Cozy cleaning and organization games are like scratching a good itch—satisfying beyond words, beyond comprehension, even! They tend to be meandering and meditative, encouraging the player rearrange items in a space in a bid to make it “perfect.” If you are the kind of person who notices a crooked picture frame and needs to fix it right away, these games are for you.
A popular cozy cleaning game is Unpacking. If you’ve played it, you know it is about 3 hours long. Which means that if you absolutely love it like I do, you’ll want a few similar games on your bench.
What is Unpacking?
If you stumbled upon this blog by otherworldly force, you might want to know “What the heck is Unpacking?”
Unpacking is a meditative indie video game developed by Witch Beam. In this unique and minimalist puzzle game, players take on the role of unpacking a series of boxes over several years, revealing the life story of the protagonist.
The game beautifully captures the nostalgia and emotional resonance of personal belongings, as players meticulously place items in various rooms, uncovering a narrative that spans from childhood to adulthood.
With its charming pixel art style and a focus on the subtle, yet powerful, act of unpacking, Unpacking offers a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging gaming experience.
The Best Games Like Unpacking
Here are a few recommendations for games that are like Unpacking.
1. A Little to the Left
A Little to the Left is a quirky and entertaining puzzle game developed by the team at Couch Game Crafters. In this light-hearted and physics-based title, players step into the shoes of a furniture mover tasked with the comical challenge of rearranging and reorganizing rooms filled with furniture, appliances, and objects.
The game’s charm lies in its humorous take on the frustrations of moving furniture, as players grapple with unwieldy items and hilariously exaggerated physics. With a cooperative multiplayer mode and a delightful sense of humor, A Little to the Left offers a fun and lighthearted gaming experience centered around the chaotic art of interior design.
2. Assemble with Care
Assemble with Care is a heartfelt narrative-driven puzzle game developed by ustwo games. Players assume the role of Maria, a skilled repairwoman who arrives in the picturesque town of Bellariva. As Maria, players take on the task of mending and restoring various objects owned by the townspeople, each item carrying its own unique story and emotional significance.
Through gentle, tactile gameplay, players not only fix physical objects but also mend the relationships and memories associated with them. The game is a beautifully crafted exploration of human connections and the sentimental value we attach to the items in our lives, presented with stunning visuals and a touching storyline that encourages players to appreciate the stories behind the things we cherish.
3. Wilmot’s Warehouse
Wilmot’s Warehouse is a unique and delightful puzzle simulation game developed by Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg. Players assume the role of Wilmot, a hardworking square-shaped warehouse worker, tasked with organizing and delivering a vast array of colorful goods in a whimsical and ever-expanding warehouse.
The game’s brilliance lies in its simple premise and complex execution, as players must meticulously arrange items, creating their own organizational system. With a clever blend of inventory management, memory skills, and time management, Wilmot’s Warehouse offers a challenging and satisfying gameplay experience, all set in a charming, minimalist world that encourages creativity and efficiency in the pursuit of satisfying customer demands.
4. PowerWash Simulator
PowerWash Simulator is a satisfying and oddly therapeutic simulation game developed by FuturLab. In this game, players take on the role of a power washing enthusiast, armed with a high-pressure washer, and tackle various dirty, grimy surfaces, from mundane driveways to complex industrial equipment. The game’s appeal lies in its surprisingly soothing gameplay, where meticulous cleaning and restoring surfaces to their pristine state becomes oddly addictive.
With a range of tools and nozzles, realistic water physics, and a wide variety of scenarios, PowerWash Simulator offers a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players transform filthy environments into spotless ones, making it a uniquely calming and engaging gaming experience.
5. House Flipper
House Flipper is a house renovation and simulation game developed by Empyrean and published by PlayWay S.A. In this game, players step into the shoes of a house renovation expert tasked with buying, cleaning, decorating, and ultimately flipping various properties for a profit. Combining elements of interior design, DIY construction, and property management, House Flipper allows players to unleash their creative and entrepreneurial spirit as they transform run-down homes into beautifully refurbished spaces.
With a wide range of customization options, a variety of renovation challenges, and a sense of satisfaction that comes from turning neglected properties into gems, House Flipper offers an engaging and addictive simulation experience for those with a passion for home improvement and design.
