Unpacking Reviews
Unpacking is proof that a pixel tells a thousand words. Through simple, zen gameplay and a startling attention to detail a story unfolds in this tiny, pixelated world in a way that just wouldn't have been possible in another medium. That's truly something special on its own – a wholly unique and original narrative experience – and the fact that it's wrapped up in an incredibly cathartic and tangible puzzle game makes it all the more praiseworthy. Witch Beam has something incredible on their hands with this one.
But, like I've said, those nifty puzzles are just the jumping-off point for what makes this such a remarkable, memorable experience. A clever game of unloading boxes would have been enough to make Unpacking worth playing, but it's the way it weaves its beautiful story through those puzzles that makes it truly sublime.
Unpacking is truly a unique game that has done something no other video game has done before by crafting such a tremendously relatable character out of nothing but the rather mundaneness of unpacking boxes.
If you’re looking for something chill to play in between the stressful first-person shooters this holiday season, you can’t go wrong with this calm puzzle game, one that doesn’t overstay its welcome either, lasting only a few hours max. At the end of the day, Unpacking unpacks, a captivating story through its use of the stuff we collect in our lives.
Unpacking may take only a handful of hours to complete, but it stays with you for far longer. A beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable story awaits beyond a simple and calming puzzle-solving experience. Simply put, this is one of the best games of 2021.
Unpacking is a remarkable piece of work that elegantly evokes the ebbs and flows of life.
Unpacking is a satisfying, gorgeous and unexpectedly emotional dive into moving house and the importance of our possessions. This game simply must be played.
Unpacking is one of the best games of the year thanks to its magnificent idea: to tell the life of a person through their moves. Perfect in the playable and the sound, the story of Unpacking deserves to be lived.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Unpacking is a truly satisfying and wholesome experience for me. The soundtrack is especially great and even made me cry.
Review in German | Read full review
Unpacking is a relaxing puzzle game that encourages you to reflect and move forward.
Unpacking is a jewel, one of those video games able to leave its mark thanks to their extreme simplicity, and the ability they have to communicate themselves and their stories through gameplay, without disturbing words.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Engaging, relaxing, cathartic, Unpacking turns a laborious real-life exercise into a beautiful experience. Undoing the boxes at every stage of the main character's life provides a nice sense of accomplishment.
Review in French | Read full 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.
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.
You shouldn’t hesitate to pick up Unpacking. This is a true indie gem; a game that deserves to be celebrated for years, or even decades, to come. From the clever storytelling through objects to the incredible sound design imprinted into each and every item you pick up, every minute spent with this game is a joy. You’ll be invested from start to finish – and you won’t want it to end.
Unpacking is a wonderful gem from an independent team that tried something drastically different from their last game and succeeded in the execution. It manages to tell an emotional and intimate tale just by having you unpack objects over and over and that is to be commended. If you’re looking for a relaxing game to spend a few hours with that doesn’t ask a lot out of you then Unpacking is the game for you.
Unpacking is a simple and relaxing experience that manages to tell an engaging story with a beautiful message while delivering a surprisingly challenging puzzle game. It is a title you need to play if you are interested in indie games.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Unpacking was absolutely worth the wait. A delightful experience in every sense of the phrase, Unpacking will resonate with anyone who loves that feeling of fresh possibilities a new place offers. Even in its downturned moments, that unflappable optimism shines through, giving players a sense of excitement with each unpacked item. With its charming aesthetics, playful nature, and nuanced storytelling that will tug at your heartstrings, Unpacking unequivocally deserves a place in your game library.
Although the idea may sound simplistic for anyone who is used to large video game productions with open worlds and thousands of complex missions, Unpacking surprises with the amount of details and the narrative communicated exclusively by scenario's elements. Although the game's story is one, ours are many and are changeable according to the sense we want to preserve from our own narratives. May we always be open to our own changes.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I don’t think I’ve ever spent more time thinking about the objects that I own (apart from that time I watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and accidentally got rid of half of our stuff). I come from a long line of renters and have moved around a decent amount of times. And yet, some things – a Beanie Baby named Freckles, a box of old photographs – have moved along with me, adding permanence to something transient. Ultimately, Unpacking resonated so deeply with me, more so than any narrative-heavy games I’ve played this year. Life is not about things. After all, we don’t take things with us in the end. But things do tell a story of who we were. Things take on a meaning that we perhaps don’t even realize they have. Things are an outward clue about the things that matter to us. Unpacking shows this in a way I had never thought about before, just by forcing me to place each item one by one, and it reminds me of the unique power of video games to tell a story in a way that cannot exist in any other medium. I took the wine cooler. It lives on my windowsill. I use it to store kitchen utensils, and I don’t really notice it anymore. But every time I reach for a spatula, I see it. It reminds me, subtly, of my roots, of where I came from. And that’s no small thing. Look, I’m getting emotional. Just play Unpacking, alright? It’s gorgeous. You won’t regret it.