#Unpacking switch game series

While the loop never evolves, there's a joyous charm to a simplicity that lets you hone in on a single task. Unpacking has a singular mechanic- you're just grabbing items out of boxes and placing them in your new humble abode- and it's a straightforward experience that gives you the freedom to approach the art of organizing clothes, books, knickknacks, stuffed animals, electronics, and household goods as you see fit. It accomplishes this feat while managing to remain fun and relaxing, with soothing background music and a satisfying loop that gets more detail-oriented as life moves forward (or drags on).įrom a bird's-eye view, Unpacking is a point-and-click game about performing one of the most dreaded tasks known to humankind: unpacking your stuff after a move. Unpacking, a puzzle game of your own memories and psyche, taps into a wide range of emotions. And no matter where I call home, the angels are next to each other, just a glance away. Those angel bells, with progressively fading lettering, have been gently wrapped and kept safe throughout five moves. They went back to me as a keepsake, a reminder that even the smallest gestures of love can mean something big in time. When each of my grandmothers died-a decade apart-we found those insignificant angel bells prominently displayed in their homes. They were nothing special then, but they are right above me on my desk shelf as I write this.

These fell firmly into the category of sentimental and arguably tacky gifts that kids often give to parents and grandparents. They probably cost five bucks each, purchased with my hard-earned allowance. One Christmas I gave both my grandmothers tiny ceramic angel bells with 'Grandma' etched in blue ink. Settling into the next place always felt like a new chapter of my life was starting, and that’s a feeling Unpacking captures well.Unpacking gave me the key to remembrance, unlocking corners of my mind where small memories that have subconsciously shaped me are tucked away. None of these places ever felt like home until I started unpacking: taping the David Bowie poster with torn edges to the wall, finding a flat surface for my ancient record player, and lining up my Harry Potter books in chronological order on the shelves.

#Unpacking switch game series

Packing and unpacking became an almost annual ritual as I transitioned through a series of apartments in various neighborhoods throughout the Philadelphia area. For me, it was a lot: between the ages of 18 and 26, I moved more than half a dozen times. Part of that might have to do with how often you’ve pulled up stakes. You might not think stacking plates and organizing books is compelling, but strangely, it really is. Though the mechanics are simple and the campaign can be completed in a handful of hours, Unpacking is a memorable, delightful game that shows that there are still new ways to tell stories in video games out there. Unpacking takes you through a series of homes representing an invisible protagonist’s life from 1997 to 2018, and as it turns out, you can tell a lot about a person by the things they take with them.

In Unpacking, described by its creators as a “zen puzzle game,” settling into a new place is surprisingly comforting.