What does it mean to play Unpacking as a feminist?
Unpacking is a meditative puzzle game where players unpack and organize household items into a new living space, following a female protagonist as she progresses throughout different moves and homes in her life. I recently finished the game keeping the reading in mind. Here’s my take of it.
I see four broad ways in which Unpacking brings feminism to the forefront through its gameplay. The first, is the narrative told through the objects being organized. The objects reflect the protagonist’s life stages, interests, and personal growth. They showcase both some aspects of “traditional femininity” in some clothing, decor, etc, but more than anything highlight the diverse array of interests and hobbies that the protagonist holds dear. Many of these are “traditionally masculine” (I really hate implying that dichotomy, but it’s the best way I can think to describe it, and acknowledging the existence of such ideas is the only way to highlight when they have been broken, so please forgive me as I use them throughout the rest of this – I really don’t subscribe!) such as athletic equipment, video games, and more. Unpacking doesn’t use a traditional narrative structure. It tells a story through the items the protagonist chooses to keep over the years. Very explicitly this makes a lot of claims about the protagonists autonomy and the pressures she faces, whether they be societal expectations around family, career, or personal hobbies. It also makes claims about the pressures forced upon her, and by extension you the player, such as when you move in with an implied to be abusive boyfriend. The game restricts the locations of where certain items can go, although it gives you a lot of agency, but in that particular level, you can only put your college diploma out of sight under the bed or in the bathroom.
Playing “Unpacking” as a feminist is an act of empathy. It forces you to reflect on how her role has evolved over time and how these roles are still confined or defined by societal expectations. I’ve personally never been in the shoes of a woman handling very personal aspects of life transitions, and at times it felt very strangely intimate, like I was snooping around someone’s private property.
In reference to the reading, the game entirely subverts traditional male dominated game mechanics, frequently comprised of competition, conquest, or violence. I think this is arguably a feminist approach in and of itself, as it prioritizes narrative and everyday experiences over more aggressive gameplay. It reflects the shift towards valuing different kinds of stories and experiences in the gaming world, ones that resonate with a different and underserved audience.
Playing “Unpacking” as a feminist, specifically with that lens, changed how I perceived the broader implications of the gameplay. It made me think of the game as a commentary on domestic life, personal space, and the emotional labor that goes into creating a home. It made me realize just how gendered some of these experiences are, which I never really considered and have only participated in from the male perspective, and demonstrated to me how these mundane activities are shaped by the broader cultural narrative we live in.
It’s about empathizing with the experiences of one woman in particular, and watching her journey. I really did enjoy this game.
