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Unpacking (video game)

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Unpacking
Developer(s)Witch Beam
Publisher(s)Humble Bundle
Director(s)Wren Brier
Designer(s)Wren Brier
Tim Dawson
Composer(s)Jeff van Dyck
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, Switch, Xbox One
  • WW: November 2, 2021
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
  • WW: May 10, 2022
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Unpacking is a puzzle video game developed by Witch Beam and published by Humble Bundle for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The game received positive reviews upon release and won several awards, including two BAFTA Game Awards and being named game of the year by Eurogamer.

Summary

The game is divided into stages named by the years in which they take place: 1997, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018. The gameplay in each stage comprises unpacking a female character's possessions from boxes into a new dwelling, representing significant life events. The player is tasked with fitting each unpacked item into the living space, learning the protagonist's life story through her items and the places she lives.[1]

Unpacking has a hi-res pixel art style and the sound design includes over 14,000 foley effects, with multiple pick-up and placement sound effects unique to each item.[2] The game consists of eight stages[3] made up of a total of 35 rooms.[4]

Development

The Unpacking development team accepting Best Audio at the 22nd Game Developers Choice Awards

Unpacking was developed by Witch Beam, an independent game studio based in Brisbane, Australia. The studio was founded in 2013 and had previously released Assault Android Cactus, a twin-stick shooter, in 2015. The game was first conceptualized by game director Wren Brier when she moved in with her husband and studio founder Tim Dawson in early 2018. She found that unpacking unlabelled boxes, not knowing what is stored inside, an experience that can be translated into a video game. The two participated in the Stugan accelerator program in Sweden, and the game entered full production in early 2019. The team put an extensive amount of time developing Unpacking's accessibilty features. Unpacking is mostly a wordless experience, as the team wanted to ensure that children who may have language or comprehension barrier can still enjoy playing the game. While the game had little to no text, Unpacking's narrative is mainly told the objects players unpack from a box, because the team believed that one's possessions and items can inform the players the background and story of their owners.[5]

With the success of Assault Android Cactus, Witch Beam was able to gather more investment funds and met with potential investors. Audience response to the game's early promotion materials was also very positive. However, the scope of the game remained largely unchanged since the game's conception. The team ultimately signed with independent game publisher Humble Games, which allowed the team to retained creative control and ownership over the game's brand. While Witch Beam managed most of the game's social media channels, the team recruited Victoria Tran, the community director of Among Us, to help operate Unpacking's Discord channel and TikTok account.[5] The team initially expected development of the game to last around one and half year, though actual production of the game took significantly longer.[6] Unpacking was released for personal computers, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on November 2, 2021.[7] Versions for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were released on May 10, 2022.[8] Physical versions of the game, which are distributed by Limited Run Games, will also be released in late 2022.[9]

Reception

Critical reception

Unpacking received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[10][11][12][13] The game received positive reviews from Rock Paper Shotgun,[23] GameSpot,[1] Eurogamer,[24] Nintendo Life,[17] IGN,[16] Kotaku,[25] TouchArcade,[21] It sold over 100,000 copies across all platforms in its first ten days.[26] GamesRadar+ praised it for its innovative narrative,[27] and it was awarded a Can I Play That? award for its accessibility.[28] The game was nominated for Game of the Year at the Gayming Awards 2022 and won Best LGBTQ Indie Game and Authentic Representation.[29]

Unpacking was named one of the best video games of 2021 by multiple publications, including The New Yorker,[30] the Los Angeles Times,[31] Forbes,[32] the Financial Times,[33] CNET,[34] NME,[35] and Polygon.[36] Eurogamer selected Unpacking as their Game of the Year.[37]

Awards and accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref
2021 Australian Game Developer Awards Game of the Year Won [38]
Excellence in Accessibility Won
2022 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game Won [39]
Game Developers Choice Awards Best Audio Won [40][41]
Innovation Award Won
Best Narrative Nominated
Independent Games Festival Awards Seamus McNally Grand Prize Nominated [42][41]
Excellence in Narrative Nominated
Excellence in Design Nominated
Excellence in Audio Nominated
18th British Academy Games Awards Family Game Nominated [43]
Narrative Won
Original Property Nominated
EE Game of the Year Won
Gayming Awards 2022 Game of the Year Nominated [29]
Best LGBTQ Indie Game Won
Authentic Representation Award Won

