Unpacking Reviews
Quote not yet availablThe game nails absolutely everything it sets out to accomplish, with the exception of maybe the controls. While the cursor system functions adequately on a controller, the title is definitely better suited to a mouse and keyboard. Additionally, placing items behind other objects or trying to tuck them into corners will very often be uncooperative. But these are minor obstacles on the way to enjoying such a uniquely wonderful game.e
Unpacking is a zen and satisfying experience, but it's much more than just a game with minimalist but oh so effective gameplay. Without a word, without an image, the title manages to tell the intimate and touching story of a woman over the most significant moments of her life.
Review in French | Read full review
Two decades of house moves are condensed into one relaxing puzzle as you help the narrator to unpack – and unpick her life in the process
Unpacking is real gem that deserves a wide audience. It is short, but the sheer love and care put into the entire game shines through at every turn and the careful balance achieved between freedom and restriction ensures satisfaction without frustration. Add in a wonderfully realised and intimate narrative that makes brilliant use of the values we place upon objects and you have an indie game that should find a place in your collection.
Unpacking uses its simple, satisfying puzzle gameplay to tell a moving story about the things we take with us.
Sometimes, all we need is just some peace and quiet, and Unpacking reminds us that life is filled with those moments. So we should appreciate them whenever we can, even when just opening boxes all day.
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.
Unpacking is undoubtedly a very complete game in his field, and that everything he does, he does it well. It is an "all" that makes it a very good game. Graphically, it complies with what is proposed, with an outstanding artistic section. An excellent sound section with a huge palette of sounds, along with an OST that accompanies us throughout our adventure. Playable, it is very simple, being accessible to all audiences
Review in Spanish | Read full review
But then… how much did it cost to go to the movies last time you went? Do you remember what you saw? Unpacking is going to stick with me at least as hard as the latest superhero movie I saw, and it’s going to make the next time I need to look for a new place that much more tolerable. Maybe even fun. I enjoyed the brief time I spent with Unpacking, and I’m not going to stop thinking about it before my next move.
For such a small game, the meaning and intent behind it is large. It made me think of all the things I’d had to leave behind between moves, especially after moving from a small town to a big city. As you progress, you’ll note some stuff that isn’t there in the later moves despite being there for the first couple. There’s also something inherently intimate about moving someone’s belongings around. It’s not just general things like clothing, cookware and more, but also toiletries and undergarments, it just feels more real. If you’ve had a long day and just want to play a fun laidback game or if you like organizing things or if you need a moment of self-reflection, Unpacking is a wonderful game that really needs more recognition and love.
Playing Unpacking is a unique experience that demonstrates how the simplicity of gameplay, when well employed, can translate into an absurdly involving and emotional work. Through the mechanics of unpacking and organizing, the game unveils the story of its protagonist and invites us to reflect on our own journeys, revisiting not only the objects that passed through our lives, but also the people who remain and those who are gone.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Usually when you think of casual games puzzles and the like are usually what comes to mind, or perhaps something akin to a visual novel...
I ended Unpacking with a huge smile on my face. Offering a truly unique storytelling experience, one few games can really compare to, I loved seeing a developer very much go their own way and try something different, especially since it all came together so wonderfully. Combine that with the zen-like comforts of designing these various rooms and Unpacking is a game that players should definitely unpack. Now to get back to unpacking my own stuff.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.