Paper Flight 1
Alright, Paper Flight. That’s a classic time-waster, for sure. It’s one of those games that’s so simple, yet so easy to get hooked on for way longer than you planned.
The whole idea is exactly what it sounds like. You’re throwing a paper airplane. You start by launching it from a balcony, and then you just try to keep it in the air for as long as possible, seeing how far you can make it fly across a city. The controls couldn’t be simpler; you just click to give your plane a little upward boost, but you only have a limited amount of energy, so you have to use it wisely. You’re basically fighting against gravity, trying to catch air currents and avoid smacking into buildings.
As you fly, you collect stars and other little icons floating around. These give you money, which is the core loop of the game. After each flight inevitably ends with your plane nose-diving into the pavement, you go to an upgrade screen. This is where the addiction kicks in. You can spend your cash to improve things like your launch power, the efficiency of your boosts, or how much money you earn. So, every single flight, no matter how bad, helps you make the next one just a little bit better.
The sequel, Paper Flight 2, is pretty much the same satisfying loop but in a different setting, flying over a more natural landscape. It’s not a deep or complicated game, and it’s not trying to be. It’s just a chill, relaxing game about seeing how far you can go and watching your numbers get bigger. It’s the perfect thing to have open in a browser tab to kill a few minutes, or, let’s be real, a whole hour.