Outer Wilds

It is very hard to talk about this game, because of how the progression of the game is entirely devoid of any (typical) progression at all. Instead, it's a game about knowledge. You begin the game as an astronaut trainee just about to blast off into space. Right from the get-go, literally everything in the game is accessible to you. Everything - you can get to the ending in under 20 minutes [spoiler] There's even an achievement for this! [/spoiler], if you want to, and you know how. Unfortunately, you don't know how. So you get on your ship, blast off into space, and start exploring. And you uncover a marvellous, wonderful, hand-crafted world full of mysteries. You jump from planet to planet, digging through buried ruins and ancient stones and the relics of long-dead species. You learn about the world. You learn about the 'Nomai', an alien race that inhabited your Solar System thousands of years ago. You learn about who they were, how they lived, what they most deeply desired. You see them grow from children to adults, you see them fall in love, you see them fear for the lives of those they hold dear. And they become dear to you - as dear as your own fellow villagers. This is the true progression of the game. Entwined within this masterpiece of a story, you learn the truth about your present circumstances. You learn secrets about your universe that no one has spoken for centuries. And you learn how to end the game. There is so much that I want to say about this game - so much praise about its puzzles, its people, its story and the message it tells. But I can't say that. It is nigh-impossible to truly explain just how amazing this experience is, because the most amazing parts are all intrinsically linked to critical secrets that you learn throughout the game. Speaking about the experience robs you the ability to fully experience it yourself - and, in this game, that is unacceptable. So, I fear you'll just have to take my word for it. Go, give these gifted devs some of your cash and some of your time, and in return be blessed with one of the foremost games of our time. May your curiosity never fade, and may your marshmallows stay unburnt. Edit: 30 hours of gameplay and somehow I didn't realize it was "Nomai" and not "Naomi"

I wish I could go back and play it for the first time again and again. I have searched high and low for another game like it, and it does not exist. One of the most unique gaming experiences you will ever have. Just try it.

---{ 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 ---{ 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 ---{ Bugs }--- ☑ Never heard of ☐ Minor bugs ☐ Can get annoying ☐ ARK: Survival Evolved ☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs ---{ Replayability }--- ☑ One time experience ☐ Can be returned to a couple times ☐ Worth replaying often ☐ You will never want to play a different game ---{ ? / 10 }--- ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ 6 ☐ 7 ☐ 8 ☐ 9 ☑ 10

I started playing this game around the height of the pandemic in the US and to say it was a transcendent experience is somewhat of an understatement. This game broke me. It snapped something in my psyche that was already hanging on by a thread. It was fantastic at first. The sense of wonder and exploration as you solve puzzles, traverse each world, and learn about the history of the people that once inhabited it. Once I finally pieced together what wiped out the nomai, however, I very quickly broke down. The idea that you and everyone you know could just be vaporized in a fraction of a second, without ever realizing what was coming. The idea that everything you spent generations working for could be ripped away from you so suddenly and violently was the straw that broke the camels back. I went to mental institutions, been on a variety of medications, seen many therapist, and to this day I still cannot spend more than 5 minutes playing this game without feeling a panic attack coming on. I never got to finish it. I never got to that hidden planet. I never unlocked the secrets in the nomai ship, or even played the DLC. No, I didn't make a mistake in giving this a positive review. I love this game more than anything I've played since mass effect. I've played a LOT of different horror games. Something about being in control of the experience and being able to walk away at any time really helps me cope with my disabilites, but not even SOMA had me drowning (pun intended) in existential dread as badly as this game does. I'm going to continue to reinstall it every few months to see if I can get through it. I'm determined to see the end of this game. Once I roll credits on The Outer Wilds, I think I can consider my pandemic trauma healed.

After several failed attempts to get into this game over the years, I finally sat down and gave Outer Wilds the time and attention it deserves. What I found was one of the most memorable and powerful experiences I’ve had in any game. The way the story slowly unfolds, as you dig deeper into the past of this solar system and uncover pieces of a much larger mystery, is a masterclass in immersive storytelling. So much of what you learn isn’t required to finish the game, but the weight those discoveries carry and what they imply about the world and its themes is incredible. Outer Wilds is one of the rare games that truly justifies itself as a video game. It’s not just a story with gameplay. It’s a story that only works because of how it’s told through gameplay. There’s a lot more I could say, but explaining why this game is so special would ruin the experience of discovering it for yourself. If you have even a passing interest in space, puzzles, platformers, exploration, or the potential of games as an art form, please play this.

