Outer Wilds

Everything about this game is amazing. The story, the universe, the music, the mechanisms... 12/10 !

"Ah, here we go again" Or is it?

Outer Wilds is about exploring and finding ways to explore a changing environment, presenting 'window of opportunities' and how to utilize those to find out what is happening in the solar system you (the character) are currently in.

This game's mechanics appreciates players who dared to ask "What ifs" and are rewarded with knowledge and novel game mechanics. However, this game requires players to deduce information for "Why things happen" (in-game) via reading (logs/dialogue), followed by trying things directly to prove it. Therefore, this game is actually a Huge Puzzle of an Adventure game , unlike puzzle games in-general with specific levels to clear, or Adventure games that may require grinding for items.

There are two ways to enjoy the game:

1. you follow the 'story' [more like breadcrumbs], and use the information to answering lingering questions/mechanics as you explore (there is a "recording device" that tracks "progress").
   
2. you blast off into space curiously and experience the environment directly while gathering knowledge [to which one will find inaccessible regions, unanswerable questions, or things-that-really-does-not-make-sense], then collecting the findings (some may be recorded in-game) which is then used figure out how to progress further in the game. [some things can be achieved by trial and error, others require knowledge first].
   *It is much recommended to use the first method before using to the second to a least understand the basic premise of the game.
   

The main reason to "enter this game blind" as most reviews suggest is the same reason why you don't look for a solution outside of a puzzle game: the reward of solving (in this case, finding ways to explore 'uncharted waters') are the main driver of this gameplay. However, for those who are stuck, there are discussion pages available with the community able to offer clues. (The discussion page for most of the "help i am stuck" threads are filled with so many vague hints and redacted spoilers, the forum is basically filled with black boxes)

However, this is game a Timed "Puzzle", raising the possibility of Redo-ing "puzzles" [the game explicitly says time-loop], especially when the player has only partially finish exploring a site, or missed a 'window of opportunity'. The thing that sticks with the player is information (experience) the player gets per-loop [important parts are recorded in-game via text/logs]. Other things (if not, almost all) resets, which offer the chance give those missed opportunities a second try. As the player understands more about the mechanics of gameplay, one can save more time during exploration (you explore things faster the more you know).

Replayability of this game is, therefore, minimal since once experienced cannot be "un-experienced" as the information is not only stuck in-game, but with the player as well, due to its built-in mechanic. (unless you get specific-amnesia for this game only, to which, i think most Outer Wilds players who have completed this would have wished for)

Overall, this game is a must try for players who like Puzzle-Adventures, or Adventure games in-general. 10/10 would experience it again (you couldn't; but at least the amazing music can help you re-live the moments).


Important notes about controls:

• Try to get the feels for the controls, some have reservations with the way 'jumping' works in the game. (it is hold Space to 'prepare' jump, and let-go space to initiate jumping, prior momentum before jumping affects the jump as well).
  
[*]Both controller and keyboard is fine, but some very fine movements are better with a controller (I played with the keyboard-mouse no problem).

Note about horrors:
The base-game does have little 'horror'(?) elements (includes the dark, and the many possible risks of death, not limited to physical and biological properties) but you will have the tools (if used correctly) and information (in-game) to overcome/prevent them.


=================================

Regarding, DLC Echoes of the Eye (EoE):

The light is very dim, it is very dark. The horror is in the things you have not yet understand, in the dark.

The DLC augments the main game as an extra "side" adventure, which revolves around a specific site in the game. This will render the game a little more confined [in the specific area(s)]. Everything else is still similar to the base game.

During my play-through of the DLC specifically (which i purchased as a bundle, after borrowing the base game for +-25 mins), I did shelf the game for quite some time, due to the dark and horror* nature of the genre {one simply must understand why tags exists, I underestimated it (a bit)}. After a long delay, i tried picked it up again to finish it.

Great job with the Sound, Music, and Environment Design team for the ambiance. Despite everything (a.k.a the horrors), the DLC story does add (even more) weight to the general story.

Overall for the DLC (8.5/10) will experience again (the joy of discovery, will prefer skipping the horrors unless integral to the story, which it does apparently).

For those who does not like horrors, it is much better to stick with the base game. Those who dare (or are curious enough) may consider the DLC as well.

P.S. *I did not use the reduced fright option (available in settings), thinking it will cause a different experience than intended. Have never tried it as well, so I cannot comment on it.

Words can’t do it justice. Truly a magical experience.

Outer Wilds has to be the best example of a game that transcends its medium — all while remaining a game.

