Suitcase Stories: The story of a life told through the items worth packing

If you’re a fan of subtle yet meaningful stories told through seemingly simple acts, then you’ve probably played your fair share of ‘packing’ games. You know the ones; you have a bunch of items and a space to put them in, but fitting everything in can be a challenge. If you enjoy those games, there’s a new one coming that you should keep an eye on: Suitcase Stories.

Suitcase Stories is a two- to three-hour cozy experience in which you progress through one person’s life story through the items they carry in their bag at any given stage of life. In development by Creative Hand, the team behind Tiny Witch, it looks utterly adorable and is worth watching for anyone with that very particular ‘packing game’ itch.

A story, just below the surface

As with many games of this type, it could be very easy to gloss over the deeper story of Suitcase Stories, because it won’t be implicitly stated. Instead, you’ll need to read into the story using the items in front of you, seeking out their meaning and memories as you pack them away into the bag they’re destined to go in.

This same type of subtle storytelling is also present in the hugely successful Unpacking, as well as other upcoming games like One Move Away and Organized Inside. Although the art styles of all of those games are wildly different, they all do an incredible job of packing in a story that can be interpreted in multiple ways, related to in varying degrees by players, and ultimately touch the heart as you play. 

Packed (get it?) with content

Although the gameplay experience of Suitcase Stories is set to only be a few hours long, and according to Creative Hand, it’s not designed to be infinitely replayable beyond that first playthrough, there is a lot of content that’s being packed into the finished product. 

According to the Steam page, Suitcase Stories will have over 300 objects to pack away, covering our unseen central character’s life from childhood and long into adulthood. There will be eight chapters of life, with 30 suitcases in total to fill with meaningful trinkets and sentimental reminders. 

By their own admission, Creative Hand says that Suitcase Stories is not designed to be overly challenging or puzzling. It’s supposed to be contemplative, which is a common theme in these types of relaxing games. 

A meditative experience

Video games can be a source or aid in relaxation, as much as they can be a source of excitement that keeps you awake at night. The story-driven, calm experience offered by Suitcase Stories and others like it has proved to be a successful formula, and games that adopt it often become almost meditative experiences. 

Sometimes we all need to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and zone out while feeling like we’re accomplishing something. That’s what Suitcase Stories will offer once it fully releases, and I can’t wait to dive in and start dissecting a life through the items deemed important enough to carry with you.