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The Stamp Thief

Swipe coveted postage from neighborhood mailboxes, stay ahead of nosy residents, and grow your illicit collection one cautious night at a time.

Heads up: Newgrounds blocks embedding for this build, so launch it directly in a new tab to play. Open game in a new window

Gameplay overview

Petty crime with paperwork flair

The Stamp Thief was created in three days for Ludum Dare 58’s “Collector” theme. You’re a would-be philatelist with shallow pockets, so each night you case the block, raid mailboxes, and scrutinize whatever postage you grab. Every stop raises the neighborhood’s suspicion, so you balance greed with quick getaways.

Much like Papers, Please, success hinges on cross-checking small details. Examine each stamp against the collector’s notes, choose whether to keep, sell, or ditch it, and make enough profit to keep returning without drawing a crowd.

Heist structure

Run, inspect, stash

  • Move between mailboxes under cover of night, staying alert for neighbors who might spot you lingering.
  • Bring stolen letters back to your bench to inspect, weighing each stamp’s look and notes before adding it to the haul.
  • Flip confirmed treasures for cash or stash favorites in your collection, all while keeping a low profile.

Controls & interface

Mouse-driven stealth

  • Use the mouse to click destinations, interact with mailboxes, and browse the in-game guidance panels.
  • Hover and click stamp details to give them a closer look before deciding their fate.
  • Tap the on-screen buttons to wrap the night, review your album, or sell contraband to clear space.

Tips

Keep the heat down

  • Rotate routes; repeatedly hitting the same house quickly spikes suspicion and ends the night early.
  • Keep the in-game hints handy—authenticity clues change between levels, so skim them before grabbing the next envelope.
  • Sell duplicates to keep cash flowing while saving your most prized finds for bragging rights.
  • Play fullscreen, as suggested by the devs, for easier detail work while scanning each stamp.

Content notes

Light crime comedy

Themes include petty theft, evading neighbors, and a touch of police pursuit. The tone stays cartoony, but repeated failure can mean getting caught and losing your haul.

Frequently asked questions

Before you knock

Q: What’s the jam origin?
A: The project was built in three days for Ludum Dare 58’s “Collector” theme by Bit0, myheadmess, and liam.

Q: The WebGL build says it’s stuck—what gives?
A: Give the loading bar a moment and make sure your browser allows WebGL. Refresh or open the standalone link if it still hangs.

Q: Can I play fullscreen?
A: Yes—the team specifically recommends fullscreen for easier stamp inspection once the Unity build finishes loading.