Unpacking - Video Game Review

Unpacking - Video Game Review

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Posted 2022-06-25 by Marisa Quinn-Haisufollow
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Unpacking is a puzzle game that encourages the player to pause and reflect on their life experiences and the personal belongings that we acquire and surround ourselves with as we go through life. The concept for the game was developed by Wren Brier and Tim Dawson, from Witch Beam, an indie game developer based in Brisbane, Australia. Unpacking was published by Humble Bundle on PC, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on 2 November 2021 and on Playstation 4 and Playstation 5 on 10 May 2022.

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Unpacking asks the player to peer into the life of a female protagonist and unpack boxes filled with their possessions as they move into new dwellings at different stages in their life. There's no dialogue, very little text and limited sound effects and music. You will follow the main protagonist from their childhood bedroom in 1997 through to the home they share with their family as an adult in 2018. The game features point and click controls and eight levels with a total of 35 different rooms to decorate. The player must open dozens of packing boxes and click and drag items to places that seem fitting for them in each different stage. It's a simple concept that manages to take something that is boring and tedious in real life into a unique puzzle game that tells a beautiful story told through a calm and relaxing gaming experience.



Unpacking received positive critical reception. It scored high scores and positive reviews from GameSpot , IGN , Nintendo Life , The Guardian , Vooks , and Eurogamer . A number of publications, such as The New Yorker , Forbes and The LA Times , named Unpacking as one of the best games of 2021. Unpacking has been praised for its LGBTQ representation, game design, storytelling, audio, accessibility, and innovation. The game has received a number of awards and accolades, including Game of the Year at the 2021 Australian Game Developer Awards, EE Game of the Year at the BAFTA Games Awards 2022, and Game of the Year and Best LGBTQ Indie Game at the Gayming Awards 2022.

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I wasn't really sold on the concept of Unpacking at first. I watched the trailer and read some positive reviews, but couldn't help but think what a weird idea for a game. Who would ever find organising a room to be relaxing? In real life, unpacking after a move is exhausting and time consuming. How could someone ever make a fun video game out of that? I mean, what's next? A video game about folding laundry or doing the dishes?

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I eventually caved in and bought the game on Nintendo Switch. I cannot praise this game enough. It was everything the reviews said it was. It was relaxing, calming and fun. I got so much pleasure out of stacking books on shelves, hanging clothes on a hanger, arranging DVDs, finding space for shoes in a cupboard, and putting fridge magnets on a fridge. Whenever I finished a room, I would feel such a sense of accomplishment. My only complaint about the game was it was sometimes hard to identify the items in the boxes. I spent a long time staring at the screen at one point trying to figure out what I was holding. I eventually realised it was a loofah and belonged in the bathroom.


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There are hidden secrets in each level. I liked how every time I pulled something out of a box, I learnt something more about the protagonist. It was a lot like finding clues and putting together a puzzle. I also liked how if you placed items in certain spaces, you would be awarded with stickers to place in a photo album. I ended up missing a bunch of stickers to go in my book. I'm tempted to go back and replay the game so I can unlock the remaining stickers. It took me five hours to finish Unpacking. It's not a long game, but don't let that put you off from buying it. Unpacking is utterly charming and a wonderful achievement in storytelling and game design.

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83385 - 2023-06-11 06:41:16

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