It’s playful, tactile, and system-driven in the best possible way.
At the same time, it’s powerful and full of surprises. And when the pieces finally click into place, the feeling is indescribable.

Out of all the exploration and discovery games out there, I think Outer Wilds is among the best. Its an incredibly thoughtful experience and I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys video games

Absolute journey, really cool game, worth every single goddamn penny.

Just rawdog this game bruh. Trust me. I haven't even finished yet but I'm having such a fun time rawdogging it.

EDIT: I FINISHED. DON'T READ/WATCH ANYTHING, JUST PLAY THIS GAME.

If you appreciate video games, you absolutely must try Outer Wilds. I can't guarantee that it will hit for you, but if it does, it's one of the greatest video games ever made. This game is special, and I really don't want to say anything more about it than that.

This might as well be the best gaming experience i have ever had. This game play around with it's own medium so well. I will go as far as to say that this might be the closest a game got to true art. A brilliant idea brilliantly done. Enough glazing. This game is fantastic adventure where you explore solar system full of mysteries and puzzles. Progressively you gain new knowledge unlocking new areas, mechanics and more. You have all the tools you need right at the start, you just down know how, where or when to use it. So knowledge is priceless commodity in this game, it's the only thing keeping you from the end of the game. Storytelling here is done through exploration and interaction and it's masterfully and carefully done.
This game can be so beautiful and terrifying at times. The ending felt so profound and almost spiritual, it made me tear up a little. Beautiful piece of art, hard recommend for everyone, just don't let the experience be ruined by spoilers.

I hate it when I cause the end and rebirth of the universe due to quantum mechanics and Superposition decay

Honestly, the praises that people sung in this game's favor has always left a sort of sore feeling where "Something can't be this good." Well, I played it with an open mind, and thoroughly enjoyed my experience and think this is one of the better investigative games out there! It's a very unique and cool spin on the time-travel shtick that left me very intrigued all the way through.

The story itself is also intriguing, and has elements of investigative "Eureka!" moments that never get old. Uncovering information and following that information or drawing your own conclusions has that classic feel of victory that I typically get in deduction-based games.

I didn't expect I'd love this game the way that I did and I certainly recommend everyone to play this if you haven't!

The gameplay probably isn't for everyone. It's a bit slow and can honestly be a bit frustrating at times, but if you're at all a curious person, it hooks you pretty quickly. There are a lot of things you see or discover that don't make any sense and really pique your curiosity, but you come back to later as you start piecing the story together and it's a very satisfying progression once you realize that it's kinda less about the gameplay and more about how you discover things. Like many others have said, discovery is a big gameplay mechanic in itself.

But the ending would make the game worth it even if I didn't enjoy the rest of the game, 1000 times over. I played this shortly after losing my mom to a long battle with covid. I went into the game fairly blind overall, but definitely blind to the ending, and I'm glad I did, because it hit me like freight truck, but in a sort of deep, profound bittersweet way. It is by far, in every category that I can think of, the best ending to a video game I have ever experienced, and in terms of lasting emotional impact, maybe the best ending to any piece of media I have seen or read. It's corny, but it really is a work of art. When you think you're getting towards the end, make sure you can experience this alone, in a calm setting without any distractions, it really does deserve your full attention. (And your mom doesn't need to be dead to get the full experience).

"Can you hear music?"

Before going into this game: "Man I love space and this seems like a cool exploration game."
Me after finishing the main game and DLC: "I can never experience something so beautiful ever again."

Buy this, play it, do not spoil yourself anything. This is the best game that one can tell absolutely NOTHING about it. Do yourself a favour, buy it.

Probably one of the most beautiful games ever created.

Dont let the first few hours discourage you...

I started the game three times before getting into it, but after you understand its perfect.
(Ps: Always look into the Ship Log)

If the setting doesn't immediately hook you within the first 10 minutes, refund the game. If you are not a fan of walking simulators, do not buy this game. If the description: "It's like Firewatch but in space" doesn't peak your interest, do not buy this game. If the gameplay loop of - walk to a location, read something written on the wall, walk to another location, speak to an NPC - doesn't sound appealing, do not buy this game. Just because a game gets universal acclaim doesn't mean it will be engaging for everyone. This is 100% not a game everyone should play.

holy.
whatever you do, if the game is not fun in the beginning, WAIT. Wait for it to be good because it will.

