Skip to main content
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Search GamesRadar+
View Profile
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
Tabletop Gaming
Toys & Collectibles
Retro Gamer
Newsletters
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
Subscribe from just £3
Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
Try a single issue or save on a subscription
Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From£9.99View
Summer Game Fest
New games for 2025
Upcoming Switch 2 games
Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Adventure Games
“This is almost 5 years here of my life”: Sequel to early internet sim Hypnospace Outlaw, one of the best adventure games of the decade, has been cancelled
Roguelike Games
Despite positive reviews, indie dev declares their early access roguelike “fails in fundamental ways,” makes it free forever, and moves the heck on
Hytale studio founder says he was “burning” up to $400,000 a month on its development at one point, and turned down “way more money” before partnering with Riot
Hytale studio founder says he’d spend $25 million buying it back from Riot to get the game finished, and in his eyes it was “maximum 2 years away from a PC release” over 5 years ago: “That’s how much I believe in it”
Action RPGs
Oblivion Remastered is cool, Clair Obscur is good, but I just want this bizarre Legend of Zelda disciple that emerged from the sea of RPGs like a fish with legs
Roguelike Games
After “nearly a decade” of work, devs of brilliant roguelike FPS Roboquest call it quits: “It was never meant to be what is called today a ‘game as service'”
You can play the RPG that inspired Undertale during Steam Next Fest and it even features the work of Toby Fox himself
“I might never finish this game, so I’m releasing the demo”: After 9 years, A Short Hike dev soft-cancels Paper Mario-inspired RPG but lets players try a build
Kaan Serin
29 June 2025
Adam Gryu puts his paper RPG on hold indefinitely
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Adamgryu)
Adam Gryu, the indie developer behind delightful mini-open-world A Short Hike and a popular pumpkin-carving MMO, has finally (sort of) cancelled his Paper Mario-ish game after almost a decade since its announcement.
A new blog post called ‘I might never finish this game, so I’m releasing the demo’ details why Gryu isn’t working on the game anymore, where it was at in development, why he’s letting everyone try a build anyway, and what he’s working on next.
He explains that the Untitled Paper RPG began life when Nintendo revealed Paper Mario Color Splash in 2016, and all of his nostalgic memories for old-school Paper Mario came flooding back. “Well, I make games, why not try making the game I want to see?”
You may like
“This is almost 5 years here of my life”: Sequel to early internet sim Hypnospace Outlaw, one of the best adventure games of the decade, has been cancelled
Despite positive reviews, indie dev declares their early access roguelike “fails in fundamental ways,” makes it free forever, and moves the heck on
Hytale studio founder says he was “burning” up to $400,000 a month on its development at one point, and turned down “way more money” before partnering with Riot
Gryu then took a break to instead work on A Short Hike, his breakout hit about slowly climbing up a tall mountain while finding secrets and helping people along the way. It has a touch of Breath of the Wild’s open endedness, but it’s also completely it’s own thing, and it became popular enough to keep Gryu occupied for a while.
“After releasing A Short Hike and working on the subsequent updates and ports… I didn’t really want to go back to this game? The development for the RPG had become difficult, which was why I took a break from it in the first place. I might return to this project someday, but I’ve been working on other things and don’t see myself making time for this RPG in near future,” the dev wrote.
He also explained that working on the RPG became so difficult because “the scope felt too big,” it didn’t actually have a story yet, the battle system apparently felt like an obstacle to get to the exploration, and most notably, he simply “started to lose the joy” of making it.
“Some people still ask about this game! I figured maybe sharing the demo is better than nothing. There is 1-2 hours of gameplay in the current build, after all. There’s some stuff in there that I’m proud of, even if there’s also some stuff that I find embarrassing!”
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
For now, he’s working on an action-adventure game that looks a little bit similar to A Short Hike, alongside a “micro-RPG with a claymation aesthetic” and an “online platforming roguelike.”
Not to worry, there’s still tons of other upcoming indie games of 2025.
See more Xbox Series X News
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation
Freelance contributor
Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that’s vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he’ll soon forget.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
“This is almost 5 years here of my life”: Sequel to early internet sim Hypnospace Outlaw, one of the best adventure games of the decade, has been cancelled
Despite positive reviews, indie dev declares their early access roguelike “fails in fundamental ways,” makes it free forever, and moves the heck on
Hytale studio founder says he was “burning” up to $400,000 a month on its development at one point, and turned down “way more money” before partnering with Riot
Hytale studio founder says he’d spend $25 million buying it back from Riot to get the game finished, and in his eyes it was “maximum 2 years away from a PC release” over 5 years ago: “That’s how much I believe in it”
Oblivion Remastered is cool, Clair Obscur is good, but I just want this bizarre Legend of Zelda disciple that emerged from the sea of RPGs like a fish with legs
After “nearly a decade” of work, devs of brilliant roguelike FPS Roboquest call it quits: “It was never meant to be what is called today a ‘game as service'”
Latest in RPGs
Cyberpunk 2 director says “mature games” used to mainly be about killing and sex, but The Witcher 3 was part of a “broader process” to change that as devs grew older
Dave the Diver celebrates 2nd birthday by sharing messages from Baldur’s Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon and the Subnautica studio CEO, bringing back Godzilla DLC, and dang, delaying its next DLC
All Marvel Mystic Mayhem codes (June 2025) and how to redeem
The Outer Worlds 2 is “going deeper and more complex” with its companions, and I’m already making grabby hands at this RPG
Hytale studio founder says he was “burning” up to $400,000 a month on its development at one point, and turned down “way more money” before partnering with Riot
Hytale studio founder says he’d spend $25 million buying it back from Riot to get the game finished, and in his eyes it was “maximum 2 years away from a PC release” over 5 years ago: “That’s how much I believe in it”
Latest in News
Superman star Nicholas Hoult sized up David Corenswet after auditioning for the role himself and knew he was “perfect for it”
One James Bond potential favorite thinks it would be a “nightmare” role after recent rumored list is revealed
Live-action Akira movie finally dies after Warner Bros. give up rights to beloved anime
“Games are amazingly affordable”: Former PlayStation boss defends $80 prices because stuff like Mario Kart provides “hours and hours and hours with just one purchase”
Capcom agrees Monster Hunter Wilds has an endgame problem, so it’s adding “a new level of quest difficulty” and Talisman crafting to “broaden the range of builds”
Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe reportedly says he could “possibly” step in to save cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first
GAME REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: “This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse”
Rematch review: “As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic”
Tron: Catalyst review: “Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I’m let down by a time-loop story that falls flat”
FBC: Firebreak review: “A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that’s missing far too much of what made Control special”
Dune: Awakening review: “Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter”
M3GAN 2.0 review: “A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion”
28 Years Later Review: “Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
Predator: Killer of Killers review: “Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation”
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: “Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu”
Karate Kid: Legends review: “Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)”
Squid Game season 3 review: “A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever”
Ironheart review: “A relic of Marvel’s content-at-all-costs era”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: “The show’s most assured run of episodes to date”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: ‘The Reality War’ is “a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: ‘Wish World’ is “an exciting and ambitious” start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Contact Future’s experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Review guidelines
Write for us
Accessibility Statement
Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury,
BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…