Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home, developed by Witch Beam, a studio based in Brisbane, Australia.1 Released on 2 November 2021 for Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One,1 it went on to win two BAFTAs, including the publicly voted EE Game of the Year.23

Gameplay

Part block-fitting puzzle and part home decoration, Unpacking has the player create a satisfying living space while picking up clues about the life being unpacked. Across eight house moves, it tells the story of a character the player never sees.4

Development and release

The concept originated from co-creator Tim Dawson's real-life move in with Wren Brier in February 2018; after the pair were selected for the Stugan accelerator program in May 2018, they developed a playable demo in Sweden.1 The soundtrack is by BAFTA-winning composer and audio director Jeff van Dyck.1

Unpacking was published at launch by Humble Games;1 the game's Steam listing today credits Balor Games as publisher.4 After its 2021 launch platforms, it reached PlayStation 4 and 5 on 10 May 2022,5 and iOS and Android on 24 August 2023.6

Reception

The game sold over 100,000 copies in its first ten days.1 On its first anniversary, Humble Games and Witch Beam announced it had passed one million copies sold worldwide, with 20 award wins and 50 nominations in its first year.7 At the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards on 7 April 2022 it won EE Game of the Year — the ceremony's only publicly voted award — alongside the BAFTA for Narrative.23 Its success helped cement tidying-as-gameplay alongside titles like A Little to the Left.

References

  1. Witch Beam. "Unpacking — Press Kit" — unpackinggame.com. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. EE. "Unpacking wins the EE Game of the Year Award at the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards" — EE Newsroom, 7 April 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩ ↩2

  3. NME. "Returnal and Unpacking win big at BAFTA Games Awards 2022" — NME, 8 April 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩ ↩2

  4. Valve. "Unpacking" — Steam store data. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩ ↩2

  5. NME. "'Unpacking' is coming to PlayStation consoles really, really soon" — NME, 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩

  6. Engadget. "Zen moving game 'Unpacking' comes to Android and iOS on August 24th" — Engadget, 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩

  7. GoNintendo. "Humble Games and Witch Beam's Unpacking Celebrates 1 Year and over 1 Million Units" — GoNintendo, November 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2026. ↩