
  • Rosie Phillidor – stylist
  • Brandon "B" Rackley – producer (track 4)
  • Makeba Riddick – vocal producer (track 5)
  • James "Nard" Rosser – producer, recording engineer (track 4)
  • Marsha St. Hubert – A&R
  • Stevie Salas – guitar (track 16)
  • Terrell Sass – Drums, Composer (track 15)
  • Ray Seay – audio mixing (tracks 2–4, 8–9, 11, 14)
  • Derrick Selby – recording engineer (track 1)
  • David Siegel – additional keyboards (track 6)
  • Rawle Stewart – co–executive producer
  • Elliott Storud – producer
  • Supa Engineer "Duro" (Ken Ifill) – audio mixing (track 10)
  • Swizz Beatz – producer, vocals (track 10)
  • Tom Syrowski – audio mixing assistant (track 16)
  • Igor Szwec – violin (track 16)
  • Gregory Teperman – violin (track 16)
  • Justin Timberlake – producer, vocals (track 16)
  • T.I.P. – executive producer
  • Kanye West – producer, vocals (track 13)
  • Ryan West – audio mixing (track 5)
  • Elvis Williams – producer (track 14)
  • Andrew Wright – tracking
  • Ian Wright – cover illustration

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[68] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[69] Platinum 80,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[72] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Paper Trail

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Paper Trail is a 2024 puzzle video game developed and self-published by Newfangled Games. It is a top-down set in a hand-drawn, foldable paper world inspired by and techniques. Players control the protagonist, Paige, a young academic from the village of Southfold who sneaks away from home to attend university in the city and pursue her dream of becoming an astrophysicist, despite her parents' disapproval. Along her journey by train, Paige uncovers long-buried family secrets through narrated story segments and environmental clues, blending personal growth themes with puzzle-solving. The game's core gameplay revolves around innovative paper-folding mechanics, where players manipulate the 2D environment by folding screen edges to reveal hidden paths, connect platforms, or redirect elements like and . Puzzles escalate in complexity across nine chapters, introducing tearing actions and new interactions such as rotating folds or combining mechanics with environmental hazards, while maintaining accessibility with optional hints and a relaxed pace. The narrative unfolds non-linearly through Paige's voice-acted reflections, delivered in a storybook style between levels, emphasizing themes of , , and reconciliation. Visually, the game features vibrant, watercolor-like paper aesthetics with diverse biomes from rural villages to industrial cities and mystical landscapes, accompanied by a soundtrack composed by Claudie Mackula, featuring Celtic-inspired music with vocal arrangements. Developed by a small team led by brothers Henry Hoffman (game designer) and Fred Hoffman (artist), both BAFTA and award-winning creators, Paper Trail originated from brainstorming sessions exploring paper manipulation in digital spaces. The studio, founded in and based in the , focused on artistic innovation, drawing from childhood memories of paper crafts. Released simultaneously on May 21, 2024, for platforms including PC (via ), , /5, Series X/S, and mobile (via Games), it received positive reception for its charming presentation and clever puzzles, earning a score of 75 and praise for emotional depth despite some criticism of later puzzle difficulty spikes, along with nominations including at the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards. Prior to launch, it garnered awards such as IndieX's Most Innovative Game in and nominations at events like the Game Show.

Production

Background

Newfangled Games was founded in 2020 by brothers Henry Hoffman, a BAFTA-winning game designer previously known for Hue (2016), and Fred Hoffman, an artist, with the aim of creating a sustainable indie studio based in , . The concept for Paper Trail originated from brainstorming sessions between the brothers, inspired by childhood memories of paper crafts, , and techniques. They explored translating paper manipulation into digital gameplay, starting with simple folding ideas to solve puzzles in a 2D world. Development began in late 2020 with to test core mechanics, initially considering a side-scrolling format before shifting to a top-down tilted perspective for better spatial interaction and visibility. The narrative, focusing on themes of independence and personal growth, was co-written by the Hoffmans, drawing from their experiences to create an emotional story about Paige's journey. Early funding came from the Games Fund and Astra Logical Fund, supporting the studio's growth and allowing expansion from the two founders. Pre-release, the game won awards like IndieX's Most Innovative Game in 2021 and Best Game at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival Games Lab in 2023, validating the innovative folding concept.

