Timeline

Timeline
November 23 – December 24, 1982
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32

Main page

The timeline of the story mode of Papers, Please spans across 31 playable days with 20 different endings. The story is mostly scripted and many of the events and encounters are triggered regardless of the player's earlier actions. Endings, however, are determined by daily decisions and interactions made by the player.

Structure of a day

Each day consists of four stages, all of which can contain scripted elements.

1. Each day opens with a view of the front page of The Truth of Arstotzka. Some of the headlines change according to the player's earlier actions.
2. After viewing the headlines, the player ("the inspector") walks into his booth, reviews new orders, and prepares for the day's work. Scripted events in this stage consist of visits by different government authorities.
3. The next stage begins when the inspector calls in the first entrant. This starts the in-game clock which runs from 6am to 6pm. During this time, the inspector inspects entrants' documents and uses a sparse array of tools to determine whether the papers are in order. Some of the encounters are scripted and always happen at the same point the same way (e.g. Messof Anegovych is always the third entrant on day 12, has the same portrait and says the same things), some of them are partially randomized (e.g. names of Antegrian husband and wife), but most of the encounters are not story-related and contain randomly generated entrants with randomly generated documents.
4. When time runs out or a scripted event cuts a day short, the final stage of the day begins. This is where the inspector pays bills and allocates other credits. Scripted events in this phase can include family events and gifts from strangers.

Main events

This list contains the main events of the each day. Refer to separate articles on each day for the list of all scripted events and their order.

Day 1

• Inspector's first day on the job, and the opening day of the checkpoint. Entrants express their joy, frustration, and even veiled threats at the border's opening.

Day 2

• The border is now open to foreigners as well as Arstotzkan citizens.
• A terrorist jumps the wall and throws a grenade, killing the lone border guard and cutting the day short.

Day 3

Jorji Costava makes his debut entrance on day 3.

• Entry tickets are now required for foreign visitors.
• Jorji Costava shows up for the first time.

Day 4

• Entrants must now show an entry permit, which replaces the ticket, or their Arstotzkan ID card.
• The Impor token can be unlocked.
• First of many chances to unlock the Obristan token.

Day 5

• The inspector is now authorized to detain any suspicious entrants.
• A suspected murderer shows up at the border.
• The Antegria token can be unlocked.

Day 6

• A new document adds to the inspector's headaches when screening immigrant workers.
• The inspector finds out about human trafficking at the border.
• A Kolechian suicide bombs the checkpoint, killing three guards.

Day 7

• A search scanner is installed to fight smuggling and annoy Kolechians, and immediately yields results.

Day 8

You've got something in your eye, sir/ma'am.

• Diplomatic visitors are allowed easier entry with only a passport and their Diplomatic Authorization.
• The first encounter with EZIC and one of their messengers.

Day 9

• A border guard makes a deal with the inspector. The more people they detain, the more money the two will make.
• The inspector assists (or hinders) a secret agent from the Ministry of Information.

Day 10

• The Ministry of Admission divisional authority — the inspector's boss — visits the checkpoint for a performance review.

Day 11

• Jorji Costava finally gets his papers in order.
• First of the two scheduled EZIC agents arrives at the checkpoint.
• A strange man brings 1000 credits at the end of the day.

Day 12

• An investigator from the Ministry of Information shows up at the beginning of the day, indicating that the Arstotzkan government is aware of EZIC.
• The task needed to unlock the Arstotzka token begins.
• A strange man brings 2000 credits at the end of the day if the inspector denied the previous day's gift.
• A suicide bomber bombs the checkpoint, killing three guards.

Day 13

• Stricter document requirements are instituted to prevent smugglers and suicide bombers from entering.
• If the inspector accepted EZIC's gift on day 11 or 12, the neighbors notice and report it to the government. The inspector is then stripped of all savings.
• Filipe Hasse shows up and gives you Arstotzka Arskickers pennant.

Day 14

• The second of the two scheduled EZIC agents arrives at the checkpoint. If admitted, she will stop any ongoing investigation of the inspector's finances.

Day 15

• If the inspector is under investigation, the M.O.I. investigator arrests the inspector, ending the game.
• An entrant drops a bomb onto the inspector's desk.

Day 16

• Due to staffing cuts, the inspector must now defend the checkpoint against terrorists himself. To this end, he is armed with a single tranquilizer rifle with three darts. Glory to Arstotzka.
• The Arstotzka token can be unlocked if all prerequisites have been met.
• A terrorist attack cuts the day short.

Day 17

• A new soldier is stationed at the checkpoint and introduces himself.
• EZIC is concerned about the people behind the attack on day 16 and sends an agent to investigate.

Day 18

• The bureaucratic load on the inspector's shoulders reaches a new level as he is required to provide a reason for every denial.
• The inspector may choose to buy a gift for his son's birthday, which is tomorrow.

Day 19

The Hero of the Working Class.

• Entry from Impor is blocked after Imporian trade embargo.
• Inspector receives a crayon masterpiece from his son, if he bought the boy a gift the previous day.

Day 20

• Second review by the M.O.A. director. He will dock the inspector's pay if he dislikes any artwork on the wall.
• EZIC wants the inspector to poison their enemy.

Day 21

• The series of events leading to the Republia token starts here.
• A Motorcyclist shoots a guard, and rides towards the booth. The day is cut short due to this attack.
• Inspector's sister gets arrested and the inspector gets the option to take care of her daughter for 40 credits.

Day 22

• The inspector meets two acquaintances from earlier.

Day 23

A man in red forces EZIC to take action on day 23.

• A man in red appears in the queue. EZIC wants him dead.
• Republian token can be unlocked if the correct choices were made on day 21.

Day 24

• Arstotzka starts to confiscate passports from citizens from the Altan district.

Day 25

• The Kolechian token can be unlocked.
• The boss's girlfriend shows up at the border. Denying her entry may anger him, and detaining her will end the game the next morning.

Day 26

• Sergiu's long-lost love arrives.
• A coordinated terrorist attack cuts the day short.

Day 27

• A Kolechian diplomat is called to Arstotzka to discuss the attack on day 26. EZIC has other plans for him.
• Sergiu's last day on Grestin Checkpoint.

Day 28

• Sergiu is transferred to another post.
• Arstotzka expands confiscation of passports. All Arstotzkans are prevented from travelling indefinitely.
• The day is cut short by a terrorist attack by a suicide bomber on a motorbike.

Day 29

• M. Vonel pays the inspector a visit to inform him about ongoing audits. The audit is scheduled for the 24th of December - which is Day 32.
• A vengeful father seeks revenge, on Simon Wens, for the murder of his daughter.
• Option to escape from Arstotzka permanently is presented to the inspector and his family.

Day 30

• Third and final inspection by the M.O.A. director.
• The inspector's family photo is given, by his wife, to bring to work.
• The United Federation token can be unlocked.

Day 31

• EZIC attacks the border.

Day 32

• An Information Audit occurs unless none of the other endings were reached on day 31.
• Day 32 is not playable but endings 14, 17 and 20 technically occur on this day.