Unpacking

Sometimes it's nice to just sit back and relax while you play your worries away, that's why some of the most popular and best-selling games are relaxing ones. Not everything has to be intense and exciting, maybe you just need to have some game to clear your mind, or to enjoy a chill gaming session after a busy day. Unpacking is an indie game developed by Witch Beam that was revealed during PAX Online with a demo, and it's exactly intended for when you just want to kick back and relax for a moment. The title itself should give you an already pretty clear idea of what the game is all about. But even so, let's talk about this game and its concept as a whole!

About the game

Moving out may not sound like the most pleasing and entertaining experience, and certainly not one you'd want to perform over and over again, that's the main theme in Unpacking. To perform the process of getting all the boxes ready into your new place, and taking all of your belongings out, and finding them a new place in an empty space.

However, believe it or not, there's a certain charm in doing all this, and it is especially calming and relaxing to see how it all falls into place and finds a new home with you. Especially if you're in the mood for some home decor. As you take out different boxes, you'll find all the personal items, and you have to find them in a new place, wherever that may seem suitable for you.

Experience simplicity

Unpacking has a very simple concept, and in a way, it can even feel like a home decoration version of Tetris. But there's one more thing to consider in this game and the moving experience, and it's what makes it special.

The game takes place over many years, and you can clearly see this in the boxes you unpack. But the reason why this is interesting and special is that there's a personal element embedded in the action of unpacking items. When you move it you can't take everything with you, and the objects that make it out are the most special ones. You can get to see the story and personality of the characters by their packaging, and in a way is an interior view into their personality. There's some melancholy to it all.

Unpacking falls into its own category of zen puzzle games, which makes it hard to review as it all depends on the player and if they may find this relaxing. Overall the Australian developing team Witch Beam did a nice job at creating a relaxing experience around what many would consider a stressful activity.

Pros:

• Great art
• Nice designs
• Simple gameplay
• Relaxing

Cons:

• Lacks content
• Repetitive BGM

Video games has evolved as a medium, going from something for telling action-driven storylines to offering various ways to have some fun. One game that perfectly explores how video games can be tremendous fun without violence or a massive storyline is Unpacking. This 2021 release has become one of the sensations of 2021, a game that offers the kind of low-tempo, high-relaxation fun that we all need. The last few years have been tough for us all – could games like Unpacking provide the kind of chill-out experience that we all likely need after the last while?

Unpacking life has never been so fun

Part of what makes Unpacking so fun is that it is very zen and chilled out. You basically spend the game unpacking items as you move into a new home. It is a puzzle game, to an extent, with the game inspired by block-fitting puzzle designs and home decoration ideas. You might find it retains much of the charming and relaxing energy of House Flipper, though the eventual aims and end results are quite different.

Visually, the game has an almost browser-like look to it, though there is a beauty within the art that it provides. The whole concept of basically built around creating a fun and engaging living space, all the while learning little clues about the life that you have started to unpack. So, there is a story, but it is told in a relaxing and calming way – and it unfolds as you unpack, avoiding needless exposition or story beats.

What initially sounds like it should be quite a boring title is a game that is relaxing and energising. If you ever come home from work and feel like you want to game without having to get involved in too much action, Unpacking does a fine job of offering you the perfect outlet.

Exceptional comfort in a relaxing experience (9/10)

Really, we would find it hard to come up with a meaningful fault about this title. There is so much replayability and value in what you are doing that it really is easy to just unpack and relax a little as you do so. There is no time pressure, and there is no overarching challenge or the like. You simply unpack a life from boxes and then place everything exactly where it should go. The end result is a highly enjoyable little experience that leaves you with a personal space that you know you have unpacked yourself.

Pros

• Exceptionally relaxing gameplay loop that makes it easy to keep on playing
• No needless challenge, difficulty spikes, or plot to get in the way of unpacking
• Enjoyable and endearing puzzle game that will keep your brain whirring

Cons

• Nothing to complain about – few games ace their landing quite like Unpacking!