The task of unpacking is something we can all relate to. Unpacking can be game-like? Sounds all very Mary Poppins-esque, with a teaspoon of sugar to make the unpacking less painful. Brier was unpacking the gazillionth box and noticed the game-like elements in unpacking: unlocking the next box after emptying the one on top. The idea for Unpacking came from the real-life experience when Brier and Dawson moved in together.
It kind of went nuts on Twitter, in part because of the microwave! Some people were commenting, ‘What kind of monster would put the microwave there?’ and that was when we realised how personal unpacking is. Earlier on, I shared a gif of Unpacking in the kitchen.
It’s fascinating to watch so many people play the game and they all play in their own individual way–all because of what value they put on an item.”ĭawson: “It’s also fun watching where people place items. Each item has a value to the player and to the character’s story. We really wanted to represent the character through more than just a snapshot. Should the tape deck go on the shelf or the floor? Do you sort your books by color or height? And which favorite toy takes prize position on the bed? Unpacking is slow and contemplative, yet deeply enchanting to the point of wanting to play over and over again.īrier: “You can tell a lot about a person through the items they own. You can move and place the item almost anywhere in the room, allowing a bit of freedom to dress it up as you like. With a simple point-and-click movement, you cut the tape on the box and unpack, one item at a time. Each level is represented by a different location the first level is a child’s bedroom, the next is a college dormitory or share-house apartment, and so on. Unpacking is a narrative/puzzle game based around unpacking. They gave me some insight into how they developed it and why it helps to find the game in everyday life. Recently I spoke with Wren Brier and Tim Dawson from Witch Beam, the team behind Unpacking. I’m not the only one to see it: many people considered it the best game demo at PAX Aust 2019 and a highlight for LudoNarraCon 2021, and it is now a finalist for four awards at the upcoming Australian Game Developer Awards 2021. I have moved enough times in my life to hate the idea of unpacking, and yet Unpacking (the video game) has revealed a hidden pleasure. It is a simple click-and-drag puzzle game filled with clues to unfold into a mesmerising narrative. There are plenty of ways to gamify our lives but rarely do we find a game that really connects with the mundane and makes it … beautiful. Various milestones in life are now ‘boss battles’, recovery rooms, and healing shrines.
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