Unpacking

Completed 22 February, 2025

Unpacking is a game about, well… unpacking. At first, it’s kinda annoying trying to find a place for everything, especially when some items just don’t fit anywhere. But as you go along, it becomes oddly therapeutic. There’s something satisfying about organising and seeing a space come together. Plus, without a single word, the game tells a quiet but meaningful story through the things you unpack.

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☐ Good
☑ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☑ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☑ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☑ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☑ Short
☐ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☑ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☐ 9
☐ 10

Unpacking uses intimate level design to tell a compelling story about growing up. This has some of the best level design in a game, and I found myself feeling sentimental about items that don't even belong to me in real life. It's an incredible game, and weirdly relaxing.

I have around 5 completed playthroughs and i can tell you i have bawled my eyes out every time that godforsaken ending sequence came up. this game is the quite literally the phrase "actions speak louder than words". the entire story is so beautifully portrayed using very very little dialogue. i watch the playback gifs way too much.

As someone who loves to organise, this game has been a bloody angel send. I love the artstyle and the music, and I adore how the story of the person we're 'playing' as is gradually told. The ending is so sweet and to be honest I never get sick of this game. I looked back at some of my old saves and cringed at how I arranged them and immediately needed to re-do the entire game.

Finally stopped procrastinating on this game and finished it. <3 such a cute story though I wish there was more for the price.

due to my unwillingness and procrastination of progressing this game, i have accidentally played through each part of the plot as i lived it out, so this game has an oddly specific place in my heart

regardless, this game is super relaxing and enjoyable, even if i find myself stressing through my perfectionism. the music and sound design is beautiful and i love the story this game tells about growth.
i feel like other reviews don't give it enough credit where its due, i recommend this nice chill experience ^_^

I love this game, it always helps me relax and spend some quiet time with myself. However, I'd love the game to be updated, more levels and more stories. It could be completely different stories with new people, that way it won't get repetitive.

the main issue i had with the game is that you have to put everything in SUCH SPECIFIC PLACES and if you don't know what something is, like a FUCKING EGG FOR EXAMPLE, it can take you so unbelievably long, trying to put everything on every shelf in every single room, and god forbid you miss a spot because you'll be going mentally insane, and may the lord have mercy on your innocent soul if you don't fucking realise you CAN put shit in a specific place
the story is good. there wasn't much, but you can tell who the character is simply by what stuff there is, and where you have to put it. the game (for the most part) is very calming, and just a chill experience, up until the end of each years where the game tells you items aren't in the right place

You unpack a persons belongings as live is moving on.

It every once in a while makes you question your organisational system and the game tends to do weird things with items that make 0 sense.

I got this on sale. I liked it so much, I intend to play through at least one more time. The relaxed, stress-free pleasure of discovering what was in each box and finding homes for each item was addictive. I loved that each new "room" wasn't just a new level, but instead was a new chapter in the life of an unseen character. It was so much fun seeing which items re-appeared and which were left behind as the character grew and had new experiences and homes. I recommend this if you can get it on sale like I did.

It may be a short experience but it wouldn't be just to reduce this to playtime. I have never seen a game that cared more about its protagonist. One simple mechanic and this turned from a little "let's click around for fun" to "woah, gut punch". No spoilers just play for yourself.

I do have to say: I spend several weeks IRL between play sessions which helped feeling that time had passed since the last move. And some items are just utterly foreign to me. I have no idea what they are or where to put them but that doesn't hinder the game experience at all.

I enjoyed the first couple levels as i enjoy decorating the empty spaces with stuff. But aventually it became a lot more puzzle based by making it more and more specific of where you need to place items. It prettymuch took the fun out of the relaxing experience it started with. It's possible others enjoy it more as a puzzle game but i was not expecting that and rather do my own thing and decide where i want to put what.

This is one of my favorite games of all time. It's relaxing, and it's become a comfort game for me.

Very relaxing game and fun to play if you're looking to kill time. I like it because you can unpack the room anyway you want to. There may be items in a box that go in a different room and when you're done, it will highlight the items that are possibly in the wrong room. I got through one playthrough in 4.7 hours and now I will play again in the future to get the other stickers (the game's achievements).

