Unpacking is an incredibly pleasant and relaxing 4-hour puzzle game; more importantly, though, it’s a triumph in both environmental storytelling and detailed worldbuilding.
You see, in those four hours of gameplay, you take part in every major move of an unnamed woman’s life. You unpack her boxes and organize her belongings. You find homes for everything from a Rubik’s Cube to D&D figures. Despite not knowing her face or name, you become an intimate part of this woman’s personal story. [SPOILERS] She gets her own room, goes to college, moves into a partner’s place, returns to her parent’s house… [SPOILER END]
None of it is a particularly original story, but that’s what makes it such a beautiful affair. These are things each and every one of us go through, in some way or another. We move out, move around, struggle to find a sense of permanence in each place we stay. No, originality is not what makes Unpacking so good. It’s how relatable it is to every single person who picks it up.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 5/5
Sound: 5.5/5
Story: 4/5
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Overall game score: 4.5/5 [4.6/5]
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
Visuals:
Each room you unpack is viewed from a high-angle perspective that covers the entire area. Each is also flawlessly sized to give you enough space to work with, without it becoming overwhelming. These aspects of the visual design are so well thought-out, and a huge contributor to the game’s chill nature.
That’s not even mentioning the gorgeous pixel art. Every item made to occupy these living spaces are so detailed and lovingly created. The lighting, shadows, and textures on each make them beautifully realistic and stylish - down to the pen, and up to the bunk bed.
In fact, these items are the main factor in Unpacking’s amazing worldbuilding; it all comes down to the woman’s possessions changing over time. Her D&D figure becomes painted. Her stuffed pig gets worn and torn. Her computer upgrades from a boxy monitor to a laptop. She gains and loses stuff over the years, never remaining static. This is what really and truly makes the entire game. Every single item is given thought and attention, which is perfectly portrayed through the spectacular pixel art.
Overall, 5/5.
Sound:
Each stage is set to its own soft, relaxing track; the mixture of old-school chiptune and lovely acoustics complement each other surprisingly well. Additionally, when each piece ends, instead of immediately looping back, you’re placed into a few minutes of music-free activity. In those minutes, you find yourself accompanied only by the sounds of birds chirping, cars passing, plates stacking, and shampoo bottles being placed. It’s a calming silence, an immersive one.
But even more impressive are the sound effects. See, Unpacking sports a library of over 14,000 files to replicate ordinary, everyday sounds; you can set a can of Febreze on the same toilet five times without hearing the exact same one twice. This awe-inspiring level of detail is one of the biggest things that makes this game so immersive. Every single combination of item and placement is its own little experience.
All of these elements of the design are such an important, understated contributor to my personal love for this game. The calming atmosphere created by the music, coupled with the satisfying sound effects, gently push you to keep going.
In other words, the sound grabs your attention, while the worldbuilding and visuals grab your heart.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Story:
As I’ve already said, Unpacking does not have a particularly special story. The premise is simple; an ordinary girl goes through ordinary life changes. What is unique about this game is its show-don’t-tell portrayal of our unnamed protagonist’s personal evolution. We are presented her life path through each new place she lives, and the belongings she brings with her.
As the woman grows, her interests and tastes grow with her. She gains or cultivates hobbies (some of which are influenced by the people around her, some of which she discovers on her own.) Her goals gain clarity, and her dreams are put into motion. She advances her career and upgrades her equipment. [SPOILERS] She starts a family. [SPOILER END] All of this is told to us without a word ever being spoken.
It’s a thesis on how you don’t really need to talk to someone to know them intimately. Our possessions are a peek into our personality and passions; it’s something that applies to all of us. For me, it’s my wrestling autographs, cat figurines, sketchbooks, and video games. For my boyfriend, it’s books, movies, and jewelry. For you, it’s something else, an assortment of items that reflect what you love and care about.
But it goes beyond that. They’re a peek into our history, too. When she moves in with her first serious boyfriend, she gets into music because he loves it; she still has her ukulele and music books years later. Wherever she lives, she hangs up pictures of her with her friends. She keeps t-shirts from her college days. This woman is wrapped in a lovingly-created backstory, but it’s a backstory we witness firsthand.
During each stage, we see the woman make major life changes and grow up. Yes, it’s simplistic and mundane. There’s no high-stakes drama; it’s not reinventing the wheel. But what this game has that no other I’ve played does is an innate sense of wonder that we, as humans, attach to our belongings and surroundings. The way we grow as people, the leaps of faith we take when finding our own apartment or moving in with a partner. It’s beautiful in its own way, this display of normal - but scary - steps we all have to take, and the things we bring along for the ride.
Overall, 4/5.
Gameplay:
Underneath its fantastic story is Unpacking’s (mostly) relaxing gameplay loop. You open boxes, pull out one item at a time, and find them a place in your new home. It satisfies the human need to organize and decorate, without any pressure on you to do anything else; there’s no in-depth systems, no difficult puzzles to solve. It’s just what the name says.
