Unpacking, the zen puzzle game all about moving into a new home, has more of a story than first meets the eye. While unloading numerous boxes and fiddling with the sock drawer, players might miss some cool hints about the character.
While playing the game, players assume the role of a girl as she grows up and moves into different places. It starts in her childhood room, then moves to university, and then out on her own. Other than that, everything we know about the anonymous Aussie (we assume, as the studio is Australian) is picked up through the objects she owns. So let’s take a look at the things we learned about the character while playing Unpacking.
10 She Goes Rock Climbing And Keeps Active
From the very first room, we start seeing a story unfold, and character traits - like the fact that the character is an active person. Over the years there are two football trophies, weights, a yoga mat, and exercise clothing in amongst the other items.
One thing that could be confusing to those who aren’t in the know is the rock climbing gear: a pair of blue shoes, and an odd, purple, mug-shaped item. It’s a chalk bag used to improve grip while climbing. There’s also a Frisbee at one point, in the same house that another housemate has roller-derby gear as well.
9 She Had A Pet Stag Beetle
When you live in a small place and can’t have a large pet, you have to compromise. The Unpacking character did just that: she got a stag beetle as a pet!
The beetle’s little terrarium home can be found in the mid-levels and can be placed in a few different areas. Eventually, this stops showing up, and a picture frame with a drawing of the beetle with a halo is available instead. It’s nice to see their spirit captured in this way - sadly, pets don’t live forever.
8 She’s A Big Nintendo Fan
Over the years, more and more game consoles appear in the character’s boxes. We salute this. But, some may not notice that they are all Nintendo consoles from across the years - not including her boyfriend’s Xbox.
The character starts with a GameBoy, then gets a GameCube, a Nintendo DS, and then a Nintendo Wii. These come with games, too, and they’re recognizable. Okami, Animal Crossing: Population Growing, Wii Sports, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and even The Simpsons: Hit & Run are among some of the pixelated but familiar game cases.
7 She Loves Dungeons And Dragons
As well as the video game collection, the character collects a substantial amount of Dungeons and Dragons wares as she moves around. It begins with a D20 ornament and goes from there.
Eventually, there are six books including guides and handbooks, there’s a notebook with a dragon on it, her feline bard character model, and a shirt with a D20 on it as well. At one point where the character lives with housemates, they have even more paraphernalia and models too.
6 She Collects Chicken And Chick Plush
It starts as the large hen plush. Then there’s one chick. Then another. Slowly but surely, the character collects chicks to accompany her hen plush.
By the time the character moves into her forever home, there are nine chicks to surround the brooding mother. This writer couldn’t figure out the best place to put them but presumes they are to be proudly displayed together in plain sight. During the game’s development, there were even votes for fans to choose which chicks they wanted in the game.
5 She Travels A Lot
In her childhood room, there were three: a London Bus ornament, a mini Eiffel Tower, and a Leaning Tower of Pisa souvenir. It grew from there. Clearly, the girl in the game loves to travel and indulges in trips away frequently.
Later, she collects an elephant from Thailand, a Dutch windmill, and a Swedish cottage. These are the only ‘confirmed’ souvenirs, but it stands to reason that items like the boat in a glass case and three clay pots are also souvenirs from various trips away.
4 She And Her Partner Adopt A Baby
When moving house in 2018, there is a very noticeable change - and we don’t mean the addition of a second floor of the house. There’s a new room for a new arrival!
It is shown that the protagonist and her partner adopt a baby, so they can start their life as a happy family. In the room, there are books, baby clothes, tons of toys, as well as the pig and tiger soft toys owned by the parents. By the way, if the two plush are placed next to each other, an achievement is earned.
3 She Loves Anti-Hero
There are many recurring features in Unpacking; the character’s love of games, Dungeons and Dragons, and movies - but also Anti-Hero. A fictional series within the games’ universe, there is merch appearing through the levels. Eagle-eyed players will see that there are multiple seasons of the show and that the poster is signed.
A t-shirt, cap, mug, water bottle, and poster are all collected over the years by the couple as they live together. Not shown in the image above is a baby-gro with the Anti-Hero logo on it, too!
2 She Is An Award-Winning Writer
After breaking up with her boyfriend and moving out on her own again, it seems that the characters’ creative spark comes back with a vengeance. This may be due to her having enough space, or just being in a better place mentally.
Not only are there more art supplies like drawings and sketchbooks, but there are awards starting to appear on the shelves of the apartment. There’s a ribbon in a case, a glass trophy, and a gold studded award. These go very well with the protagonists’ diploma and a stack of office furnishings.
1 She Gives Up Her Day Job And Releases A Book
Ah, the true dream! After dabbling in art and creativity her whole life, the protagonist finally does it: she writes and releases her own book, starring the piggy plush!
The pig plush has been with the writer since day one and has been through it all - scrapes and all. And now, it’s immortalized in a book. There are paintings of the pig and a bird character in the baby’s room, as well as posters and business cards in the office. Also, players will notice that the character’s day job clothes have disappeared from the wardrobe.
Unpacking is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
