Platinum Trophy #37: Unpacking

Date Earned: 14th May 2022

Dopamine Index:

I'm sure I can't be alone in this, but my family is exceedingly good at holding onto things.

I think we grow quite attached to objects. Growing up, there was always stuff everywhere, piled on top of other stuff, and it's something I've definitely carried forward into adulthood.

It's quite amazing how many random bits and bobs you wind up with, whether you intend to or not. To give a few examples, the flat I share with my girlfriend contains the following:

  • A large cushion I've owned since I was a small child, the origins of which I'm still unsure
  • A Flat Eric plush toy, owned since I was a slightly older child
  • A poorly fashioned metal elephant I made in D&T in secondary school
  • A Codemasters paperweight I acquired when I worked at HMV (over a decade ago)
  • My sister's original Game Boy
  • A VHS tape of the film Cats Don't Dance that I can no longer watch even if I wanted to

I've no good reason to hold onto these, but they're weirdly comforting to have in view. Most of this is stuff I've had for decades, and has come with me as I've moved house (albeit only a couple of times).

It's a detail I love about Unpacking, the wordless narrative game about placing a person's items as they move through life.

Each stage represents a new chapter of their journey, going from their childhood bedroom, through university, and ultimately settling down.

What's really lovely about it is the handful of possessions the character has chosen to hold onto. This might be childhood toys, or crockery, or fridge magnets — but there are recurring objects that have some sentimental value to the lead character.

It's super relatable and quite moving (pun not intended, for once). The game does a tremendous job of making you feel the same warmth towards these items — it's hard not to smile when you pull that stuffed toy pig out of a box, a little more raggedy and worn out each time.

The game's a love letter to all the bits and bobs filling our shelves and cupboards, and the Trophy list encourages you to find the joy in them too.

Many of the Trophies are about interacting with these objects, like solving a Rubik's cube or setting the time on a microwave, while others are about placing them in specific ways.

It's an easy platinum that I'm very glad is in my collection, but this is definitely one of those games I remember much more for its subtle but effective storytelling than anything else.

Cheers, Unpacking.

Do you have the platinum Trophy for Unpacking on PS5? Tell us in the comments section below.