You have a pretty nice amount of freedom, too. For example, I always preferred having the sketchbooks together in the woman’s workspace. Although some items are required to be in certain rooms, you can often pick and choose - so even if it’s another person’s things, it’s at least slightly customized to you.
Unfortunately, though, those item restrictions are quite annoying when they DO pop up. While it didn’t bother me personally, I understand why others found it frustrating. Putting work into what’s meant to be a relaxing experience by organizing things how you like, only to be told that you did it wrong, isn’t exactly relaxing.
Thankfully, there is an option to turn this off, so you can cater to all players. At the end of the day, Unpacking isn’t ABOUT being challenging. It’s about that simple feeling of fulfillment, and watching the story unfold before you. If people don’t want to be forced to arrange things in a certain way, they shouldn’t have to.
Overall, 3.5/5.
Worldbuilding:
I’ve already spent a large portion of this review gushing about how good Unpacking’s worldbuilding is. Through the visual and environmental storytelling, a relatively forgettable story suddenly becomes remarkable. The artistic depiction of wear and tear, of growing up, of change… that’s what makes this game special.
I have a stuffed animal, a weiner dog named Frankie. I got him since I was 12. His fur is matted and no longer shines from years of holding him while I sleep; he’s flat from years of being used as a pillow. He’s got a chip in one of his eyes. He’s old and worn, but to this day, I keep him on my bed. Why? Because he’s one of the best things from my childhood. He’s a reminder of a good memory. He’s something I can hug whenever I’m sad. He holds a decade of love in his lumpy stuffing.
The ukulele I’ve owned since I was 16 sits near my bed. Even if I rarely play it anymore, it’s my favorite Christmas gift - maybe the nicest thing my family ever did for me. The sketchbooks I’ve filled throughout my teenage and adulthood line a shelf, crammed with old characters and ideas. My closet is 1/4 wrestling t-shirts - ones my mom found in thrift stores, and ones I’ve bought as an adult.
All of this is what Unpacking is about. It’s about people, and who we are at our core. The love we put into our belongings and our homes. And although it may not be entirely intentional, it’s a wonderful showing of how special each and every person is.
Overall, 5/5.
Overall game score: 4.5/5. Unpacking is such a nice, pleasant, heartfelt game. It tells a sweet and simple story through incredible visual storytelling. While the gameplay isn’t executed perfectly and may not be for everyone, it was very charming by my account. This is a project I admire a lot for the effort and love that were obviously put into it. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.
You see, in those four hours of gameplay, you take part in every major move of an unnamed woman’s life. You unpack her boxes and organize her belongings. You find homes for everything from a Rubik’s Cube to D&D figures. Despite not knowing her face or name, you become an intimate part of this woman’s personal story. [SPOILERS] She gets her own room, goes to college, moves into a partner’s place, returns to her parent’s house… [SPOILER END]
None of it is a particularly original story, but that’s what makes it such a beautiful affair. These are things each and every one of us go through, in some way or another. We move out, move around, struggle to find a sense of permanence in each place we stay. No, originality is not what makes Unpacking so good. It’s how relatable it is to every single person who picks it up.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 5/5
Sound: 5.5/5
Story: 4/5
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Overall game score: 4.5/5 [4.6/5]
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
Visuals:
Each room you unpack is viewed from a high-angle perspective that covers the entire area. Each is also flawlessly sized to give you enough space to work with, without it becoming overwhelming. These aspects of the visual design are so well thought-out, and a huge contributor to the game’s chill nature.
That’s not even mentioning the gorgeous pixel art. Every item made to occupy these living spaces are so detailed and lovingly created. The lighting, shadows, and textures on each make them beautifully realistic and stylish - down to the pen, and up to the bunk bed.
In fact, these items are the main factor in Unpacking’s amazing worldbuilding; it all comes down to the woman’s possessions changing over time. Her D&D figure becomes painted. Her stuffed pig gets worn and torn. Her computer upgrades from a boxy monitor to a laptop. She gains and loses stuff over the years, never remaining static. This is what really and truly makes the entire game. Every single item is given thought and attention, which is perfectly portrayed through the spectacular pixel art.
Overall, 5/5.
Sound:
Each stage is set to its own soft, relaxing track; the mixture of old-school chiptune and lovely acoustics complement each other surprisingly well. Additionally, when each piece ends, instead of immediately looping back, you’re placed into a few minutes of music-free activity. In those minutes, you find yourself accompanied only by the sounds of birds chirping, cars passing, plates stacking, and shampoo bottles being placed. It’s a calming silence, an immersive one.
But even more impressive are the sound effects. See, Unpacking sports a library of over 14,000 files to replicate ordinary, everyday sounds; you can set a can of Febreze on the same toilet five times without hearing the exact same one twice. This awe-inspiring level of detail is one of the biggest things that makes this game so immersive. Every single combination of item and placement is its own little experience.
