Unpacking gives a window into the stages of life many of us experience, framed through unpacking moves into those new spaces. The mechanic of unpacking is immensely satisfying, especially for anyone who enjoys organizing, as it replicates the real life joy of finding just the right place for all your stuff. Every item makes a satisfying clank or thud when placed, as the game draws from 14,000 sound files to add a sensory flourish. This represents the level of detail found in Unpacking, which can be seen in the overall aesthetic, specific item design, and room layouts.

But Unpacking goes far further than simply allowing players to impersonate an interior decorator. All of the moves turn out to be moments in a character's life, a character that we never see or hear from, but that we learn about through unpacking their stuff. And, by the end, that we will know to a surprising degree. Even more impressive is the game's ability to not only tell story beats, but illicit gut responses from players based only on the spaces we are moving into. Not only are you learning about a move the character is making, but you are brought back to similar moves you may have experienced.

Overall, Unpacking is a delightful time for its four hour duration. Occasionally the game will gate where items can go for story purposes, breaking the illusion of player agency in designing a room. And the final couple moves, similar to real life, start to get a bit long with the sheer amount of stuff. But those are minor complaints when compared to satisfaction brought by unpacking boxes and the environmental storytelling on display.