Best game I've ever played, and I can't tell you anything about it. So I'll tell you how you should approach it instead in case you buy it. Knowledge based games are a blessing and a curse, and Outer Wilds is the truest expression of that, and it does it so well. Everything in the game is accessible the moment you start it, the only gate being that you don't know about most of it. So be curious. Ask why you can't get here or there, go looking for the rest of your friends, ask yourself why you died alone in space without your ship because you fell into the center of Brittle Hollow for the 8th time. Then go looking. Your ship has a computer that connects dots between information that you've learned and tells you where you should look for more information about the world around you when your little brain can't figure anything out anymore anyways. Outer Wilds has so much life and meaning put into it, but don't go looking for the meaning, or for it to change you, or you'll completely miss it and a beautiful one time experience.

This is a very special game. I haven't played the DLC yet, but I fully intend to. If you're thinking about getting this game, or coming back to it after being stuck, just do it. The ending is worth it, and piecing together the story and all the little clues hidden throughout the solar system is rewarding. Took me about 30 hours to explore (I think) everything in the base game, but it can be done quicker.

It's been nearly 3 years since I first experienced this game, and a day doesn't go by where I don't think about it. If you're hesitant and reading the reviews, thinking to yourself, "This game can't be THAT good."; you're dead wrong, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.

I think the argument about whether games can be considered art can be laid to rest here. This game is a beautiful technical marvel. From the moment you get access to your ship, you can go anywhere you want—exploring and learning more about what’s going on in each time loop. I don't want to spoil anything, because once you know, you know. But by the end, I felt a bittersweet satisfaction having seen it through. I will say that some of the puzzles are a little convoluted, and if you're aiming to collect all the notes, it starts to feel a bit like pixel hunting—like one of those old point-and-click adventure games, such as Day of the Tentacle. But all in all, this game is a treat, and it's an experience I’ll be thinking about for a very long time. It’s just very sad that it has zero replayability because... well, once you know, you know.

Honestly such a good game, the way Outer Wilds pushes you to figure everything out is amazing, Clues lead into clues which lead into more until you beat the game in awe. This approach can be demotivating when you don't find anything new in every run but I promise it is so worth to go back to the logs, cross check everything and you will progress! Best to go in blind. The DLC isn't as good as the base game but it is still pretty good, same search for clues to find the end which the base game built on!

Outer Wilds is nothing short of a once-in-a-generation experience. It's not just a game, it's an invitation to curiosity, to discovery, and to awe. Every corner of its solar system is packed with purpose, secrets, and breathtaking surprises. The game doesn't hold your hand, but instead respects your intelligence, rewarding your natural curiosity with revelations that are as emotionally resonant as they are intellectually satisfying. The sense of scale, the clever design of each celestial body, and the beautifully interwoven mysteries create a narrative and game-play unlike anything else in gaming. There's no combat, no experience points. Just you, your ship, your wits, and the drive to uncover the truth. And what a truth it is. Then comes Echoes of the Eye, a DLC that not only expands the universe but deepens it in profound and unexpected ways. It is haunting, mesmerising, and flawlessly integrated into the base game. It's rare for additional content to elevate a game this much, but Echoes of the Eye manages to be both a love letter to the original and a bold step into new emotional and thematic territory. Together, Outer Wilds and Echoes of the Eye form a complete, unforgettable journey, one that lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll. It's a triumph of game design, storytelling, atmosphere, and ambition. If you play one game in your lifetime that truly makes you see life from a different perspective and feel like an explorer of the unknown, let it be this one. ∞/10

The story is incredible, but holy shit is it frustrating at times.

Don't play this game, you'll be chasing that high the rest of your life, and no other game will ever compare to how this MASTERPIECE made you feel

Outer Wilds, the game that embarks you on a journey... and what a journey. The only negative thing I can say about the game is that controls are a bit tricky. Luckily I played it with a friend, so I had a beautiful experience without getting frustrated with my lack of ability with a controller, lol. It has exploration, it has mysteries, it makes you think and deduce, it makes you laugh, it has EUREKA moments and surprises, emotional moments, there is sadness and joy... I think we had the whole range of emotions in this game. And the music...! The ending!! What are you doing reading this? Go play it already. Oh and don't miss the DLC, it's even better than the base game.

