What is Universal Paperclips?
Universal Paperclips is a text-based incremental game by game designer Frank Lantz, released in 2017. You play an artificial intelligence whose only goal is to make paperclips, a playful take on the famous thought experiment about runaway AI.
It starts with clicking a button to make one clip at a time, then grows into pricing, marketing, autoclippers, computing power and investments. Each stage opens up new systems, and the story escalates far beyond a small paperclip business.
Main Features
- Starts with a single button and expands into several game stages
- Manage wire, pricing, demand and production
- Spend processors and memory on projects and upgrades
- Short, satisfying playthrough with a real ending
- Plain text interface that runs in any desktop browser
- Mobile apps available separately
How to Get Started with Universal Paperclips
- Open the Universal Paperclips page in a desktop browser.
- Click Make Paperclip to sell your first clips.
- Adjust the price and buy wire and autoclippers to grow production.
- Spend operations on projects as they unlock and see where it leads.
Universal Paperclips Pricing
The web version is free with no account. The game saves in your browser, so use the same browser to continue. Separate mobile versions are sold on the app stores.
Who Should Use It?
- Fans of idle and incremental games
- Anyone curious about AI alignment ideas
- Players who enjoy numbers going up
- People looking for a game with a clear story arc
Universal Paperclips Alternatives
- Stimulation Clicker: clicker game about attention overload
- Spend Bill Gates' Money: silly money-spending simulator
- The Password Game: puzzle game with escalating rules
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Universal Paperclips free?
Yes. The web version at decisionproblem.com is free to play with no account. The mobile apps are sold separately.
Who made Universal Paperclips?
It was made by game designer Frank Lantz and released in 2017.
Does Universal Paperclips save my progress?
Yes. Progress is saved in your browser, so you can close the tab and continue later on the same device and browser.