Today's game stop
Paperclip
Paperclip is a daily trading puzzle where you start with a red paperclip and make single trades with one-use traders to reach the day’s prize in as few swaps as possible before the market resets each day.
Play PaperclipA fresh puzzle is waiting for you.
Paperclip is a free daily logic puzzle that casts you as a trader starting with a single red paperclip and trying to reach the day’s prize by making a sequence of one-off swaps. Each trader will accept the item you offer and give you one or more items in return, and the market layout changes every day so a fresh puzzle awaits.
The interface shows your bag, the market, and who you can trade with next; you can filter to show only currently tradable partners. Stars reward optimal play: three stars for the shortest route with no undos and two stars for the shortest route when you use undos. The daily puzzle is free; optional unlocks add practice modes and archive access.
How to play Paperclip
- Open Paperclip and start today’s market; you will begin with a red paperclip in your bag.
- Click an item in your bag to see all traders who will accept it and what they offer in return.
- Select one trader to perform a single swap; each trader can be used only once per puzzle.
- After a trade, check the updated list of traders Paperclip highlights as currently tradable.
- Continue swapping until you obtain the day’s prize or restart if you reach a dead end.
- Use Undo if you want to backtrack, but know that three stars require completing the shortest route without undos.
- Try Practice for a fresh market any time or buy the unlock to access Expert markets and the archive.
Tips for Paperclip
- Prioritize trades that open multiple new trading options rather than single dead-end upgrades.
- Follow the game’s suggested "Can trade now" filter to reduce clutter and reveal immediate paths.
- Plan several moves ahead where possible, because some trades remove access to valuable traders.
- Use Undo during exploration to find the shortest route, then replay the optimal sequence without undos for three stars.
Paperclip FAQ
What is Paperclip?
Paperclip is a daily trading puzzle where you begin with a red paperclip and make single-use swaps with traders to reach the day’s prize; the market layout changes every day. The goal is to find the shortest sequence of trades from the paperclip to the prize, with multiple routes available but only one shortest solution.
Is Paperclip free to play?
Paperclip’s daily puzzle is free to play every day. There is an optional one-time US$2.99 unlock that adds unlimited practice, Expert markets, the archive, and full history, but the daily puzzle itself remains free.
How do the stars and scoring work?
Stars are awarded based on finding the shortest route and whether you used undos: three stars require the shortest route completed with no undos, and two stars denote the shortest route achieved with undos. The game indicates the shortest route and whether you matched it when you finish.
Can I play past puzzles?
Past daily puzzles are available through the archive, but access to the archive requires purchasing the one-time unlock. The archive is listed as a feature included with the US$2.99 purchase.
Is there a harder mode or extra challenges?
Yes, Paperclip offers Expert markets as an extra challenge; they are described as requiring about eight to ten trades and containing nastier traps. Expert markets are part of the features unlocked by the one-time purchase.
Who made Paperclip?
Paperclip was made by Pranav Bhaven Savla, who is identified on the page with social handles @blindiephoenix on Instagram and @imtheblindiephoenix on YouTube. Contact information for support is provided as an email address on the site.
Can I share my results from Paperclip?
Yes, the site provides buttons to Share result and Copy result so you can export your outcome. The interface includes controls labeled Share result and Copy result for easy sharing after completing a puzzle.
What do the game hints and colours mean?
After each trade, Paperclip indicates which traders you can trade with next by updating the market view and offering a "Can trade now" filter to show only currently available swaps. This feedback is the primary in-game hinting mechanism to guide your next choices.
