The game I chose to play is Unpack That created by @Sncgame, a card-based conversation game designed to foster emotional connection and self-reflection among players. It can be played physically or digitally, making it versatile across platforms. I played the digital version but in person, so we could emphasized the face-to-face interaction that’s key to the experience. The intended audience for Unpack That includes close friends, couples, and even new acquaintances who are open to getting vulnerable. It’s best suited for players aged 16 and up, given the emotional maturity required to engage with the prompts. The game can be played in pairs or small groups and thrives in settings where people are willing to open up and share.
In Unpack That, breaking down the MDA, players draw cards from several themed decks (like reflection, habits, triggers, etc.), with each card containing a question or prompt designed to spark conversation. There are no points, turns, or win conditions. The goal is simply to talk and listen. This minimalist structure creates an emotionally rich but gameplay-light experience. While it can lead to meaningful moments, it can also become repetitive or uncomfortable if players aren’t in the right mindset. The game is highly dependent on participants’ willingness to be vulnerable. When I look at “Unpack That,” it’s clear that it’s made for people who want to have real conversations and build emotional connections. It’s a card game that’s all about answering questions and talking about your feelings. This can be awesome if everyone’s in the mood, but if someone isn’t feeling it, the game can get kind of awkward or repetitive. There’s not much else to do except answer questions, so if you’re not up for sharing, it doesn’t really work.
Our game tries to fix that by keeping the UNO rules everyone knows like using Wild cards to ask any questions you like, and trying to get rid of all your cards first. When you play certain cards, you have to answer a question or share a story. For example, if you play a Wild card, you might get a prompt like, “Who do you lowkey stalk on social media?” We made the questions color-coded, so some are light and fun, and some go a bit deeper. Plus, you can always pass if you don’t want to answer, so no one feels forced.
If you look at other games in this genre, like “Unpack That” or We’re Not Really Strangers, they mostly just focus on talking and getting to know each other, but there’s not much actual gameplay. Regular UNO is all about strategy and luck, but you don’t really learn anything new about the people you’re playing with. Our game tries to bring those two things together, so you can have fun and maybe get to know people better at the same time. For example, during playtesting, someone asked the person after them a story and that person ended up sharing a story that made everyone laugh and brought the group closer together. That’s the kind of moment we’re aiming for.
We also thought a lot about ethics and making sure everyone feels safe. Vulnerability should always be a choice, not something you have to do to play. That’s why we have the pass option and different levels of question depth. We want people to feel comfortable, and we don’t want anyone to feel pressured to share more than they want. This is important because games that ask personal questions can sometimes cross boundaries if you’re not careful.
he Unpack That card in the image is a great example of how the game works. The prompt says: “STARING CONTEST: THE FIRST PLAYER TO BLINK MUST DESCRIBE THEIR CURRENT EMOTIONAL STATE.” Right away, you can see that there’s no way to win, no strategy, just a challenge that makes you share your feelings. It’s basically saying, “Do this action, then tell us how you feel.” That can lead to deep talks if everyone’s into it, but if someone’s not in the mood, it can feel forced. So while Unpack That goes straight for emotional conversations, Amigo keeps things light and lets you open up only if you want to. The image proves how Unpack That’s design pushes players to be vulnerable, while Amigo makes it optional.