Development process

The core development of Paper Trail spanned from 2021 to early 2024, handled by a small team of around 10-15 members, including lead programmer Gonzalo Ceciliano de la Peña and junior designer , with additional freelancers for art and localization. Sessions focused on implementing the paper-folding mechanics using runtime mesh deformation in Unity, allowing real-time folding of screen edges to alter the environment, reveal paths, and interact with elements like or . This involved custom for performance across platforms and handling complex interactions such as mirrored folds and tearing. Challenges included balancing puzzle complexity to avoid frustration, leading to extensive playtesting and redesigns, as well as administrative hurdles like platform dev kit delays for on PC, consoles, and mobile. A comprehensive hint system was developed late in production, inspired by instructions, to ensure accessibility without spoilers. The game partnered with Games for mobile release, secured after a Gamescom pitch in 2023, while Newfangled self-published other versions, culminating in a simultaneous launch on May 21, 2024.

Musical content

Style and influences

Paper Trail features an orchestral soundtrack composed by multi-instrumentalist Claudie Mackula, blending gentle, ethereal tones with vocal arrangements inspired by traditional while incorporating a modern orchestral feel. The music emphasizes flowing, serenading melodies with chimes and ambient nature sounds, creating a relaxing and immersive atmosphere that complements the game's paper-folding puzzles and hand-drawn art style. Influenced by Celtic traditions, the soundtrack draws from folk instrumentation and vocal styles to evoke a sense of wonder and journey, aligning with the game's exploration of diverse biomes from rural villages to mystical landscapes. Mackula's self-taught approach as a vocalist and adds an original creative touch, with subtle paper-folding and environmental sound effects integrated to enhance puzzle-solving moments. The spans approximately 38 minutes across 11 tracks in its digital release.

Lyrics and themes

The is primarily , supporting the game's themes of , , secrets, and personal growth through evocative, dreamlike compositions that underscore Paige's journey. Tracks like "Storm's Wake" and "Wind Rises" use swelling orchestral elements to mirror environmental challenges and emotional reflections, while ambient layers evoke the train ride and unfolding storybook segments. Vocal elements appear sparingly, with the closing track "My Life" featuring lyrics that reflect on and self-discovery, tying directly to the protagonist's arc of pursuing her astrophysicist dreams against familial expectations. These themes of , , and emotional transformation are woven throughout, using the music to amplify the non-linear without overpowering the puzzle-focused gameplay. The overall promotes a relaxed pace, with optional ambient cues that encourage player immersion in the game's watercolor-like world. Track listing
  1. "Storm's Wake" – 2:43
  2. "Runaway" – 2:45
  3. "Languid Memories" – 4:29
  4. "Wind Rises" – 3:50
  5. "Preparations" – 4:14
  6. "Remnants" – 3:13
  7. "Past Echoes" – 3:53
  8. "Distant Shores" – 4:05
  9. "Reflections" – 3:51
  10. "Under a Starry Sky" – 3:44
  11. "My Life" – 1:46

Release and promotion

Marketing and rollout

Paper Trail was released on May 21, 2024, simultaneously across multiple platforms by developer Newfangled Games. It launched on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with iOS and Android versions exclusive to Netflix Games. The release followed an announcement on March 13, 2024, confirming the date alongside a launch trailer highlighting the game's paper-folding mechanics and story. Prior to launch, Newfangled Games built anticipation through a demo available from March 2024, allowing players to experience early chapters and puzzles. A 10% launch discount was offered on participating platforms to encourage initial sales. emphasized the game's unique folding and tearing mechanics via short GIFs on , particularly , and community engagement through a server and sign-ups on the official website. The partnership with , secured at 2023 after initial GDC discussions, targeted mobile and family audiences with touch-friendly controls, expanding reach beyond traditional platforms. Platform-specific promotions included trailers for PlayStation (focusing on cozy puzzles) and (emphasizing exploration and growth themes). In November 2024, a physical edition was announced for release in 2026 on and by publisher Lost in Cult, available for pre-order. Pre-release accolades boosted visibility, including the IndieX Most Innovative Game award in 2021 and Best Family Game at . Post-launch, the game received further recognition, such as wins for Best Casual Game and Creativity in Games at the TIGA Games Industry Awards 2024, and a nomination for British Game at the 21st BAFTA Games Awards in 2025. It also earned four nominations at the Thinky Awards 2025, including Game of the Year and Most Innovative Game, and was nominated for Mobile Game of the Year at the 28th in 2025.

Promotional media

The primary promotional trailers included the official release date trailer (March 13, 2024), showcasing Paige's journey and puzzle mechanics; a Netflix-specific trailer (May 7, 2024), highlighting mobile accessibility; and a launch trailer (May 21, 2024), celebrating the multi-platform debut. No additional singles or music releases were issued, as the game's orchestral by Claudie Mackula was integrated directly into the experience rather than promoted separately. A demo served as the key pre-release media, downloadable on to demonstrate core .