A cinematic masterpiece, the visuals and soundtrack stunning, the story is beyond this world it will change your perspective on life a 10/10 must play

Outer Wilds is the Game of the Decade. What are you doing reading reviews about it still? Haven't all your friends already told you to play it? Are you upset that they won't tell you anything about it? Well listen, they probably just think you're a wonderful person and they want you to have an experience of a lifetime without spoiling anything of it. So just give it a shot.

It's my favorite game.
My goal in life is to make as many people as possible play Outer Wilds.
So you, person reading this: [b]go play Outer Wilds!

One of the best games ever made... but it's not for everyone. You need to at least like puzzle games and reading. If you like, play the game with the least possible information about it.
I played it 2 years ago and didn't like it because I thought it was too slow, I didn't know where to go, but everything changed when I realized... that's the point (kinda). Just wander, find things, get immersed in this universe and take your time to think. Realizing where to go or what to do, even tho it may be hard, is really rewarding.
Again, it's not for everyone. The game have no combat, no clear path to follow and the only reward for doing something right is more text, but if you give it a chance, it may be an unforgettable experience.

I almost quit this game. Really. I spent my first few hours flying around, crashing into planets, running out of oxygen, and getting stuck in places I didn’t understand. The worst part? I had no idea if I was making any progress. Every time I thought I had a lead, I’d die in some ridiculous way and start over.

If you’re in that stage right now - feeling like you’re wandering aimlessly, getting nowhere - trust me, I was there too. Outer Wilds doesn’t hold your hand, and that’s both its greatest strength and its biggest obstacle.

But then it clicks.

At some point, after stubbornly pushing through or (like me) sneaking a glance at the wiki to get one nudge in the right direction, things start to make sense. You realize that every piece of information you find is a clue leading to something else. The game isn’t about leveling up or collecting tools, it’s about gathering knowledge, and that alone is what unlocks new discoveries.

Suddenly, you’re no longer lost. You’re investigating. You see connections between places, uncover hidden mechanics, and slowly piece together one of the most mind-blowing narratives in gaming. Every time I thought I had the biggest mystery figured out, the game would pull the rug out from under me in the best way possible.

The world of Outer Wilds is small - a miniature solar system where you can hop between planets in minutes. But each location is packed with unique mechanics, breathtaking moments, and physics-driven challenges that make it feel massive.

Brittle Hollow is a planet that collapses into a black hole while you explore it. The Hourglass Twins are a set of planets where sand flows from one to the other, changing the landscape in real-time. Dark Bramble it’s a terrifying maze of shifting space and giant [redacted].

Every place has something surprising waiting for you. Sometimes, it's beautiful. Sometimes, it's horrifying. And sometimes, it's both.

If you stick with it, Outer Wilds delivers one of the most profound, emotional, and unforgettable endings in gaming. I won’t spoil it, but it’s the kind of experience that lingers in your mind long after you finish. The final moments left me staring at the screen, completely overwhelmed in the best way.

TL;DR: Outer Wilds is not for everyone. It requires patience, curiosity, and a willingness to be lost for a while. If you’re looking for a traditional action-adventure game with clear objectives, this will frustrate you. But if you push through the initial confusion, you’ll uncover one of the most unique, rewarding experiences in gaming. 8/10

LITMUS TEST - if you don't want to read this review because it's too long, then you probably won't enjoy this game either.

I purchased this game based entirely off of its overwhelmingly positive reviews, many of which encouraged me to just buy it and not look into it at all. I did so, only to later realize that it wasn't really a game for me. So here's an actual (spoiler free) review that you can read before you consider picking this game up. By the end of it, you will hopefully have decided whether this game is or isn't for you.

To start, this is a well-designed game, I will admit. The game is very heavily exploration focused. You explore the solar system and have to unlock its secrets. The game nudges you in the right direction through its ship log, which is definitely a help.

Number one, I made the mistake of marathoning this game. The first five hours were very enjoyable for me. It was all about exploration and discovering new things.

In the middle part of the game, it becomes more of a task where you need to compile all of the information you've received so far and find the best way to figure out what you need to do next. The ideal way to play this game, in my opinion, is to mess around for one or two hours, and then quit so you can give it a rest for a while while you figure out what you should do next. Every bit of text in this game is important to help you understand how to progress. I wasn't fully paying attention at the beginning, so I found myself having to go back to areas I had already explored to look at the information again. The playtime you see of a lot of players is actually a bit deceitful, as a lot of extra time needs to be spent thinking about the game and not just playing it. If you're the kind of person who wants to beat a game in a few sessions or have a linear, defined progression, then I wouldn't recommend it. If you're the kind of person who doesn't want to spend a lot of time reading a lot of information and piecing it together, then I wouldn't recommend it.