Absolutely a masterpiece. The technology and script are simply brilliant, just brilliant. HUGE respect to the developers. This was one of the most adventurous gaming journeys I’ve ever had.

Been waiting for a steam sale so I can buy this for my siblings today. Simply one of the best games I've ever played.

This game is incredible, between gameplay, story, and soundtrack. I will say, it can be difficult to figure out at times-- you may be overthinking it-- and it can be frustrating when you get stuck because there's no part in the game specifically directing you to a next step persay. However, if you stick with it, use the ship log to check what you know, and play through the story (which does end up making sense), it's an incredible game unlike anything else out there. I will admit, I wasn't as blown away as other positive reviewers on my first playthrough, mostly because at that time I was playing for completion and not for the experience specifically. It does work best with an experience-centered mindset. But after I played through it, I couldn't get this game out of my head. I bought the DLC and played through that (which I honestly loved even more than the base game, NOT as a complaint but as in "this is focused to one area, less bothered by the time loop bc everything is closer together"). I strongly believe you should play the DLC in order to get the most complete experience, the DLC absolutely blew me away and only served to make the base game even stronger. It's best to play it after completing the main story, or near the end of the main story at least, to get the full impact of its tale. Overall, I absolutely adore Outer Wilds and have been recommending it to all my gaming friends. Truly, so much respect for the devs and everything they went through to bring this game to life. Super grateful to all the reviewers and the unofficial Discord server (because there's a lot of helpers on there for when you get stuck, but without giving you spoilers) for their undying love for this game, because it pulled me in like gravity. Thank you for a wonderful time!

“I learned a lot, by the end of everything. The past is past, now, but that’s… you know, that’s okay! It’s never really gone completely. The future is always built on the past, even if we won’t get to see it. Still, it’s um, time for something new, now.” - Riebeck

It's taken me a while to decide what to write as a review for this wonderful piece of art that is Outer Wilds. But actually, instead of reviewing the game, i'm simply going to leave some tips on how to be able to enjoy it, because many people (including myself), did not stick with it the first time around. This game will blow your mind, but in order to do so, it needs your full attention, so : 1. Only start it up if you have at least 2~3 hours available ahead of you 2. Don't play it if you have family/friends around you that are requiring your attention every 10 minutes 3. Preferably, do not stream it (first, because of spoilers, and second, because chat will require your attention, same as previous point) 4. Make yourself comfortable ; grab a cup of tea, hot coco, snacks, whatever you like 5. DO NOT LOOK UP ANYTHING unless you've been stuck for hours on something and you feel frustrated Couple of best practices to approach the game, that i wish someone told me before i played it : 1. Outer Wilds is not a "pro gamer" game ; don't waste your time on skill-intensive inputs (difficult jumps, etc ...). If you think "this seems unusually difficult", it's because it's not made to be done that way and you've missed the more logical solution 2. Always remember that you have some useful tools in your inventory I would say Outer Wilds is a little bit of a slow burner as well, so it's ok if you're lost and not really into it for the first 3~4 hours. I think in my case it took about 5 hours to really hook me in ... at which point it became one of my favorite games of all times, alongside Hollow Knight and Hades. This was a year after i dropped it once, because i tried it on stream, and wasn't able to connect with it. The game is about 15~20 hours long (25~30 with the DLC), and it's the most poetic, intelligent, and elegant story i've seen in all the games i've ever played. Although not my case, i completely understand how so many people in the reviews talk about its positive effect on their lives, whenever they were going through a rough patch. It truly is an experience you will never forget ... So do yourself a favor ; Put yourself in the right conditions and give it a fair shot.

