At first glance, Unpacking comes off as a simple indie puzzle game, where players unload moving boxes and decorate diverse rooms with little sprite-based items. However, developer Witch Beam takes this simple premise and turns it into a beautifully told story of life, love, and the adventures they take us on.
Unpacking creates a no-pressure environment: There are no scoring requirements, no timers, and few restrictions. The game sets up a room, adds some boxes, and allows players to unpack as they see fit. Every item pulled is a surprise, and placing them really evokes the feeling of decorating an empty space however the player wants. Some items are mundane and obvious - socks go in the sock drawer, pictures go on the wall - but no matter how simple it may seem, the choice is still left with the player.
Where Unpacking really thrives is in its storytelling. Throughout the eight levels, the game manages to tell a beautifully crafted story. Not through cutscenes or long text scrolls, but through the simple limitations that the game imposes on the players. Starting in a child's bedroom and advancing to a multi-room family house, the story put forth throughout Unpacking evokes emotions that many can relate to. By restricting the placement of one single item, Unpacking can speak volumes about life.
Unpacking a Lifetime of Memories
The one major drawback to Unpacking is the incredibly short campaign. It takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete the entire story, and it really leaves the player wanting more. There are some achievements that can be unlocked throughout the game that help extend the playtime, as certain items can be placed in specific ways that unlock stickers for players to add to their sticker book. Most of these placements are easy enough to figure out, and every time a sticker unlocks it creates a small sense of accomplishment.
Although simplistic looking in design, each item is incredibly detailed in Unpacking. There are hundreds of different, and familiar-looking, books, toys, movies, and tabletop games throughout the story. As time passes and the levels progress, so does the technology. Early on, players will find themselves putting together a big CRT monitor and computer on a desk, while later levels advance to laptops and flat-screens. These small details really provide Unpacking with a feeling of nostalgia, even if the player didn't own these items specifically, and it's easy to relate with the unnamed protagonist and the passing of time.
Many of the pixel art items in Unpacking also tell their own story, with the most obvious one being the main screen's stuffed piggy. As the game moves forward, the protagonist never lets go of her childhood stuffed animal, despite the degradation that slowly happens over time. These small details create big ideas throughout the short campaign and help push the narrative even further. Not only is the story told through the items that follow the player through the years, but likewise its expressed through the items that are left behind.
From the tiniest details in each item to the massive story told through simple gameplay, Unpacking is a fantastic indie game. The relaxing gameplay and chill music create a nice getaway experience. It's easy to disappear into Unpacking and complete the entire game in one playthrough, but the experience is so satisfying that players will want to do it again and again.
Unpacking is available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. A digital Steam copy was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.