Game: Pakinpaks
Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: Indiebuild | Catoptric Games
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $9.99 | UK £8.50 | EU €9,99
Release Date: March 23rd, 2026
Review code provided with many thanks to Indiebuild.
Pakinpaks – A Puzzle About Packing
Pakinpaks is one of those puzzle games that takes a very simple idea and builds an entire experience around it. If you’ve ever spent time rearranging the inventory grid in something like Resident Evil 4, you’ll probably recognise the basic idea straight away.
The goal here is simple: fit a collection of items into a bag, suitcase, or container so that everything fits neatly. It sounds straightforward, but like many good puzzle concepts, it quickly becomes more fiddly once the game starts introducing additional rules. The game presents this idea in a cosy way. You’re guided by a rather relaxed cat called BonBon who runs a bag-packing company. While you’re doing the work of organising luggage, BonBon usually sits nearby, enjoying the scenery. Alright for some.
Before starting your journey, you can customise your cat companion. You’re able to adjust colours, patterns, and eventually unlock outfits and accessories. It’s not essential to the puzzle gameplay itself, but it’s a fun addition that helps give the game its light-hearted tone.
Packing With A Purpose
The core gameplay revolves around packing items for different clients. Each level gives you a container and a selection of objects that need to fit inside it. Your job is to rotate, move, and position each item so that everything fits neatly within the available space. At first, the puzzles are fairly simple. You just need to make sure everything fits. But before long, the game starts layering in more rules.
Some items are hot, and others are cold, meaning they can’t be placed next to each other. There are also wet items that will affect anything touching them. These types of rules force you to think more carefully about where each piece should go, often requiring a bit of experimentation before finding the right layout.
It becomes a satisfying process of rearranging objects, rotating them into place, and slowly figuring out the solution. Sometimes you’ll realise you placed one item incorrectly several moves ago and have to shuffle things around again. That trial-and-error element is very much part of the experience. When something is placed incorrectly, the game does a good job of showing what went wrong with clear visual markers.
Drag and Drop
Most of the game can be played comfortably using just the mouse. You simply drag items around the bag and rotate them when needed. It’s easy to pick up and play with minimal prior gaming experience needed for newbies.
Keyboard controls are available too, and the game supports controllers and Steam Deck play. That said, the smaller screen of the Steam Deck might make some puzzles feel a bit fiddly compared to playing with a mouse on PC.
The game also introduces new mechanics gradually as you progress through different locations around the world. Early areas act as gentle introductions, while later environments add more complexity. For example, some items can expand or shrink with a button press. This adds another layer of strategy because sometimes the only way to fill every square in the bag is by adjusting item sizes at the right moment.
Extra Challenges
Beyond the main travel mode, Pakinpaks includes a few different ways to play. Zen Infinite Mode offers a more relaxed experience with procedurally generated puzzles and no time limits. It’s ideal if you simply want to pack bags at your own pace.
Rush Mode flips that idea on its head by introducing a time limit, asking you to complete as many bags as possible before the clock runs out. There’s also Brainy Mode, where your moves are limited, and planning ahead becomes essential.
In the main campaign, optional challenges allow you to earn stars. These stars can then be used to unlock cosmetic items for your cat companion. Personally, I found some of these challenges slightly stressful compared to the otherwise relaxed tone of the game. Early on they feel optional, so you can focus mainly on the packing puzzles. Later in the game, however, some challenges become more necessary to progress, which may not appeal to everyone.
The game does include a limited hint system that can help solve part of a puzzle if you get stuck. It’s helpful, though I wouldn’t have minded seeing a few more accessibility options here.
Travelling With BonBon
Visually, Pakinpaks leans into a soft and friendly presentation style. The environments change as you progress through the game. You might start packing bags near a beach, but before long, you’ll find yourself visiting places like archaeological ruins or other unexpected locations. It’s a pleasant variety that keeps the game from feeling repetitive. Meanwhile, BonBon the cat usually appears nearby, relaxing in the background while you work through each puzzle. Customising BonBon adds another small layer of motivation, especially if you enjoy unlocking cosmetics as you play.
Conclusion – Laid Back Pack
Pakinpaks is a relaxing puzzle game built around the satisfying task of organising items into tight spaces. The core concept is simple, but the game adds enough rules and mechanics to keep the puzzles interesting. Rotating objects, managing item restrictions, and slowly finding the right layout creates a satisfying loop that puzzle fans will likely enjoy.
It’s not completely stress-free, though. Some of the optional challenges and later puzzle requirements can add pressure that might not suit every player looking for a purely laid-back experience.
Still, if you enjoy tidy puzzle games and like the idea of carefully packing bags while travelling the world with a very relaxed cat companion, Pakinpaks offers a fun way to spend a quiet evening. Just be prepared to rearrange that suitcase more than once before everything finally fits.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
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