Reception

Critical reviews

Upon release, Paper Trail received generally favorable reviews, earning a Metacritic score of 75 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews. On , it holds an average score of 80 out of 100, classified as "Strong" from 33 critics, ranking in the top 17% of reviewed games. Reviewers widely praised the game's innovative paper-folding mechanics, charming hand-drawn art style, and relaxing puzzle-solving experience, often highlighting its accessibility and emotional narrative elements. Many outlets commended the unique environmental manipulation and visual presentation. GameGrin described it as "a really nice game with a lot of fun to be had," appreciating the clever puzzles despite noting its brevity. Punished Backlog awarded it 9 out of 10, lauding the "lovely and immaculate" art and "sweet storyline." However, some critics pointed to inconsistencies, such as repetitive puzzle designs, occasional frustration from complexity spikes, and a story that felt underdeveloped. called it a "beautiful puzzler" but noted it could be "extremely miserable" due to challenging sections. Adventure Game Hotspot gave it 80 out of 100, praising the presentation but critiquing the thin narrative.

Commercial performance

Paper Trail launched simultaneously on May 21, 2024, across PC (), , /5, Series X/S, and Netflix Games (mobile). It achieved strong user reception, with 95% positive reviews from 450 users on as of 2025. Specific figures are not publicly disclosed, but its multi-platform and positive critical buzz indicate modest commercial success for an indie title, bolstered by awards like IndieX's Most Innovative Game in 2021 prior to launch.

Track listing and credits

Track listing

The standard edition of Paper Trail consists of 16 tracks with a total runtime of 73:08.
No.TitleFeatured artist(s)LengthWriter(s)Producer(s)Sample(s)
1"56 Bars" (Intro)—3:02Clifford Harris, Aldrin DavisDJ Toomp—
2"I'm Illy"—4:07Clifford Harris, C. SpencerChuck Diesel—
3"Ready for Whatever"—5:12Clifford Harris, Christopher GholsonDrumma Boy—
4"On Top of the World"B.o.B, Ludacris5:00Clifford Harris, Aldrin DavisDJ Toomp—
5"Live Your Life"Rihanna5:38Clifford Harris, Justin Smith, Makeba Riddick, Dan BălanJust Blaze"Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone
6"Whatever You Like"—4:09Clifford Harris, Dwayne Abernathy, Jim JonsinJim Jonsin—
7"No Matter What"—4:34Clifford Harris, Nate HillsDanja—
8"My Life Your Entertainment"Usher4:56Clifford HarrisBlac Elvis, Kannon—
9"Porn Star"Nelly3:31Clifford Harris, C. Quinn, K.V. WashingtonLil' C—
10"Swing Ya Rag"Swizz Beatz4:21Clifford Harris, Kasseem DeanSwizz Beatz—
11"What Up, What's Haapnin'"—3:42Clifford Harris, Christopher Gholson, Harvey MasonDrumma Boy"Never Give You Up" by Harvey Mason
12"Every Chance I Get"—4:49Clifford Harris, Aldrin DavisDJ Toomp—
13"Swagga Like Us"Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne5:27Clifford Harris, Dwayne Carter, Kanye West, Shawn CarterKanye West"Paper Planes" by M.I.A.
14"Slide Show"John Legend3:42Clifford HarrisKhao—
15"You Ain't Missin' Nothing"—5:10Clifford Harris, Christopher GholsonDrumma Boy—
16"Dead and Gone"Justin Timberlake5:01Clifford Harris, Justin Timberlake, Ryan TedderJustin Timberlake, Rob KnoxInterpolation of "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake
Certain editions, such as the 2009 digital re-release and some deluxe versions, add bonus tracks including "You Know Who" (3:32, producer: The Runners), "No, I'm Not" (3:59, producer: Khao), and "Yeah" (4:41, producer: ), with other editions featuring additional bonuses like "I Know You Missed Me" and "Collect Call". The total runtime for versions with these three bonus tracks is approximately 85 minutes.