This game is simply incredible, play it now. To those looking to get this ofcoarse, there should be a few things you should consider. This is unlike any other game I have ever played, and unlike really many other games ever created. There isnt much in the form of gameplay in some technical sense. The main draw towards this game is the story, and mystery that the narrative presents you with. The Main gameplay element is arguably how you interact with the story, as its almost like one big puzzle with it being intentionally mysterious. Along with other more conventional game puzzles throughout the game. Now if you are looking for another type of game with shooting, or crafting or all that this isnt what you are looking for. That said I cant recommend it enough, the story (despite not having cutscenes or voice acting) is gripping and the sound design+music makes the places you visit and the knowledge you learn impactful. Then whenever you find out something big in the narrative it is incredibly satisfying. The only thing that is regretful about this game, and by extension this review, is that it is a game that is incredibly hard to talk about and recommend in some sense. Given that its a game based almost soley on the story elements alone, theres plenty to spoil. As such I cant go into too much detail in this review or when I recommend this game to people. So you have to take a chance and my word for it, it is just amazing. If you have cold feet about this type of game then just play an hour or two of it to see if its for you. If you dont like it by then you can still refund. If you are not hooked roughly within the first hour of the game (after you get out of the beginning tutorial bits), then I would be shocked, but it would be enough to see if its up your ally. The only specific details I will provide on this game is that you are in a solar system full of mystery and you can visit several different unique planets to explore and uncover what answers they have to the stories at large. Sorry for the long rambling review, I have just finished the game and am incredibly pleased with it. Again to anyone unsure on this game, if you like story based games at all or are simply interested in trying a story based game, this one will certainly scratch that itch

First of all, the storyline is AMAZING. It starts where you can understand, and gradually spirals. The fact that everything is knowledge based makes it even better. Yes, you can complete the game in like, 8 minutes, but to gain that knowledge you need to learn HOW. In my opinion, probably the best game I have every played 11/10.

9/10, if I could wipe my memory of this game and replay it over and over it would be a perfect 10/10.

This game is a large set of puzzles scattered across the solar system that is caught in a time loop. It starts unassuming at first. You're a novice explorer, equipped with few tools, out to explore what looks like a handful of small planets. This game, though, gets BIG in a hurry. Instead of power-ups or leveling up, the reward for solving them is more knowledge about the setting and story, which is where the game's real triumph lies. You play the role of archeologist and it is a joy. There's geniune fun in learning bit by bit more about what happened in the solar system and why what's happening is happening - and sadness, too, in realizing what it all means. You might not like this game if you don't do well with a serious lack of guidance in a time crunch. This game is best played blind but there are many moments that will require creative thinking or trial-and-error. And the game involves time loops, which means there is a lot you will be repeating until you are finally done with it.

Absolute masterpiece which you can experience literally once in a lifetime. What a journey, man.

If there was a neutral review I could leave, I would select that over an outright like, because I like the game as much as I dislike the game. The Short version is, I suggest you pick up the game while it's on sale, but not to 100% complete it. Recommended to go in blind, as that will lead to the best experience. In essense, the Introduction to the game is fantastic at setting up the plot, and the open ended nature allows you to be fully immersed into the environment, exploring a variety of unique planets with their own individual themes and challenges to them. When it hits with the visual storytelling, it really has you appreciating how much time and effort went into the creation of the game. It's just that over multiple hours/sessions of playing, Quality of Life issues start to spring up when you try and search for loose ends to help you progress (which made me resent going to certain places as a result), and certain elements of the story start to blend together as to who said what and who did certain things. The feeling of satisfaction and worth for each find for diminishes over time, with spikes if it's visually striking or leads to you understanding particular mechanics for the first time, and the final payoff left me disappointed more than anything else (even if it was well made on a technical and visual standpoint). And the final cleanup/achievement collecting had me the most frustrated overall, (with Hotshot in particular being a pain to collect) having me consistently experience the QOL issues head-on for an extended period of time. Basically, Outer Wilds is the embodiment of "It's about the Journey, and not the Destination." Enjoy the little moments as you find them, and try not to brute force the game if you get stuck in a rut.

An absolute masterpiece from start to finish. Breathtakingly beautiful game, so incredibly important. If I could make everyone on this planet play one video game, itd be this one.

Outer Wilds is THE perfect game (for me). I am so serious about this that I pledge to delete all other game reviews across my account, and leave the words "outer wilds" in my profile for the rest of my life and the rest of my account's life. As long as this review is up, you can rest assured I have found no game that supersedes it, because it will then take this review's place. Outer Wilds ruined other games for me. Don't read anything about this game, just try it. On the 1% chance you don't like it, it will have been worth it for just the CHANCE to have enjoyed a game so entirely and completely as I have. The themes of this game connected with me on an almost spiritual-level and hit all the right spots in my primate brain, perhaps at the optimal time in my life, and now is an intrinsic part of my very being. Still, years later, I feel like my 1 singular playthrough teaches me every time I think back to it, or I'm reminded to the game by the beautiful soundtrack appearing on my shuffle playlist. I ALREADY have nostalgia hearing the music and it's been like 3 years. ⭐ My Only Review ⭐

An incredible experience that you can only have once. I am so glad that I stuck through the first hour or so of the game which almost lost me.

