This is one of those games that completely snuck up on me but immediately fell in love with. Beyond the zen-like satisfaction of properly organizing a living space, it also has some of the best storytelling of any game I played this year.

While I never met the main character in Unpacking, I learned so much about her life and her interests through each scene, from her first bedroom to her first house. I deeply sympathized when it was clear she went through a messy (but necessary) breakup and cheered her on when she resolved to move into a new apartment and get a fresh start (even if she couldn’t afford a couch and used bean bags instead). Also, true to life, I could never figure out where to put the fucking colander.

Unpacking is one of those games I love watching other people play because while the game itself is relatively short (4 to 5 hours), it is also remarkably dense with how many details and Easter eggs are laid out throughout, and it’s unlikely you’ll see everything in a single playthrough. The game’s achievements encourage you to explore and experiment with various placements to see all the possible options. It’s a game where you can just tell how much passion was put into it because of its intricacies, and I think that’s far more valuable to me than any complaint I might have about the length.