The end of the game involves a lot of frustration: trying different things, even for hours, and not actually getting anywhere. You will end up wasting a lot of time going down one route, only to learn that wasn't what you should have been doing. Even when you learn what you should do, the game often requires that you wait long amounts of time for the right window of opportunity. If you mess it up, you have to go back and do it again. This game requires a great deal of patience, far more than the average game would. If you aren't very patient when playing games, or if you're just looking for a game to invest your idle time into, I wouldn't recommend it.

Looking up a guide to this game can remove the entire point of playing it. If you know how to beat it, then there's no fun anymore, which is why people say that you can only play it once. The fun is trying to discover how to do it yourself. If you don't like doing that sort of thing, and you often find yourself looking up video game guides out of frustration, then I wouldn't recommend it.

However, I WOULD recommend this game to people who are intrigued by mystery and story elements. It's a very "nerdy" game, if that makes sense. So it has an appeal to certain people, and less of an appeal to others. If you feel like you fit into that category, then give it a go. If not, then I'd steer clear. It's very well put together and a lot of thought clearly went into it. It encourages a lot of thought, but the downside and irony to that is that the more you think about it, the more you see imperfections and conveniences in the story, although I can't give examples without spoiling it.

All in all, I can see how someone would really enjoy this game. I was lead to playing it because the reviewers refuse to give any context whatsoever as to the experience you'll be having with this game. If I had known, I would have given it a pass. My review is to act more as a caution than an actual denouncement of this game.

I have never experienced this kind of game before, and I absolutely love it. This is now one of my new favourite video games. This game left me wanting to play more games like Outer Wilds. This is the most unique space exploration game I've ever played.

I didn't know what Outer Wilds was really about, I thought it was just about exploring space. But it turned out to be so much more than that, and it was incredibly fun and unique experience.

Highly recommended. Don't read anything about it or spoil yourself, just experience it for yourself. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Absolute masterpiece. Went into this game not knowing anything about it, it was recommended to me by friends and I ended up hooked to it, it quickly become one of my faves.
The best way to play this game is blind as it revolves around exploration and mystery. It's hard to say more than that without spoiling anything but if space, exploration, archeology and mystery are themes that you like, I highly recommend playing, you won't be disappointed. If you're worried about forgetting information, don't worry, the game keep tracks of everything for you.
This game is a product of love, every detail has been well thought and it's honestly amazing to discover how it all comes together. There's always more details to notice, even after you've finished the game.
And what's even better? There's a DLC that's basically a second game. The vibes are different but its story is as interesting and as long as the base game, a masterpiece as well.
Enjoy your journey!

Amazing game, great music, compelling story, amazing puzzles that give you the perfect "OHHHHHH" feeling.
Please for your own sake learn as little as possible about this game before you start.

I'm pretty sure that there is something inside of here that makes this game warrant the rating of "Overwhelmingly Positive", but I didn't find it in the time I spent on it. Even trying to listen to the people here: going in as blind as possible and not use any guides to complete it... It really just made me feel more and more annoyed at the game for how nonsensical a lot of the parts of the game can be. And even tough I admire the little cosmos the devs have created here; the charm is lessened for each reset in the cycle and quickly had that shift to monotony.

The controls didn't help much either. Using a controller did help but it was often challenging to pilot the spaceship with any real precision, feeling more like you are forced to 'shoot from the hip' when it comes to landing on specific spots, which has lead to its fair share of unfair deaths.

And for the few times in which the core mystery of the game did grip me... It just as quickly lost me to the above mentioned repetition and aimless searching for the next bit of knowledge you need to move forward.

Maybe it's just me being stupid and not 'getting it'.

Wonderful game where you make progress not by making your character stronger, but by you yourself learning more.

Might be up there as one of the all time greatest games. I got this years ago and bounced off it pretty early, it wasn't until much later when I gave it a solid chance that it all clicked. The way it reveals the story, the art style, the music.

It's a beautiful experience.

So basically, Outer Wilds has quickly taken the spot for my favorite game of all time. The ending made me burst into ugly crying and I am grieving over the fact I will never get to experience it again.
Unlike other games I love, like RainWorld, it's not a game I'd just recommend, it's a game I think everyone should play. I genuinely think it's an important art experience to have.
It's literally the only thing occupying my mind currently and I want to babble on and on about it to anyone willing to listen, but I can't talk about it, because mentioning even the tiniest of detail has the potential to ruin a significant portion of the game.
play Outer Wilds!

