It's always exciting when a game launches as an Xbox Game Pass Day One release because it means that the barrier of entry for trying a new game is significantly lowered as most Xbox owners are also subscribed to Game Pass. Unpacking did just that and launched on a handful of platforms while simultaneously going live on Game Pass. The indie title might end up sliding under the radar during the busy period that is the Holiday Season in the games industry, but hopefully, it's able to break through the sea of new releases with the help of Game Pass and be enjoyed by everyone who's looking to relax and unpack some boxes.

Unpacking is a game where the title says it all: the player views an empty apartment/house and they're given cardboard boxes to open up and unpack all of their things in the room. The game starts off small and gradually has the player move into larger spaces and have many more things to unwrap and unpack. It's certainly a novel concept, but what really sells Unpacking is its relaxing atmosphere.

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Unpacking's Zen Game Charm

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Unpacking markets itself as a "zen game" meaning that it's a great title to play for anyone looking to take it easy for a little while as they unbox all of their things and decorate their living spaces. The whole thing is set to relaxing low-fi music that's reminiscent of that in games like Animal Crossing and Minecraft. In fact, Unpacking actually has a lot in common with Animal Crossing and the upcoming Happy Home Paradise as they're all about designing aesthetically pleasing places and enjoying the small things in life.

The game is an easy recommendation for anyone who appreciates the designs and relaxation aspects of games like Minecraft, Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, or the simple instant gratification of the specific simulation genre in titles like PowerWash Simulator, Lawn Mowing Simulator, Gas Station Simulator, or Microsoft Flight Simulator. Unpacking fits right in with the rest of the titles listed here but has a unique concept that mixes a lot of the elements together to create a relaxing experience based on design and the instant gratification of reducing the stacks of packed boxes.

The Joy of Holding All of Your Things

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Moving is always a bittersweet endeavor as it symbolizes change and the passage of time and on top of all that, it's also a hassle to pack everything up and find a place for it in a new home. While moving can feel like a big pain sometimes, Unpacking views it from a much more sentimental angle as moving serves as a nice way to see everything that a person owns and remember its personal significance. Whether it's as simple as the dishes that someone uses to eat or if it's as meaningful as the pictures placed on the walls, there's something sweet about individually placing everything in its spot in Unpacking.

What's more, the underlying story of Unpacking makes it a joyful experience to go through each box and see what the player has in each stage of their life. The game starts small with only a few items and a small apartment but eventually as the characters grow up and live with more people and begin to have families, it opens itself up to telling the story of a person's life by having the player simply pick up and place all of their things. It seems like a lot of what Unpacking is trying to say revolves around appreciating the things that a person has while looking forward to what's to come in the future.

Unpacking is available now for PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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