There is a lot to say about this game, but I will try to keep it brief. Let's start with the positives:
The game is super cute, and if you pay attention, there's a lot of fascinating story that is depicted, as pictures and other objects while unpacking paint an amazing image of the narrator's life. There was a lot of love put into the context within the game, and I think that shows really well. The artistic style of the game is adorable as well and really brings it all together. Overall I had such a fun experience with this game

Now all that being said...it is not worth $20 for not even 3 1/2hrs of play time. Also, it is extremely infuriating. The game is not very forgiving if you place an object in the wrong spot. While the game will highlight the object in red, it doesn't always make sense, and won't be direct about what it wants. so you're just left guessing. For example, one level had a bag, that I put in the closet on top of a table... I had to specifically have it on the floor. Another level has a photo that you need to hide. But it is extremely picky as to where is an acceptable place to hide it, and again, the game offers no indication of what is correct, or even that the image had to be hid, I had to Google this

SUMMARY/TLDR:
Very cute game with an equally cute story. Just a fun little time waster game. But the price is waaaay too much for barely over 3hrs of playtime

This was such a cute game!

It actually might be better described as an interactive story - there are "objectives" but there's not really a way to fail (except to give up, I suppose). The story is very human, a gentle biography of an artist, including romances, losses, prosperity and struggle.

I would love to see more of this kind of storytelling. It reminds me that enjoying my time interacting with "games" doesn't always need to involve grinding away at developing white-knuckle aim and PTSD-inducing reaction time. These things can be a way to communicate about the myriad ways people can share our experiences across all the things that might otherwise be used to divide us.

★★★☆☆

A story through the years told without words or even people, but through unpacking and organising items in different homes of a person. It is a beautiful idea for a game, but I have to admit, I felt tired of the point and click gameplay towards the end. It is a cozy game, but not particularly fun all of the time in my experience. The pixel art style is cool.

I did not enjoy mulling over the perfect home arrangement planning so I'd just started placing things roughly in their right area so I could make some progress. Perhaps that isn't how this game is supposed to be enjoyed, and maybe it's not for me. If you're someone who enjoys taking things slow and loves organising things, this game might appeal to you better.

I was pretty bored while playing this game. Even though I'd enjoyed the first few levels, it became a chore to unpack the later levels. Nice subtle storytelling though, it was simply well done.

Totally chill game and one of the best that engages you in a story but with the satisfaction of relaxing music, sounds and gameplay

Lovely little game. wonderful for a chill session. Very wholesome. I love the story that gets told through the various moves. little touches such as where certain photos can be placed really add to it.
My only comment is that the price point is a little high for the time of an avg playthrough being only 3hrs.

sadly that are only 8 levels to reach But it is really relaxing and fun to play. wish you had more story for us to unpack!

Good pixel art, nice cozy game about unpacking and trying to make everything fit, telling a story through the objects you unpack and how they try to fit in. A good timewaster of a game but lacks much replay value for the price.

I'd say grab it if you can get it on a discount, but don't expect anything fancy.

A sterling example of art imitating life, Unpacking’s gameplay will immediately connect with most players while subtly guiding them through an engaging narrative.

Biggest positives:
++ Excellent environmental storytelling
++ Intuitive, minimalist interface that never gets in the way of letting you place things where you want

Other notes:
~ Some players might feel shortchanged by the game’s relatively brief run time

Full review: https://toothbrush.blog/review/unpacking/

Short and sweet cozy game with a cute story.

very calm game you can sit and play the game for hours SO many levels.

Very satisfying, lovely story, beautiful art! <3

This is one of my absolute favorite games! No words and so much beautiful storytelling. I'd love more release with new people to unpack and learn about!

I thought this would just be a relaxing game, but it ended up being so much more than that. I found this game very therapeutic, with a beautiful story interlaced throughout. The details of this game, the photographs, how the spaces and things you are unpacking change and develop over the game is a part of the story. The details are beautiful and, as a queer person, its so easy to really start to see yourself in the main character. By the end of the game you feel a sense of truly knowing the characters, feeling proud of their fictitious accomplishments. I also think that the ability to replay the game is definitely there. Theres a lot of clever and cute accomplishments that you could aim for to 100% the game, and many different ways could go about decorating and organizing everything. I only wish it was never ending game play lol.

a super adorable and cozy game with a surprising background story!!

I love this game so much, the graphics are adorable, the story is so sweet, and the music is perfect. Overall very well done! I've played all the way through five times now! Highly recommend!

I completed this game ages ago but never wrote a review and that's criminal of me. I followed this game during its development. I love pixel art and games like this are so up my alley. And it didn't disappoint. I didn't expect to feel so emotional during a game about unpacking but the way they weave the story through all the levels is masterful. The art is gorgeous and overall it's such a whimsical, wholesome experience. Truly a cosy, chill game.

great unwinding game! i got invested in learning more about the character's life i was unpacking.
but it only has one play through available per person. its affordable for about a 2/4hr play through but the multiple photo albums (saves) let you think there are more puzzles. just up to 3 people can play once under one game
i wish there was more!