You can also get their newest game, House Flipper 2.
6. Room Cleaning
Room Cleaning is a relaxing, point-and-click puzzle/hidden objects game that has you tidying up spaces in various states of disarray. Made by IndieGo Entertainment, you will play as a new hire for the resident cleaning company. You can pick up fallen objects, move items that seem out of place, and use cleaning tools to remove messes.
This simple-but-zen game offers different difficulty levels, so you can replay it with fresh, new challenges. The music is lilting and melodic, creating a nearly meditative experience as you sort, scrub, and shuffle. Relax and unwind with a satisfying gameplay loop custom-made for Type A personalities.
7. Room in Dream
Room in Dream is the game that probably looks and feels the most like Unpacking on this list. It’s a casual, zen room builder that lets you collect and assemble furniture to add to your cozy room. You can also decorate the environment outside with flora, paths, lights, and more.
You have access to tons of furniture, decorations, plants, and “cozy clutter” (like books and dishes) to make the most out of your space. You aren’t “unpacking,” per se, but the game mechanics feel very much like you are. You point and click into menu boxes, select the item you want, and plop it into the room as you see fit. This should be a must-buy for anyone looking for a similar vibe to Unpacking.
8. Cats Organized Neatly
Instead of unpacking household goods, why not try packing up some cats? Cats Organized Neatly is a cute and casual puzzle game that has you fit differently shaped cats into a box grid. The grid space-to-cat size ratio becomes increasingly difficult to finesse as you progress. And because cats are basically liquid, you’ll end up with some whacky kitty shapes you need to work around somehow.
This game is super cheap and very addictive. Plus, it scratches that “let me organize things!” itch that Unpacking players love. Not to mention that the cats are so silly and cute it makes you want to leap through the screen and kiss their little heads. Big fan of this one! And yes, they also have a Dogs Organized Neatly game, if you’re into that sort of thing.
8. PocketLove! (Apple & Android)
Decorate a tiny home in PocketLove! Unlock furniture, decorations, and outfits by completing daily tasks, watching ads, or paying real-world dollars (optional). You will get prizes and rewards every day, so you can fill up your space without ever watching an ad or paying money. Ads are optional but do unlock many more items than in-game progress alone.
The premise is that you have moved into a new place with your partner and your pet. Now you’re looking to populate it with items you love and rearrange it to really be your own. It definitely has Unpacking vibes, as the “gameplay” is mostly unlocking new items and rearranging them in your tiny space. It’s sitting at 4.7/5 stars on the Google Play Store right now, so users are really loving it!
9. I Love Hue Too (Apple & Android)
I Love Hue Too presents players with a captivating mobile puzzle adventure, where the challenge lies in arranging and harmonizing gradient-colored puzzles. The primary goal is to restore disordered color gradients to their rightful sequence, allowing for seamless transitions between hues. You are basically “organizing the colors,” which I think fans of Unpacking will appreciate. Artists will love it and will probably find it silly-easy; the rest of us (me) will find it a pleasant little challenge to visualize and sort colors in a way our brains aren’t used to.
With its progressively challenging levels and a wealth of meticulously designed puzzles, it offers a balance between relaxation and mental stimulation. I Love Hue Too stands as an elegant and meditative mobile game, tailor-made for those who find solace in the art of color and seek a mindful gaming experience.
10. My Dream Setup
My Dream Setup is a calm, cozy room decorating game with the twist being that the focus is building out a gaming setup. You can customize the room as you would expect: colors, furniture, accessories. But you also have a ton of options for building out your gaming setup. Desks, monitors, lights, chairs. It’s a fun take on a classic decoration sim theme.
You can use an RGB color slider to customize pretty much everything: doors, windows, furniture, and even the background. There are also wallpaper designs to choose from for an accent wall or you can cover the whole room with a click. You can also change the outside ambiance: sunny, sunset, rain, snow, and night.
Conclusion
Those are my top suggestions for games that are like Unpacking. Did I miss one that you think should make it on the list? Reach out on social media and I’ll try to add it in!
Stay cozy, gamers!