The Imperial Gatekeeper

The Imperial Gatekeeper

Released Sep 2022

The Empire is finally whole after the Great Unification War, and the military is undergoing a restructuring. You are Corporal Thill, a decorated war hero begrudgingly transferred to the newly created Traffic Security Bureau to man one of its many checkpoints. Glory to the Empire!

79% positive · 2,192 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence

Where to buy

Steam $12.99
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Evaluation

The Imperial Gatekeeper released on September 2, 2022. The store description presents a complete, self-contained narrative experience — a Papers Please-style checkpoint game with a full story arc, multiple regions, and a progression system that all appear to be part of the base package. There are no DLC listings, no season passes, no unreleased content entries on the store, and no developer communications announcing future updates, expansions, or additional content. No post-launch news posts or developer statements indicate ongoing development work. The game shows every indication of having launched as a finished product with no post-launch content cycle intended or communicated.
Evidence
Store description presents a complete, self-contained narrative and gameplay experience with no mention of upcoming content, DLC, or ongoing updates.
description · Sep 2, 2022 source ambiguous
medium
Short description frames the game as a complete story with no indication of planned expansions or additional content.
store metadata · Sep 2, 2022 source ambiguous
low

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Kagura Games
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Players
Single-player

About this game

While not a national hero, everyone in the army knows of the feats and accomplishments in the recent unification war that earned you the moniker of "Thill the Spearman." You thought you had a dazzling military career ahead of you, but you've instead been transferred to the newly created Traffic Security Bureau for reasons you can't begin to fathom. Its chief, Olivia Riedell, insists the world is about to change and your country will no longer require soldiers. Instead, she believes it will embrace hard-working men and women who wield pens instead of swords and rifles. Your sense of duty compels you to accept, but you'll soon learn it's not as comfy a job as you imagined...

As the squad leader, you're tasked with questioning applicants wishing to go through the checkpoint and making sure their papers are in order. Compare dates, check photographs and descriptions against the person in front of you, and identify counterfeit documents. There's only so much time in a day though, and your pay depends on your performance. Make sure to move the line along quickly while avoiding mistakes!

Progress through the story and perform well in your duties to get transferred to checkpoints in other regions, each with its own evolving rules that dictate who's allowed to enter and under what conditions.

Earn your paycheck and browse the wandering merchant's wares to acquire various valuable items that modify or enhance your ability to perform your duties. How about a metal detector that instantly identifies hidden weapons? How about a calming perfume that prevents applicants from getting stressed as quickly? These and many more items will unlock as the game progresses!

Security Checkpoint Simulation

Receive applicants who wish to cross the checkpoint and verify their documents and stories through the interactive minigame. Use items to handle the most complex cases, and earn evaluation points by being accurate and quick to advance your career.

Randomly Generated & Handcrafted Characters

Applicants are randomly generated, ensuring no two days on the job are the same. Among those, a cast of unique, handcrafted characters with their own stories and sidequests will appear if the right conditions are met. Of course, not everyone who appears before you will be a friendly, law-abiding citizen. Use wanted posters to identify dangerous criminals who wish harm to the Empire and its people.

Interwoven Gameplay and Story

The locations you visit, the rules you have to follow, and the characters you meet all play a part in progressing the story. Perform well enough to be noticed by the higher-ups, and keep an eye out for suspicious individuals.

Last evaluated Jun 22, 2026
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