Unpacking

 Switch
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 29
  3. Negative: 5 out of 29

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  1. Adasc2906
    Dec 8, 2021
    7
    I honestly thought it's gonna be much better. it is still fun but i don't know..... it's just not THAT good.
  2. Masa102
    Feb 6, 2022
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is very unique, has great visuals, sound design, is polished and plays well for what it is. That is pretty much where the positives end for me.

    First of all, the price is WAY too high, I finished this game in 3 hours and this is a game that is charging more than Stardew Valley did at launch (a game I sunk well over 100 hours into.)

    That is not to say I wish the game were longer, I was ready for it to end at 2 hours, the only reason I kept going is just to finish it. There just isn't much here. You unpack a series of mundane items over and over, and when you are done unpacking you make a few minor corrections and move on to the next location (each new location representing a couple of years that have passed). This is not a puzzle game and there isn't much of a story to unravel. Any story this game has is up to your own speculation based on the setting and a basic sentence in between each level such as "feels more like home now!" or "this room used to be much larger!" After reading other reviews, I was really expecting more of an emotional punch from this game but it really was just rather meh to me.

    At the end of the day, if the game were 10 bucks or, ideally, less than 10 bucks I would be less critical, but at 20 dollars your money is better spent elsewhere (unless you REALLY like interior decorating.)    … Expand
  3. brighton
    Jan 5, 2022
    7
    It’s a great game, but it’s really short. For $20, it’s only about 4-5 hours of gameplay. I don’t personally think it’s really worth the price, but I did enjoy the game a lot. If you can justify forking out $20 for about 4 hours of fun, I recommend it, especially if you enjoy decorating type games
  4. bernardowerner
    Aug 23, 2022
    7
    Innovative game. The way you connect to the character's story development by unpacking and placing personal objects through different times is unique. The lack of a mouse disfavours the game. And I don't think it's worth the price charged. But overall it's a cathartic and relaxing game with good sound and design.

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Switch Game of 2021
76
#76 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. IGN Japan
    Mar 9, 2022
    80
    Whenever the protagonist of Unpacking moves to a new home, it is the player's task to open cardboard boxes and decide where her belongings should be placed. While this can be a tedious experience when you’re just putting socks into a drawer, whenever an item that conveys something about her life comes out of the box, Unpacking becomes a unique storytelling experience.
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  2. Nintendo Life
    Nov 10, 2021
    90
    Unpacking manages to do several things very well, all at the same time. It’s a touching story told through interaction, it provides the creative play space of a great dollhouse game, and it deftly applies established game design ideas from completely different genres. Its only real shortcoming is the repetition that is a necessary byproduct of landing its message. Effort has gone into making the controls satisfying on Switch, and the visual and sound design are delightful throughout, making Unpacking, like any sane person’s cutlery, absolutely top-drawer.
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  3. App Trigger
    Nov 10, 2021
    95
    I started Unpacking mostly expecting an interesting puzzle game about item placement and ended up with a story and protagonist I cared about. The art is beautiful, the world detailed, and the ambient sound of simple things, like a refrigerator running, put you in the world. Beyond minor woes, Unpacking does everything you’d want in a puzzle game and then some.
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