Unpackingis a game where the title says it all: the player views an empty apartment/house and they’re given cardboard boxes to open up and unpack all of their things in the room. The game starts off small and gradually has the player move into larger spaces and have many more things to unwrap and unpack. It’s certainly a novel concept, butwhat really sellsUnpackingis its relaxing atmosphere.
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Unpacking’s Zen Game Charm
Unpackingmarkets itself as a “zen game” meaning that it’s a great title to play for anyone looking to take it easy for a little while as they unbox all of their things and decorate their living spaces. The whole thing is set to relaxing low-fi music that’s reminiscent of that ingames likeAnimal CrossingandMinecraft. In fact,Unpackingactually has a lot in common withAnimal Crossingand the upcomingHappy Home Paradiseas they’re all about designing aesthetically pleasing places and enjoying the small things in life.
The game is an easy recommendation for anyone who appreciates the designs and relaxation aspects of games likeMinecraft,Animal Crossing,Stardew Valley, or the simple instant gratification ofthe specific simulation genrein titles likePowerWash Simulator,Lawn Mowing Simulator,Gas Station Simulator, orMicrosoft Flight Simulator.Unpackingfits right in with the rest of the titles listed here but has a unique concept that mixes a lot of the elements together to create a relaxing experience based on design and the instant gratification of reducing the stacks of packed boxes.
The Joy of Holding All of Your Things
Moving is always a bittersweet endeavoras it symbolizes change and the passage of time and on top of all that, it’s also a hassle to pack everything up and find a place for it in a new home. While moving can feel like a big pain sometimes,Unpackingviews it from a much more sentimental angle as moving serves as a nice way to see everything that a person owns and remember its personal significance. Whether it’s as simple as the dishes that someone uses to eat or if it’s as meaningful as the pictures placed on the walls, there’s something sweet about individually placing everything in its spot inUnpacking.
What’s more, the underlying story ofUnpackingmakes it a joyful experience to go through each box and see what the player has in each stage of their life. The game starts small with only a few items and a small apartment but eventually as the characters grow up and live with more people and begin to have families, it opens itself up to telling the story of a person’s life by having the player simply pick up and place all of their things. It seems like a lot of whatUnpackingis trying to say revolves aroundappreciating the things that a person haswhile looking forward to what’s to come in the future.
Unpackingis available now for PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