It is my honest unbiased opinion that the world would be a better place if everybody played this game. This is one of if not the only game I would call perfect in everything it tries to accomplish.

I wish I could erase my memory just to experience this game again. Outer Wilds rejects artificial progress barriers—the entire solar system is open from the start. Theoretically, you could finish it in 30 minutes... if you knew its secrets. But you don’t. Neither does your character. And so begins a journey of discovery where knowledge is your only progression. The genius lies in how the game mirrors your journey: your character retains what you learn across each loop, making immersion effortless. You don’t just play the role—you become the curious astronaut unraveling cosmic mysteries. This revolutionary design alone would make it exceptional. But add to it: * Breathtaking exploration of a dynamic, clockwork universe; * Clever environmental puzzles that reward intuition; * Rich, haunting lore scattered across crumbling ruins; * Stylish, minimalist art and ethereal ambient music ...and you get a masterpiece that respects your intelligence. Outer Wilds never holds your hand. It opens the airlock and whispers: "This galaxy is yours. Go lose yourself in it." It reignites your inner child—that fearless curiosity hungry for the unknown. It teaches you to cherish fleeting moments, to fall in love with the universe’s fragile beauty... It teaches you to love life in general. This isn’t just a game; it’s philosophy in motion. Even giants like Baldur’s Gate 3 (which I adore) can’t dethrone it. Why? Because Outer Wilds isn’t just played—it’s lived. And no other game has ever made me feel so profoundly changed. In short: A perfect storm of design, emotion, and freedom. Nothing else compares.

This game is an existentialist's wet dream, for better or for worse ([i]personally, I'd say worse[/i]). This game's setting is a world where the human struggle is ultimately meaningless, but it creates its own paradox for the sake of giving the human struggle meaning... and I mean every word I said in that sentence extremely literally. The game does, quite literally - in the proper definition of the word, 'literal' - do just that. Is that a good thing? I wouldn't really say so. Frankly, I disliked that part of it the most. But that's all that I disliked about it. This game is masterful in its exploration, its world building, its storytelling, its gameplay loop... really, honestly, every single aspect of this game is good, except for its core message. Its core message is a rather ironic paradox - ironic, because it [i]creates[/i] the very paradox it presents itself escaping from - wherein meaning is created from meaninglessness. Or, to phrase it better: meaning is given to something that, if we are to actually view the world of Outer Wilds through its own lens, is ultimately meaningless. The human struggle, if you want to call it, is glorified; it's given a [i]telos[/i], but that [i]telos[/i] is only real within this game. Which is to say, it creates the paradox it presents itself escaping from; and then it creates a new paradox to justify its escape from the previous paradox. Thus, if you wish to extrapolate the meaning within the internal world of this game into the real world, you're going to find it to be an impossible task, and I would say that you're doing a disservice to the creators of this story; though, perhaps, they desired such a thing, to which I would say that the creators of this story are doing a disservice to reality itself. But if you're appreciating the game's internal world as something instantiated within itself - as a story told with its own logic - then by all means; you'll find the game to be quite great, I think. It really is one of the most incredible sci-fi games I have ever played in my entire life.

My only complaint is I will never be able to play this game again unless someone neuralyzed me. 10/10

completing this game (and dlc!) was hands down the greatest experience of my life, as no other piece of media has ever struck me as so being so profound and impactful as this one did. slowly uncovering each and every bit of this game was more rewarding than I could ever describe. that journey and the final picture it creates can truly can only fully experience a single time, as once you know things, you know them. it turns out the people who would not shut up about avoiding spoilers were right, as I would carry a deep frustration with myself to the grave if I had any amount of information revealed to me before my completion of the game. please keep that in mind and avoid spoilers at all costs for both the base game and dlc. this is my new favorite game of all time by a long shot, and you need to play it.

