Summary
Until very recently, Witch Beam’s cozy puzzle gameUnpackingstill had several copycats on Nintendo’s eShop despite co-creator Wren Brier calling attention to the situation two weeks ago. After its release in 2021,Unpackingreceived predominantly positive reviewsand took home a gamut of awards, including BAFTA’s EE Game of the Year and DICE’s Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game, as well as nods for narrative, sound design, accessibility, animation, environmental art, and game design from other outlets.
With the praise and recognition inevitably came others wanting to profit from the game’s successful premise, andUnpackingalmost immediately found itself the victim of copycatson mobile game stores. Rather than being able to relax after years of development, the small indie team at Witch Beam had to get to work battling to protect its IP. And the copycats were shameless, in many cases barely reskinningUnpacking’s assets before filling it with ads and posting it in the shops.
The blatant copies eventually made their way to Nintendo’s eShop, a situation that Wren Brier called out on December 15 after having contacted the gaming giant two weeks prior. Rather than being ad-filled free-to-play games like on mobile, these Switch copycats were being sold for just a few bucks to contrast withUnpacking’s $19.99 price tag. The oldest of them was posted in late October, while four others were added a month later, apparently from the same account. They seemed to be marketed as DLC for the real game, with titles like “Chill Music Pack,” “New Chapters,” and “Haunting Locations.” At the time of writing, theseUnpackingcopycats seem to no longer be available on the eShop.
Unpacking’s Copycats Seem to Have Scattered for Now
Theappeal ofUnpackingis undeniable. Originally conceptualized in early 2018 by Wren Brier, the puzzle game was initially designed and developed with her partner, Witch Beam’s co-director Tim Dawson. As the project ramped up, more members joined the small indie team beforeUnpackingwas finally published in 2021 by Humble Games. Part of its draw is the simple and relaxing gameplay loop.
Unpackingfollows an unnamed protagonistthrough several years of her life, and her story is told only through her belongings. Beginning in 1997, players unpack her stuff as she moves from one location to another, uncovering details about her personality and experiences through the items that she owns. The cozy game induces a kind of meditative state as players satisfyingly remove items from boxes and find just the right spot for them in every new home. Throughout it all, a pleasant soundtrack accompanies the gameplay, and since there are no words,Unpackingis approachable for everybody right… out of the box.
Unpacking
WHERE TO PLAY
Unpacking is a zen game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, you are given a chance to experience a sense of intimacy with a character you never see and a story you’re never told.Unpack a home — from a single bedroom to an entire houseMeditative gameplay with no timers, meters or scoresExplore domestic environments with all their nooks and crannies while you stack plates, hang towels, and arrange bookshelvesDiscover a character’s story through the items that come with her to each new home (and the items that get left behind)Soundtrack by BAFTA award-winning composer and audio director Jeff van Dyck
