Unpacking for Windows

A fresh puzzle game take on unboxing and organizing

Unpacking is a relaxing puzzle video game wherein you just have to put away your items to fully move into a new home. Developed by Witch Beam, this adorable 2D pixelated game features a combination of block-fitting puzzle gameplay and home decoration gameplay, allowing you much creative leeway in solving each level.

Available on PC and most modern gaming consoles, Unpacking is all about savoring the satisfying moment of putting things away in their proper place. While the gameplay is simple and undemanding, it also quietly follows a story for the unseen and unnamed protagonist you play.

In Unpacking, you play as someone who must put away their belongings in a new place you’ve moved into. This involves unboxing your stuff and storing them in their appropriate places—whether it’s office supplies that should go to your desk and drawers or toiletries that belong to the bathroom shelves and cupboards. You also have decorative items, like posters and figurines, that you can place around to make your mark in your new space.

The whole goal of the game is to unpack everything and put them where they can and should be in the 2D isometric view of the rooms—and the game is very lenient on where you can place most things. There is no fail condition as, after taking out every object in the boxes, those that should be relocated will be outlined in red and the game will wait for you to correct them before finally progressing to the next level. 

There is no timer or score to achieve either, so there’s no pressure to do your best. Simply decorate to your heart’s content and marvel at the cute pixel art of the various items you discover that the protagonist owns and the numerous storage spots available. There are eight levels in the form of eight times you move to a new home over the years and eight pivotal moments of the young adolescent protagonist’s life.

First off, Unpacking prides itself on its freeform puzzle gameplay, allowing you to organize and decorate your living spaces. The levels also grow in scale each time—from a simple bedroom on the first level to a full-on house with various rooms on the third. Thus, you can spend minutes and possibly an hour just finishing a level to your satisfaction. The gameplay can be almost meditative, especially with the soothing soundtrack and wide variety of sound effects for the objects.

Additionally, there’s actually a silent story being told in each house move and unpacking you do. You’ll notice this with each of the objects that you bring to the next level—and with those you leave behind too. However, while the gameplay offers a calming time of just puzzling things out, it doesn’t have much replayability. Plus, it’s actually pretty short and can be completed in a matter of a few hours if you’re quick.

Unpacking is playable across a wide range of consoles and systems. If you’re asking, “Can I play Unpacking on a laptop?” then the answer is yes, with support for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Additionally, you can enjoy this relaxing experience on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. There’s no cross-play between the Unpacking platforms, so your save on one device doesn’t transfer to another.

The Unpacking game is mainly distributed via Steam, and it applies across all systems. To install this game, simply purchase it from the store and click on the Install button. Despite its minimalistic art style and casual gameplay, your Unpacking download still has its restrictions. For example, while Steam runs on Mac systems, it only supports El Capitan (10.11) or later versions. Be warned, though, that it requires at least 1GB of storage to run. 

Because of its unexpected success, people are asking whether there will be a sequel. Unfortunately, the director Wren Brier has ruled out the possibility of having an Unpacking 2 for the foreseeable future. Similarly, there are also no plans for expansions or downloadable content down the line. It was a complete, self-contained experience with a full story told across various years, from 1997 to 2018.

All in all, Unpacking is a great little puzzle game to try out if you love cute pixelated objects and the chance to decorate and organize a home with them. While there’s not much replay value and longer runtime for this game, it still has a lot of charm to it and truly delivers the zen experience of just going at your pace with block-fitting gameplay mechanics.