How to play this game:
0) BUY IT, IT'S WORTH IT
1) Don't look up anything about this game, go completely blind


---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☑ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☑ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☑ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
☑ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☐ Average
☑ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☐ 9
☑ 10

The best game I've ever played.
Don't spoil yourself. No matter what.
Stop reading reviews and play the game.

Venture forward into the cosmic unknown.

After constantly being told my friends to play this game, I gave it a shot. Not really a huge puzzle game person but I figured I'd finally give it a shot after years of being told to play....

Waiting to play this game was probably the biggest mistake I've made.

Its hard to give a proper review of this game without spoiling anything. The best way to experience this game, as everyone else suggests, is going in totally blind. If you're feeling like this game might not be for you after that first hour or two, just give it another hour. Give the game one more shot to pull you in. Once the pieces start to fit (pun intended), the game really starts to shine.

This game is truly masterful in the story and the gameplay. Outer Wilds is the best, thought provoking game I have played. There's really nothing else like it. I love this game and I will envy anyone else plaything this game for the first time.

Probably the most compelling game I have played in a long time, my only issue is the fact that I cannot experience this game for the first time again.

This is one of the most creative games i have ever played, there is genuinely nothing like it and i don't think there ever will be again which is shame due to the fact i cant play it again, but my first and only play though is one of the most enjoyable experiences i have ever had with a video game, there is not a day that goes by where i don't think about this game at least once both due to its unique game play and incredible story that both moved me to tears and changed how i think about death and our role in the grand scheme of the universe.

It's an amazing game !
A wonderful journey in outer space, where you navigate with the sole goal of discovery.
It tickles my inner child's curiosity and fulfills my teenage fascination with space.
There is a before and an after playing Outer-Wild, leaving you rethinking life in your room after both ends (with the dlc too).
The only think i could say is thank you !

I’m about to be the first person in history to write an actual review on Outer Wilds. You probably just scrolled through a sea of “stop reading the reviews, buy the game knowing absolutely NOTHING.” I don’t know what YouTuber must have started that, but it’s a circlejerk. It’s absolutely possible to tell someone about the gameplay without ruining their experience. I assume the reason why fans repeat that line is because knowledge serves as your primary tool of progression in the game. Once you have certain pieces of information you can beat the game in like 10 minutes, so spoilers affect your experience much more harshly than most other games. The thing is, that information is pretty specific and just talking about the gameplay won’t affect your experience remotely.

The most important aspect of the game is the story, which isn’t told to you through a traditional narrative, but rather is pieced together by the player from documentation found throughout the game. If you don’t want to play a game where the enjoyment comes from reading and piecing together lore, this game is not for you. Admittedly, even I as someone who does like story focused games had a hard time getting invested in the world of Outer Wilds. There is a lack of believability and oversimplification of the societies found in these worlds. After playing Disco Elysium which has an incredibly flushed out setting, the lack of solid world building in such a lore driven game really stood out poorly. I had to force myself to care about the mystery the game was presenting me, but once I was invested the game became much more enjoyable.

What I appreciate about this game even more than the writing is the ambiance. The rendering is particularly beautiful and the sound track is great. The game is full of good vibes. I always found myself sitting down at a campfire to take in the moment.

The seamless space exploration is another highlight of the game. It’s very satisfying to be able to just get up, take off in your rocket ship, and land on any planet of your choosing without any loading screens. However, there are downsides to this. I imagine this is why the worlds can feel somewhat empty and devoid of unique assets. I imagine if the worlds had too much detail the game would be impossible to run. The worlds being somewhat simple makes it easier to find things, but it decreases immersion.

There are a lot of time based events in the game. While I feel like they lead to some interesting puzzles, it hurts exploration. You have a sense of urgency to explore and going back to place in case you missed some small detail can absolutely feel like a drag. There were times when I had to keep going back to a specific planet which simply wasn’t very fun for me.

The ending of the game was phenomenal. Just straight up beautiful art with a profound message delivered pretty perfectly. I really can’t say anymore on that.

Ultimately, I liked the game and I do recommend it, but the game isn’t perfect. Not everyone is going to enjoy this, and it’s not simply because “they are the wrong type of person.” The game does have genuine flaws that some players might not be able to get past. I wanted to write a review not just straight up glazing the game and I hope this review served as useful to someone.

