Paradigm is a graphic adventure video game developed by Jacob Janerka.^[2][3] The game has an Eastern European 1970s and 1980s post-apocalyptic look.^[4]

The game follows Paradigm, a genetically grown person that was horribly mutated in the process, who was dumped in a post-Soviet town to grow up on his own. Paradigm then adventures through his past of DUPA Genetics only to find out he is a mutated prodigy child and that he must defeat Olof, a talking sloth who is the head of DUPA Genetics.^[3]

The game was crowdfunded through Kickstarter which ended on October 7, 2014, having raised $36,557 AUD by 1,387 backers, 250% over its initial funding goal^[5] of $14,000 AUD.^[6] To help crowd-fund the project, the game's designer Jacob Janerka quit his job.^[7]

Together with the Kickstarter, an alpha demo of the game was available to download and play. The game was originally slated for release in mid-2015.^[8]

On August 4, 2016, the game was chosen as one of six winners to be showcased at the PAX Aus Indie Showcase 2016.^[9][10] In March, 2017, a trailer was released on the developer's YouTube channel with a release date reveal of April, 5th, 2017 for Steam and Humble Bundle.^[1]

Reviews for the game were generally positive, with the game currently holding an average score of 85 on Metacritic.^[11] Destructoid gave the game a 9 out of 10, praising its offbeat sense of humour, engaging story, distinctive world and diverse characters.^[13] IGN gave the game an 8.0 out of 10, praising its voice acting and comedy and saying that it "offers a fresh and memorable entry" for the genre.^[14] Press Start gave the game a 9 out of 10, praising its humor, well thought out puzzles, the game's world and for avoiding the tropes of the genre.^[15]

Paradigm was one of the winners of the "Australian Game of The Year" award at the 2017 Melbourne International Games Week.^[16]