All of these elements of the design are such an important, understated contributor to my personal love for this game. The calming atmosphere created by the music, coupled with the satisfying sound effects, gently push you to keep going.
In other words, the sound grabs your attention, while the worldbuilding and visuals grab your heart.
Overall, 5.5/5.
Story:
As I’ve already said, Unpacking does not have a particularly special story. The premise is simple; an ordinary girl goes through ordinary life changes. What is unique about this game is its show-don’t-tell portrayal of our unnamed protagonist’s personal evolution. We are presented her life path through each new place she lives, and the belongings she brings with her.
As the woman grows, her interests and tastes grow with her. She gains or cultivates hobbies (some of which are influenced by the people around her, some of which she discovers on her own.) Her goals gain clarity, and her dreams are put into motion. She advances her career and upgrades her equipment. [SPOILERS] She starts a family. [SPOILER END] All of this is told to us without a word ever being spoken.
It’s a thesis on how you don’t really need to talk to someone to know them intimately. Our possessions are a peek into our personality and passions; it’s something that applies to all of us. For me, it’s my wrestling autographs, cat figurines, sketchbooks, and video games. For my boyfriend, it’s books, movies, and jewelry. For you, it’s something else, an assortment of items that reflect what you love and care about.
But it goes beyond that. They’re a peek into our history, too. When she moves in with her first serious boyfriend, she gets into music because he loves it; she still has her ukulele and music books years later. Wherever she lives, she hangs up pictures of her with her friends. She keeps t-shirts from her college days. This woman is wrapped in a lovingly-created backstory, but it’s a backstory we witness firsthand.
During each stage, we see the woman make major life changes and grow up. Yes, it’s simplistic and mundane. There’s no high-stakes drama; it’s not reinventing the wheel. But what this game has that no other I’ve played does is an innate sense of wonder that we, as humans, attach to our belongings and surroundings. The way we grow as people, the leaps of faith we take when finding our own apartment or moving in with a partner. It’s beautiful in its own way, this display of normal - but scary - steps we all have to take, and the things we bring along for the ride.
Overall, 4/5.
Gameplay:
Underneath its fantastic story is Unpacking’s (mostly) relaxing gameplay loop. You open boxes, pull out one item at a time, and find them a place in your new home. It satisfies the human need to organize and decorate, without any pressure on you to do anything else; there’s no in-depth systems, no difficult puzzles to solve. It’s just what the name says.
You have a pretty nice amount of freedom, too. For example, I always preferred having the sketchbooks together in the woman’s workspace. Although some items are required to be in certain rooms, you can often pick and choose - so even if it’s another person’s things, it’s at least slightly customized to you.
Unfortunately, though, those item restrictions are quite annoying when they DO pop up. While it didn’t bother me personally, I understand why others found it frustrating. Putting work into what’s meant to be a relaxing experience by organizing things how you like, only to be told that you did it wrong, isn’t exactly relaxing.
Thankfully, there is an option to turn this off, so you can cater to all players. At the end of the day, Unpacking isn’t ABOUT being challenging. It’s about that simple feeling of fulfillment, and watching the story unfold before you. If people don’t want to be forced to arrange things in a certain way, they shouldn’t have to.
Overall, 3.5/5.
Worldbuilding:
I’ve already spent a large portion of this review gushing about how good Unpacking’s worldbuilding is. Through the visual and environmental storytelling, a relatively forgettable story suddenly becomes remarkable. The artistic depiction of wear and tear, of growing up, of change… that’s what makes this game special.
I have a stuffed animal, a weiner dog named Frankie. I got him since I was 12. His fur is matted and no longer shines from years of holding him while I sleep; he’s flat from years of being used as a pillow. He’s got a chip in one of his eyes. He’s old and worn, but to this day, I keep him on my bed. Why? Because he’s one of the best things from my childhood. He’s a reminder of a good memory. He’s something I can hug whenever I’m sad. He holds a decade of love in his lumpy stuffing.
The ukulele I’ve owned since I was 16 sits near my bed. Even if I rarely play it anymore, it’s my favorite Christmas gift - maybe the nicest thing my family ever did for me. The sketchbooks I’ve filled throughout my teenage and adulthood line a shelf, crammed with old characters and ideas. My closet is 1/4 wrestling t-shirts - ones my mom found in thrift stores, and ones I’ve bought as an adult.
All of this is what Unpacking is about. It’s about people, and who we are at our core. The love we put into our belongings and our homes. And although it may not be entirely intentional, it’s a wonderful showing of how special each and every person is.
Overall, 5/5.
Overall game score: 4.5/5. Unpacking is such a nice, pleasant, heartfelt game. It tells a sweet and simple story through incredible visual storytelling. While the gameplay isn’t executed perfectly and may not be for everyone, it was very charming by my account. This is a project I admire a lot for the effort and love that were obviously put into it. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.