The way people talk about Outer Wilds after playing it has become kind of a running joke, like they'll say it's a life-changing experience and one of the best games ever and you'll wish you could play for the first time again and yada yada yada
So instead of indulging in that, I'll just say that all of those sorts comments are pretty much spot on, and I'll very be lucky if I ever get to play one single other game with exploration and a setting this well realized. Knowing that this powerful a game was made by a small indie team when many AAA studios wouldn't even think of half of the stuff this game offers is inspiring as fuck man. So much more to say but this is indeed an all-timer
10/10

Outer Wilds is one of those games that I’ve heard almost nothing about, other than that it is a time loop game that everyone seems to agree it’s fantastic and that googling anything will ruin the once in a lifetime experience, so I decided to pick it up without doing any research on it. I even picked up the DLC to have the complete experience. I’m not sure what I am missing, but Outer Wilds just isn’t fun. It doesn’t have much ion the way of gameplay and there is no interesting story or other draw to make up for that.

I will fully give it credit for its uniqueness. This is one of the most unique games I’ve played and the way they handle seamless space flight is really cool. They also done a pretty good job of making it not feel super tedious to travel between planets, although it is still a minor annoyance every time the game loops. The game also has a great soundtrack and the atmosphere it can helps set is fantastic.

Unfortunately, The game just doesn’t have anything that makes me want to continue playing. Every single time the game loops I just want to quit and play something else. I get that 4.4 hours may not be enough time to see the game get good, but without something to make me want to keep playing it’s really hard to justify spending more time on this game. The story is super minimal and it feels like it has gone absolutely no where so far. I haven’t really learnt anything interesting about the lore, world, or characters yet. The world is pretty neat, but the exploration is mostly just lifeless empty worlds with ruined buildings and uninteresting text. The controls are quite awkward which further makes exploring frustrating. I get that a space game will inherently have more complex controls than a normal game, but I just always feel like I am fighting with the controls. I’ve played other space games, like Space Engineers, and I feel it handled this challenge way better. Due to this, I often find myself stuck in places I did not mean to go, and since I cannot find a way to end a loop early other than dying or quitting to title and losing all progress from the current loop, this means I just have to sit there and wait until either the loop ends, or my oxygen runs out.

Maybe at some point I’ll give this game another chance since everyone else seems to thing its a masterpiece, but, at least for now, I I’ve spent enough time on this boring game.

Quite unique, but I don't think the game was any fun. It was most frustrating to have to start over because of some BS that happened during exploration. I don't think the game is suitable for all types of players so keep that in mind.

the moral of the story is not even the end of all things can stop good friends from straight chillin

games aren't for everyone, but if i could pick one game that every person would play, it would be this one.

Outer Wilds is an undeniably ambitious and artistically stunning game, one that has earned a devoted following for its unique approach to exploration and storytelling. However, while I can appreciate its strengths, I found myself more frustrated than enthralled by its mechanics and structure. The handcrafted planets, each with their own distinct character and mysteries, showcase an art direction that is both whimsical and hauntingly beautiful. Whether drifting through space or stepping onto a crumbling planet, the aesthetic choices reinforce the sense of cosmic wonder and existential loneliness that the game thrives on. The music, too, is a standout feature, perfectly complementing the atmosphere with haunting melodies and quiet, reflective moments that elevate the game’s emotional weight.

Unfortunately, my appreciation for its world was constantly hindered by the controls. Navigating a spaceship and maneuvering in zero gravity should feel intuitive, but instead, I often found myself battling against unresponsive or floaty controls that refused to do what I intended. Whether landing on a planet or trying to make precise movements in space, I felt like I was fighting the game more than engaging with it. This added unnecessary frustration, especially in a game that demands repetition and precise execution. The narrative, while conceptually intriguing, didn’t land for me. I understand that many players found deep meaning in its existential themes and the mysteries of the universe, but I never fully connected with it. The story felt more like an overarching stage for the gameplay rather than something that pulled me in on an emotional level. It’s not that the game lacks depth—there are certainly big ideas at play—but the way they were presented didn’t resonate with me personally.

A major reason for my disconnect is my general dislike for time-loop mechanics. While I recognize that Outer Wilds uses the loop in a creative way, I’ve always found time loops to be a restriction rather than an engaging mechanic. There’s an opportunity cost when a game forces you to experience its world in bite-sized increments, constantly resetting progress and forcing repetition. Instead of being able to take in the game’s universe at my own pace, I was constantly racing against the clock, which only heightened my frustrations with the controls. I understand why Outer Wilds is beloved—it’s a deeply atmospheric, cleverly designed game that offers a unique experience in the gaming landscape. However, for me, its frustrations outweighed its brilliance. The art and sound design deserve all the praise they get, but the unrefined controls, underwhelming narrative delivery, and time-loop structure kept me from truly enjoying it. If you love open-ended exploration and don’t mind a bit of repetition, it might be a game worth experiencing. But if time loops feel like a burden rather than a thrill, it might leave you more exasperated than enlightened.