References

  1. ^ a b c Petite, Steven (November 1, 2021). "Unpacking Review - The Things We Carry". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Notis, Ari (November 4, 2021). "Hit Puzzle Game Unpacking Features 14,000 (!) Audio Files Replicating Ordinary Sounds". Kotaku. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Tran, Edmond (November 2, 2021). "Unpacking Review - A poignant reflection on the ups and downs of life". GamesHub. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Kerr, Chris (November 16, 2021). "Intimacy from the inanimate in house-moving puzzler Unpacking". Game Developer. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Button, Chris (November 2, 2021). "The making of Unpacking: From bullet-hell to domestic heaven". GamesHub. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Dealessandri, Marie (October 19, 2021). "How Unpacking kept a steady heartbeat after going viral years before launch". GameIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  7. ^ Beckhelling, Imogen (November 2, 2021). "Have a chill time moving house in Unpacking, out now". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Unpacking for PS5, PS4 launches May 10". Gematsu. 2022-05-06. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  9. ^ Devore, Jordan (April 1, 2022). "Limited Run's Unpacking physical edition is up for pre-order on Switch, PS4, and PS5". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Unpacking for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Unpacking for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Unpacking for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Unpacking for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Jones, Brandon (November 2, 2021). "Review: Unpacking". Easy Allies. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  15. ^ LeClair, Kyle (November 1, 2021). "Review: Unpacking". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  16. ^ a b LeBoeuf, Sarah (November 1, 2021). "Unpacking Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Ingram, Roland (November 10, 2021). "Unpacking Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  18. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (November 1, 2021). "Unpacking (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  19. ^ Banas, Graham (May 12, 2022). "Mini Review: Unpacking (PS5) - Making Chores Fun". Push Square. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  20. ^ Mejia, Ozzie (November 2, 2021). "Unpacking review: Does it spark joy?". Shacknews. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Stuart, Keith (November 9, 2021). "Unpacking review – moving house has never been so moving". The Guardian. Guardian Media group plc. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  22. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (November 2, 2021). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'DUSK' and 'Dungeon Encounters', Plus the Latest Releases and Sales". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  23. ^ Bell, Alice (November 9, 2021). "Unpacking review: the exact same joy as unwrapping a kinder egg and building the toy inside". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  24. ^ Hetfeld, Malindy (November 1, 2021). "Unpacking review - incredibly satisfying tidy-'em-up". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  25. ^ Plunkett, Luke (November 4, 2021). "Unpacking: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  26. ^ Kerr, Chris (December 14, 2021). "Unpacking topped 100k sales in 10 days". Game Developer. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  27. ^ Stuart, Keith (December 22, 2021). "7 innovative video game moments that pushed game design forward in 2021". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  28. ^ "Can I Play That? Accessibility Awards 2021 — The Winners". Can I Play That?. December 13, 2021. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Gayming Awards 2022". Gayming Magazine. Gray Jones Media Ltd. April 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  30. ^ Parkin, Simon (December 12, 2021). "The Best Video Games of 2021". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  31. ^ Martens, Todd (December 14, 2021). "The 10 essential games of 2021 that helped us define who we are now". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  32. ^ Gardner, Matt (December 21, 2021). "The Top 10 Indie Games Of 2021 On Consoles And PC, Ranked". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  33. ^ Faber, Tom (December 20, 2021). "Top 10 games of 2021". Financial Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  34. ^ Fillari, Alessandro (December 17, 2021). "CNET's 2021 Game of the Year awards". CNET. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  35. ^ "The 20 best games of 2021". NME. December 6, 2021. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  36. ^ "The 50 best video games of 2021". Polygon. December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; April 1, 2022 suggested (help)
  37. ^ Robinson, Martin (December 30, 2021). "Eurogamer's game of the year is…". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  38. ^ "2021 winners announced for the Australian Game Developer Awards". GCAP21 Raising the Bar. October 6, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  39. ^ "Congratulations to the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. January 13, 2022. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  40. ^ Hafford, Hayden (December 7, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021: Nominees, start times, and where to watch". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  41. ^ a b Dealessandri, Marie (March 24, 2022). "Inscryption wins big at GDC and IGF Awards". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  42. ^ Van Allen, Eric (January 11, 2022). "IGF 2022 nominees include Inscryption, Unpacking, and more". Destructoid. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  43. ^ Purslow, Matt (March 3, 2022). "BAFTA Games Awards 2022 Nominations Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
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