Super fun game. I wish there were more scenes to organize or maybe dlcs to work with because it didn't take long to complete the game. It's definitely worth grabbing when it's on sale, the full price of $19.99 is too much for such a short game

Unpacking is one of the coziest, most relaxing games I've ever owned. I absolutely adore this form of storytelling—it's different, super creative, and easy to follow. I can't help but disagree with those who say the game has "no replay value", as I've replayed quite a few times, and still haven't gotten bored. Just recently during my latest playthrough, I noticed details I hadn't before. Upon writing this review, I have almost 16 hours of playtime, and that will surely increase.

I can, however, agree that the game feels too short. Although unlikely, I hope one day the devs will add more chapters (or maybe even a sequel). Overall, I 100% recommend Unpacking.

A unique way to tell a story! Beautiful graphics, enjoyable music. Great game for calm evenings and a extremely well preparation for a real-life moving out!

Incredible game with great graphics, cozy art style, and beautiful storytelling. I keep coming back to this game, even after completing it several times. <3

I really, really enjoyed playing this game and i still do. I think it's very calming, and i haven't been able to find any other game anywhere, where you can just decorate without having to do anything else. 100% recomend to other people!

This is a delightful, cosy game that I am very pleased to have in my library; it's a good length, highly replayable (if you like organising things repeatedly, which I most assuredly do), has excellent sound design (the foley of the objects being placed is delicious!), and lovely little details in the game's artwork, e.g., scuffmarks on the floor near the desk chair, weathered walls from posters of yore, etc.

I can't recommend this game enough--not least because it's set in my hometown!

Unpacking is a fun and relaxing game, yet it conveys a much deeper message than just placing and organizing items. You're not just unpacking boxes; you're unpacking a person's life. Each room, box, and object tells something about the character's changes throughout life, with no dialogue necessary. The game is fairly short, but it definitely has replay value if you are detail-oriented and enjoy organizing!

This is a super cute game! I loved being able to follow the story as I unpacked the different places, and I really enjoyed the unpacking process! I think it's a little bit pricey for how many levels there are, but regardless it's a really good game. If you can get it on a sale, it's worth every penny!! :)

While the game has a cute story and was well-produced, you get about 3 hours of playtime for $20 with no replay value. This is a great concept for a game and unique from everything else on the market yet the team is staunchly against expanding on this. Sadly, I don't recommend the game just due to the price point to entertainment ratio.

Fantastic and cozy puzzle game that took me about 4.5 hours to complete fully with all achievements unlocked. I would highly recommend this as a chill gaming session where one can just zone out and let their mind transform into a fun interior designer for the cutest rooms imaginable. The best part is the story being told behind the unpacking of each year and how the emotion of life's transitions can be very relatable to the gamer's own experiences. I would not call this a slice-of-life experience, but more of a slice-of-a-lifetime experience! Thank you very much to the developer Witch Beam games and the people behind the publisher Humble Games. If you ever wanted to unpack boxes for an apartment/house but did not want to risk the sweat or muscle aches, then this game is for you.

one of my favorite games of all time!!!! Finished it 4 times on my switch before i decided to buy it on steam to play it with mouse & keyboard. i love love love everything about this game and it breaks my heart that there wont be more content, nothing will ever feel like playing this for the first time

I don't usually like cozy games, but this was intriguing and delightful!! Such great and creative storytelling!!

It's a very short game - but very cozy! Would love another one to come out with more rooms.

I liked this game but at some point it got too complicated with too many items and got overwhelming. it is calming until the last few levels. so overall recommend!

People make fun of me for playing this game over and over. But they're not real gamers, it is so so adorable and the story line is so sweet! Watching her get older with every level makes me emotional!

graphics are cute i love a good pixel game but i can't get over just how many items the game gives you to place. it ends up being overcrowded sometimes and it takes the fun out of it for me. also the fact you can't move on unless an item is in a specific place.... yeah nawh that shouldn't be a thing when that's all you do in this game is... organise.

Love this game <3. Such a vibe. I would love to play a co-op version of this where we can Unpack together.

The length of the game in relation to the price is not so funny joke

Sweet and relaxing game, a bit short and not much replay value but still worth it when it's on sale.

Unlocking the bonus stickers (Achievements) are pretty fun as well.