A long time ago, someone asked me: if I could replay a game for the first time again, what would it be? Originally, I answered Skyrim; eventually, this shifted more towards the original Dark Souls.

After beating this game, it has easily blown everything else out of the water. This game is an absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. I loved this game. Genuinely stellar. Can not recommend enough.

Excellent exploration and mystery game, great ambiance and interesting ideas and puzzles.

I just finished the game. Wow. And not in a good way.

(no spoilers)

I've never, ever felt so much like I wasted my time playing a game. It's genuinely not at all the developers' fault. The game is not awful, or broken, or anything like that. What went wrong is that the game is so overwhelmingly positively reviewed, that I felt like I had to try it and play it to the end. And... it's not for me. At various points throughout the game I felt bored, annoyed, and like I generally wasn't getting drawn in to the game as much as I would hope. But there is such a positive narrative around this game, people LITERALLY say that it changed their lives and they thought about it for months afterward. And, no one shares any details or spoilers to give you a better idea, because that would take away from the game. So, it seemed well worth playing it to the end and seeing what it was all about, but for me, it was not.

I like space, I like exploration, I like puzzles, I like lore. There were a lot of cool and unique elements in this game in those veins. My favorite parts were where you finally unraveled something that you had found dozens of loose threads for, and you could finally see how some part of the story fit together. Besides that, the physics, the mechanics of the planets, the writing, and the music are good.

But there were also significant negatives.

1) The game is SLOW. There are many parts of the game that literally require waiting. You can speed this up to various extents, but you still have to wait. If you die or mess something up, have fun waiting again. And again.

2) Without being too specific, there are a couple places where there are semi-random placements of entities that can kill you, and there's not much you can do about it if you get unlucky.

3) Most of the many little puzzles and things to figure out have good, clear hints. But there are probably around 5 critical things that do not have good hints at all, and it is possible to get stuck for hours. That is not fun puzzle time, either. It's just being completely stuck, wasting your time trying things that are never going to work. There are a lot of things you might try since they seem to make sense based on other elements of the game, but no. The solution is a completely different direction. Mostly very simple, but if you don't head in the right direction to solve it in the first place, good luck. Hopefully you look it up before you waste too much of your time.

4) Also, the ending. The ending sucks, in my opinion. Everything interesting in the game comes earlier, as you figure things out such as the history of the game and how things fit together. Then the ending is the biggest let down of the whole game, since you're expecting something interesting and great. And then there's nothing. It's slow, and boring, and if you die in the final sequence (which requires multiple steps after you've figured it all out) have fun repeating the whole process to get to it, as with everything else in the game.

If this game had not been hyped up so, so much, I would have probably played for ~5 hours before gradually losing hope that it was going to fully hook me, and moving on to something I liked better. But because it was hyped up so much, in combination with no detail sharing by anyone, I played on. If you're interested in this game, great. You'll probably like it. But if you're playing it and getting bored, or not sure if it's for you: consider this your permission to drop it. It's not life changing for everyone.

Despite the tone of this review, overall, the game is fine. Good, even. But bear in mind that it's a small indie game and it's not perfectly polished. If you go in with reasonable expectations, you're far more likely to enjoy it.

Many games present you with a mystery and challenge you to find the answers. Outer Wilds does something far more special: it doesn’t just make you search for answers, it makes you discover the very questions you need to ask. Instead of offering a single, central mystery, it provides a small, intricate solar system filled with fragments of history, unexplained phenomena, and hidden connections, all waiting for you to explore at your own pace.

What’s also truly unique is that the only progress you can make toward the end is through gaining knowledge. In other words the only thing standing between you and the ending of the game is your lack of knowledge on how to reach the ending. Given this design, it makes sense why so many recommend going in completely blind. Every discovery feels satisfying when you uncover it yourself. I also want to mention that the game’s physics simulation is impressive. Every planet in the solar system spins and orbits the sun in real time, so every object in the game including the player is constantly moving all the time which sounds like a nightmare to design/program.

The downside to this unique approach of Outer Wilds storytelling is the missing initial hook. Not everyone is intrinsically motivated to explore purely for exploration's sake. Additionally, some aspects of the game (especially in the DLC) can be pretty convoluted to figure out. I admit I didn’t have the patience to complete everything on my own, luckily there are some good resources that provide hints without spoiling too much.

