Game Review: Papers Grade Please! (Mobile – Free to Play)

In classic Lion Studios style, Papers Grade Please is super simple to play, addictive in short bursts and jammed with ads to the point of assault.

You take on the role of a teacher tasked with marking the work of students. You can give them A or F based on their answers, it’s up to you to work out if they’re right or wrong. Sometimes it’s very easy, sometimes you might find yourself having to think! Give them a bad grade when their work was correct and they’ll threaten to sue you.

You can avoid this by paying the student off or watch an ad to send the student to detention. It’s one of many ways the game tries to get you watch an ad. Although the cost of paying off the student isn’t exactly wallet-busting.

As you complete classes, marking papers, you’ll earn money that you can use to upgrade the classroom and repair damaged parts. As well as put ‘funny’ hats and glasses on the students. You can also change your teacher look but those are hidden behind ad-walls, alongside some classroom upgrades and hats. In a surprisingly short amount of time, you’ll likely have everything bought that you can, rendering progression moot.

Although you may have quit playing before you even reach that point as the ad-spam is out of control and classes quickly repeat. You might get the odd one wrong here and there but for the most part, it’s basic stuff.

The bonus stuff, such as recess, graduation and dances are all hidden behind ad-walls. Considering how many ads pop up and are found elsewhere, few will find themselves bothering for the nominal amount of money these events reward.

If you’ve played a Lion Studios game before, Papers Grade Please will feel very familiar. However, it should be noted that it is kind of addictive. At first, it’s fun and the unlock prices to upgrade your class are reasonable. For around 20-30 minutes, you’ll find yourself engrossed but that’s about it. There’s no effort to make the game have any longevity and it will be forgotten about as quickly as it was downloaded.