Outer Wilds, developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive in 2019, is not just a game—it’s a philosophical journey wrapped in a space exploration mystery that challenges perception, curiosity, and time itself. From its humble, handcrafted aesthetic to its brilliant time-loop narrative structure, Outer Wilds stands as a masterclass in non-linear storytelling and emergent gameplay. It’s a rare title that treats the player not as a warrior or survivor, but as a scientist—someone piecing together an ancient cosmic puzzle, not with weapons, but with wonder. At its core, Outer Wilds is a first-person open-world exploration game set in a miniature solar system that resets every 22 minutes due to a mysterious supernova. You play as a newly initiated astronaut from the spacefaring Timber Hearth species, equipped with a rickety wooden spaceship, a translator for alien text, a signal scope, and your own insatiable curiosity. There’s no combat, no traditional objectives, and no markers telling you where to go. Instead, your only progression is knowledge—each discovery you make carries into the next loop, slowly building an understanding of the Nomai, an extinct alien civilization whose advanced technology is somehow connected to the sun’s imminent explosion. What makes Outer Wilds extraordinary is how it treats exploration. Every celestial body—be it the crumbling geode of Brittle Hollow, the time-bending Hourglass Twins, or the terrifying water world of Giant’s Deep—is a mechanical marvel with its own internal logic and environmental puzzles. These aren’t just backdrops; they are dynamic, living worlds that evolve across the time loop. A cave may be accessible early in the loop but flood moments later. A black hole might whisk you into a hidden station orbiting the sun. The game constantly rewards close observation and experimentation, often leading to “aha” moments that feel genuinely earned, not scripted. The absence of traditional progression systems—no experience points, no upgrades, no gear unlocks—places the burden of advancement entirely on the player's intellect and curiosity. This design choice encourages a sense of genuine discovery that is almost unparalleled in gaming. There’s something profoundly satisfying about connecting the dots between ruins on one planet and orbital trajectories on another, especially knowing that every piece of information you uncover is a stepping stone toward understanding the larger mystery. Narratively, Outer Wilds is quietly profound. Through scattered logs, translated texts, and the remains of Nomai installations, a surprisingly emotional and philosophical story emerges—one that contemplates time, death, purpose, and the pursuit of knowledge in the face of inevitability. The game doesn't spoon-feed its themes; instead, it trusts the player to assemble the story, often arriving at personal revelations organically. By the time you reach the ending—an emotionally resonant conclusion that ties together the loops of time and meaning—you realize you haven’t just solved a mystery; you’ve lived a cosmic cycle of life, decay, and rebirth. Visually, Outer Wilds is more functional than flashy. Its art direction leans into stylized simplicity rather than high-fidelity graphics, but this works in its favor. The planets are distinct and expressive, the character designs quirky and memorable, and the visual language of the Nomai is both alien and beautiful. Paired with Andrew Prahlow’s exceptional score—a mix of acoustic folk and ambient soundscapes—the game creates an atmosphere that is simultaneously haunting, hopeful, and wholly unique. The game isn’t without its minor frustrations. The ship’s controls can be fiddly at first, especially when navigating in zero gravity or landing on small planetoids. The time loop mechanic, while conceptually brilliant, can occasionally feel like a hindrance when you’re minutes away from a breakthrough and the sun explodes yet again. There’s also a real potential for players to become stuck, not due to difficulty, but because they’ve missed a clue or misinterpreted a log. Yet these moments rarely detract from the overall experience—in fact, they reinforce the game’s central commitment to autonomy and discovery. In a medium dominated by power fantasies and checklist-driven open worlds, Outer Wilds is a breath of fresh stellar air. It invites players to slow down, to observe, to wonder, and to seek understanding not for reward, but for its own sake. It transforms space from a cold void into a poetic, intricate stage for one of gaming’s most compelling mysteries. It doesn't ask, "Can you win?" but rather, "What can you learn?" In conclusion, Outer Wilds is one of the most inventive, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant games of its generation. It is a love letter to curiosity, a triumph of design elegance, and a reminder of the beauty that emerges when gameplay, narrative, and theme work in harmony. Few games leave such a lasting impression—not because of what they give the player, but because of what they allow the player to find on their own. If you have ever looked at the stars and felt a yearning you couldn't quite name, Outer Wilds is your answer. Rating: 10/10

It's good but over hyped. It was not a life changing or cathartic experience for me. I'm not sure where the people who are saying that are coming from. I beat it without looking up guides if that helps anyone. I think I would have liked it more If I hadn't read reviews first. I was expecting something miraculous.