While I genuinely appreciated the overall experience of Outer Wilds and mostly had a good time, there were also times when I was bored or frustrated. In the end, it’s not exactly my type of game, but it might be for you. If the premise sounds interesting, you should give it a try. But if you suspect that its slow-paced, discovery-driven nature might not be for you, there is a good chance you are right.

I heard a lot of mumbling about this game being one of the best of all time. I was sceptical.

This game is now my favourite game of all time and nothing else really even comes close.

Not sure what's left to say about this game. I don't think any game has stuck with me emotionally for as long as this one has. Play it. This is the best showcase of what video games as art can do. In cinema you have an audio-visual medium, in games you have an audio-visual medium that you are immersed in. What this game does with that extra dimension is most other games.

Quite possibly the greatest game I've ever played. I never write reviews, but after finishing Outer Wilds I just had to rush to recommend this game.

As most reviews here say, if you do decide to pick this up, go into it as blind as you possibly can. The atmosphere of a beautifully crafted solar system that you explore as you slowly uncover its mysteries offers an unique feeling of wonder and excitement. No game I've played before has made me feel the things Outer Wilds made me feel.

The world-building, characters, set-up and payoff are all, in my opinion, perfectly executed, not to mention the stunning visuals paired with an amazing score. I HIGHLY recommend this game to anyone who would enjoy a space-exploration game with a compelling mystery laying underneath.

One of a kind game that I don't think I'll play something like it it's engaging with the puzzles that keeps you engaged every mystery lead to other mystery and you always find yourself wanting to know more about the world you are in cause it sucks you in and interest you, you play as an alien in a galaxy and you have to discover the mysteries of the universe you are in. It's a masterpiece.

STNGTE:
Hello and welcome to the Gunpowder Game Shop, take this controller and press start if you want me to continue, otherwise you can also switch to creative mode and just look around.

Customer:
Does this controller also come in green?

STNGTE:
That would be cool but unfortunately you can only play our shop simulator with this pad, if you want to continue press X, you have pressed the button and the main story will start in a few seconds.
Please select: I want a new console, I need merch/looking for a gift for someone else, I need a new game, or select:
I am here to rob the store.

Customer:
I'm looking for a new game for myself but I don't know exactly which one or what exactly, I can only say it should be somehow special and captivating, I want to experience something remarkable.

STNGTE:
Can you give me a few tags in which direction it should go and optionally tell me which direction you wish not to pursue?

Customer:
A first person adventure would be nice but at this point I have no desire for a shooter and constantly fighting enemies.
It can be something with mystery, puzzles and a complex plot, and I really like science fiction and space stuff.
But most importantly, it should have a very good soundtrack.

STNGTE:
If you want to add anything to this press R3, thank you dear customer, you pressed the button, please continue.

Customer:
The game should simply amaze me and be different from most of what's on the market, it's almost always the same, there's hardly any innovation, well it just seems that way to me.
Than it should be a single player game that challenges me a little or even a little more and if possible has something philosophical about it - I like to think about the world and the meaning of life.
Graphics don't necessarily have to be hyper-realistic, it can look cuddly and comic-like, a clever and unusual level design would also be something I would like to see.

STNGTE:
Let me ask you this, have you ever heard of binary planets orbiting each other? What do think of when I say campfire and marshmallows and have you found the launch codes from Hornfels yet?

Customer:
Um no that sounds kind of crazy and no idea, what? I'm totally confused now.

STNGTE:
Don't worry I think we have just the right game for you, I recommend playing it with good headphones and if possible on a big screen and of course with a controller, ever heard of Outer Wilds?

Customer:
Yes, I think I've heard of The Outer Worlds before...

STNGTE:
(LOL) No, Outer Wilds not Worlds, this is also available with additional content and a downloadable soundtrack, and believe me you will most likely want to have that as well.
For many gamers Outer Wilds is one of if not the best indie game ever made, has changed their outlook on life and somehow grounded them.

Customer:
Oh okay I see.

STNGTE:
I firmly believe that this is exactly the game you were looking for and you are in for a unique adventure, that I am actually a little envious of.

Customer:
Why? You can play it again yourself.

STNGTE:
...

Customer:
Okay you've kinda convinced me, I'll take it and I hope I don't have to come back to refund it.
Thanks and have a nice day.

STNGTE:
I very much doubt that, we will see each other again in 14.3 billion years, have a good one!