- November 1, 2021
- Humble Games
- 4h median play time
Unpacking
Unpacking is a satisfying, gorgeous and unexpectedly emotional dive into moving house and the importance of our possessions. This game simply must be played.
Platforms
About
"Unpacking" is a zen-like moving simulation game where players unpack and organize possessions of a character across eight different moves. The game encourages players to pay attention to details and tells a story through the items that are unpacked. It's a calming and introspective experience that allows players to appreciate the little things in life.










- story7,658 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The story in "Unpacking" is a unique and heartfelt narrative conveyed through environmental storytelling, where players piece together the life of a character by unpacking their belongings across various stages of life. The game subtly explores themes of growth, relationships, and personal identity without any dialogue, relying instead on the items and their placement to reveal the protagonist's journey. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and charm of the story, some express a desire for additional storylines or content, as the game is relatively short, typically taking around 3-5 hours to complete.
“I absolutely adored the story that subtly unfolded throughout this game.”
“The pixel art is beautiful, and I really enjoyed the story the game tells through the rooms, items, and where items can be placed.”
“Unpacking is a game where you discover a character's story through the changes in their environments.”
“The storyline is very cute and every level I looked forward to finding out what stuff the protagonist has taken with her.”
“I was really disappointed to find out it's just one very short story.”
“For the price tag, there should have been a different story for each of the three books.”
Unpacking Review
Unpacking is a wonderfully quaint experience that adds an extra punch to what it means to grow, change, and move on. Even if it could be a bit longer and more extensive, it justifies its place in my game library.
85%Unpacking Review
Unpacking manages to do several things very well, all at the same time. It’s a touching story told through interaction, it provides the creative play space of a great dollhouse game, and it deftly applies established game design ideas from completely different genres. Its only real shortcoming is the repetition that is a necessary byproduct of landing its message. Effort has gone into making the controls satisfying on Switch, and the visual and sound design are delightful throughout, making Unpacking, like any sane person’s cutlery, absolutely top-drawer.
90%Unpacking Review
Unpacking is the perfect game to unwind with and provides unique and cosy storytelling through its simple point-and-click mechanics that will keep players wanting more.
90%