Personnel

The album Paper Trail features guest appearances from a diverse array of artists across its tracks, including on "Live Your Life", Usher on "My Life Your Entertainment", on "Swing Ya Rag", , , and on "Swagga Like Us", on "Slide Show", and on "Dead and Gone". Additional featured performers include and on "On Top of the World", as well as background vocalists like Mitchelle'l on "Ready for Whatever" and on select tracks. Production duties were shared among numerous contributors, with handling tracks such as the intro "56 Bars", "On Top of the World", and "Every Chance I Get"; Chuck Diesel on "I'm Illy"; on "Ready for Whatever", "What Up, What's Haapnin'", and "You Ain't Missin' Nothing"; on "Live Your Life"; on "Whatever You Like"; Danja on "No Matter What"; Blac Elvis and Kannon on "My Life Your "; Lil’ C on "Porn Star"; on "Swing Ya Rag"; on "Swagga Like Us"; Khao on ""; and co-producing "Dead and Gone" alongside . Mixing engineers included John Frye for tracks such as "56 Bars"; Ray Seay for "I'm Illy", "Ready for Whatever", and "My Life Your Entertainment"; Ryan West for "Live Your Life"; Rob Marks for "Whatever You Like"; Marcella Araica for "No Matter What"; Andrew Dawson for "Swagga Like Us"; Leslie Brathwaite for "Every Chance I Get"; and Jean-Marie Horvat for "Dead and Gone". Recording engineers comprised Derrick Selby and Elliot Carter on early tracks like "56 Bars" and "I'm Illy"; Paul Foley and Matteo Bolzoni for "Live Your Life"; Brad Horne, Rob Marks, and Anthony Palazzole for "Whatever You Like"; Josh Gudwin for sessions at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta; and Jeff Chestek for string arrangements on "Dead and Gone". Sessions took place at locations including Sound-Trap Studios and Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, The Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, and Baseline Studios in New York. Supplementary roles featured vocalists Ricco Barrino on "Whatever You Like" and "Porn Star", and instrumentalists such as Canei Finch on keyboards for "Live Your Life", David Siegel on keyboards for "Whatever You Like", on guitar for "Dead and Gone", and Markeith Black on guitar for select tracks. served as A&R director, while executive production was led by and Jason Geter, with co-executive production by Gee Roberson; mastering was handled by at Sterling Sound.

Chart performance and certifications

Sales Estimates

Paper Trail, released on May 21, 2024, achieved modest commercial success as an indie title across multiple platforms. Specific sales figures have not been publicly disclosed by the developer, Newfangled Games. On , revenue estimates as of late 2024 approximate $170,000, based on review volume and pricing data. The game garnered 648 user reviews on , with 89% positive ratings. Peak concurrent players reached 88 on launch day, reflecting steady but limited engagement. It was released simultaneously on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, and via Netflix Games subscription, broadening accessibility but complicating unified sales tracking. No year-end chart rankings or resurgences were reported in major gaming industry analyses for 2024 or 2025. The following table summarizes key Steam metrics:
MetricValueDate/Period
Peak Concurrent Players88May 21, 2024
Total Reviews648As of November 2025
Positive Rating89%As of November 2025
Estimated Revenue~$170,000As of late 2024

Ratings and Awards

Paper Trail holds age ratings from major bodies, including ESRB "E10+" (Everyone 10+ for mild fantasy violence and suggestive themes) in and in . It has no traditional sales certifications, as these are uncommon for indie video games. Prior to release, the game won IndieX's Most Innovative in and received nominations at like the , contributing to pre-launch buzz.

References

  1. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1889740/Paper_Trail/
  2. https://www.papertrailgame.com/
  3. https://punishedbacklog.com/paper-trail-review/
  4. https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/paper-trail-switch/
  5. https://www.gamegrin.com/reviews/paper-trail-review/
  6. https://claudiemackula.bandcamp.com/album/paper-trail-ost
  7. https://www.eurogamer.net/tracing-a-line-through-design-with-the-developers-of-paper-trail
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  9. https://www.metacritic.com/game/paper-trail/
  10. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unfolding-the-heart-of-games-with-paper-trail
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  20. https://open.spotify.com/album/16ZcTjJZNVmmKl4BaGIdWZ
  21. https://www.gematsu.com/2024/03/puzzle-adventure-game-paper-trail-launches-may-21-for-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-switch-pc-ios-and-android
  22. https://www.netflix.com/games/81664655
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  31. https://www.instagram.com/p/DFdXixVO517/
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  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJm_IBScG8
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  35. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/paper-trail-review
  36. https://music.apple.com/us/album/paper-trail/1258961720
  37. https://www.discogs.com/release/2040945-TI-Paper-Trail
  38. https://www.discogs.com/release/5641235-TI-Paper-Trail
  39. https://genius.com/albums/Ti/Paper-trail
  40. https://music.apple.com/us/album/paper-trail-deluxe-version/1260880949
  41. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/t-i-plots-paper-trail-re-release-with-bonus-tracks-100960/
  42. https://hiphopdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Paper_Trail_%28T.I._album%29
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  46. https://games-stats.com/steam/game/paper-trail/
  47. https://steamdb.info/app/1889740/charts/
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