Hello and welcome to the last edition of The Backlog for the semester. Bringing back this column has been the highlight of my junior year, as I finally had an outlet to spew my video gaming knowledge. For the last article of the semester, I thought long and hard about how to end it. Should I cover a big AAA game that everyone has heard of, or should I explore unknown names that deserve more recognition? I settled on a popular game among streamers that still has the creativity and love of an indie game. Let’s explore “Unpacking” and its story.
Released in November of 2021 by Humble Bundle and developed by Witch Beam, “Unpacking” is a puzzle game that goes through the life of an unnamed woman. “Unpacking” received several accolades and awards, such as EE Game of the Year from the BAFTA Game Awards in 2022 and Game of the Year from the Indie Live Expo Awards 2022 and Australian Game Developer Awards 2021. Unlike other games reviewed previously, “Unpacking” is available on the majority of platforms including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC and mobile devices.
The gameplay consists of moving items into a new location, showcasing various points in time for our unnamed protagonist. It begins in 1997 as the player organizes a child’s bedroom. As you complete each year, a photo is taken of your work with a message from the protagonist, making a note of her mentality and situation each time.
Something that I believe all video games need is a suitable soundtrack. The soundtrack for “Unpacking” perfectly reflects the calming nature of organizing and filling these empty rooms with life. Background music is usually overlooked in games and I wanted to commend “Unpacking” for its attention to detail. For those who like to listen to music while studying, the soundtrack is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music and more.
Spoilers for “Unpacking” beyond this point!
While “Unpacking” grants a good amount of freedom for how you wish to organize the protagonist’s belongings, some items must be in certain areas, and the game uses this to its advantage. As you organize larger areas you find that some items have to be placed in certain rooms. The bathroom stuff goes in the bathroom for obvious reasons, but the game uses this feature to show who the protagonist is living with. In 2007 we see her move into an apartment with roommates for her college years, and the environment is everything you’d expect of a shared apartment. Overcrowded shelves with very little space — Witch Beam captures the essence of college life with just a few rooms.
The change in the protagonist’s luggage shows that she initially was a very sporty, active person through the climbing gear and frisbee, but later on, she suffers from chronic pain as shown through the medication, a wrist brace, a walking stick and a heating pad.
The moment that all players gasp at is in 2010 when the protagonist moves in with her first partner. Immediately it’s clear that the partner did not prepare for the protagonist to move in, leaving very little room for any items to be placed. This time you can move the objects that are already placed, but it’s up to the protagonist to make room for herself, which shows how their relationship dynamic works.
Not to mention the difference in their aesthetics, the protagonist’s items are full of color and personality, while the partner’s aesthetic uses a lot of black with minimal details. At this level, there is no place to hang the protagonist’s diploma. The only place you can put it is under the bed, which is heart-wrenching for all players. Even without any dialogue, we can tell exactly what is going on.
Shortly after, in 2012, the protagonist leaves her relationship and moves back in with her parents. Over the years she finds her own place to live and eventually, has her second partner move in as well. In the end, the protagonist is the author of a children’s book and is awaiting the arrival of her child with her wife. Despite the ups and downs of her life, the game concludes on a happy note with our protagonist finally creating a place that feels like home.
Just as we prepare to leave campus and move on with our lives, I hope “Unpacking” is a relaxing experience. Hopefully, you will also organize and make a place your home.
Rating: 5/5