Yes you will play this, yes you will feel clever. My biggest biggest worry about the time loop mechanic is what if it happens in the middle of solving and creates the stress of having to go back and deal with catch-up time to resume where left off. Of all times is was bearable, as puzzles are chunked into reasonable distances to travel and solve. You might come to dread the time-out music and event, or embrace it like a new day, and that music gets used at the end game in a real powerful way! End game puzzles will intuitively give you the hint you need to prepare for the run. So its less likely you'll put yourself into a sudden timeout when you want to finish the puzzle now. Within a few hours you'll get good at zero G flying and speed threw this physics based solar system, The faster you move the more time you get to fool around, its kinda rewarding balancing fuel and air resources for speed in a time loop!

I was hesitant to play it but ended up loving it. The game is beautiful, the gameplay is revolutionary, this is a game that redefines what video games can be. Get it. You will not regret it.

With a little curiosity, and a lot of patience, this game will take you on a one-of-a-kind journey. Outer Wilds is a masterpiece.

beautiful game, do not spoil literally any of it,

Went into this game completely blind, purposefully knowing nothing and MAN did that pay off! One of the best games I've played in years, possibly making my top 5 of all time. I'm not gonna say anything about the content since I don't want to ruin a similar experience to my own, but I highly recommend this game to everyone.

Exploring an empty, barren galaxy while being alone and having no one to help or aleviate your loneliness, in other words this is the average experience of a man aged 18-30.

One of the many games I wish I could experience for the first time again. The theme, characters, dialogue, story, worldbuilding, and mechanics make this a competitive experience among indie games. I platinum'd this one with a little difficulty, but honestly, it was worth it! I got to re-play the game after a couple years of being away, and picked up on some new things I had missed on my first go!

An absolutely phenomenal game if you enjoy exploration games with puzzle elements and a great story. Go in completely blind and trust the process, there are no other games quite like this.

A completely excellent game I would recommend to anyone who likes something open-world, space related or puzzle. The game leaves you to discover everything one piece at a time however way you'd like. There's no ridiculous game bounds that keep you following a strict story line, either. A beautiful, creatively-built game I would highly recommend. Would recommend manual flying, by the way.

Some games challenge your reflexes. Others test your wit. Outer Wilds does something far rarer, it dares to ask what you would do if you had just a little more time, knowing none of it could be kept. You are not the hero of a grand war. You are not destined to save the universe. You are a curious traveler, caught in the slow, beautiful collapse of everything. Each 22-minute loop is a gift and a eulogy, a chance to learn, to wonder, to stumble into awe. The stars die, and so do you, again and again. And with every death, a truth echoes louder: this universe does not revolve around you. It simply is. But Outer Wilds doesn't leave you alone in the dark. It gives you music, shared between friends, scattered across planets, played on makeshift instruments that somehow feel older than time. It gives you questions no journal can hold. And in the end, it offers not answers, but peace. If you left it behind too early, give it another chance. Not because the puzzles are clever (they are), or the design is ingenious (it is), but because few games remind you, truly remind you, that life is beautiful precisely because it ends. Outer Wilds is not about saving the world. It’s about saying goodbye to it, gently, completely, and with love.

one of the best games ive ever played, and ive not even got to the ending yet. The game and puzzle design is unmatched imo, the views are beautiful, sometimes it gets into subnautica-esque horror. The story is great and the mysteries are gripping, If youre open minded to a game without dopamine juicing live service nonsense and you want to play something worth your time, buy this game NOW.

This is more than a game, this is an experience. It's all about exploration and uncovering secrets. You'll be lost many times but that's the point, when everything comes together and clicks, it's all worth it.

One of the best games I've ever played. Would definitly burn a marshmallow at the end of the universe again.

Play this game blind. Don't look up anything if you get stuck, and if you do make it small specific hints. Even if this game doesn't end up being your thing it's 100% worth the attempt to play and find out yourself. It's a game that reminds you why we play video games.

Some of the greatest story telling and puzzle solving I've ever seen in a game. It's surprising to find out how each mechanic was possible from the start, and that anyone could accidentally stumble across them, but the game teaches these mechanics so well that each one feels like a great revelation, and applying that knowledge to progress in the game feels so rewarding. The build up to the ending was literally breath taking, but that's only something you can truly experience by playing the game yourself and getting immersed in it. But I will say that the soundtracks are absolute bangers, and the ending music truly is something to behold. There's a lot that I, and anyone else who has experienced this game, could say about it. But the best way to explain why its so good is to simply say "Play it". Because that's the only way you can get the true experience of the game. So what are you waiting for? If you're enjoy some good story telling, this game is perfect for you. Buy it, play it, and cry at the ending.