Outer Wilds is hands down one of the best games I've ever played. The atmosphere, the soundtrack, and the way it plays all harmonize incredibly. However, this is one of those games that are should be played without context, with no prior knowledge of it. This review might contain some light spoilers ahead (which will be hidden); I will stray away from anything that might take away something from this experience.

TL;DR: This game is a masterpiece and you deserve to experience it. If you decide to try it, I recommend going in blind. This is a game that is especially enjoyed by those who are constantly intrigued by questions of the universe. The only bad thing about this game is that I can only play it for the first time once. 10/10

This is a masterpiece in game design and storytelling. The game's visuals are stunning, and the art direction is very prominent. It was very obvious from the beginning that a lot of thought was given to the way the game should look and feel. Throughout the game, you witness many astounding landscapes (spacescapes?) that are always evolving with the passage of time.

Time. It's very important in this game, as you are constantly racing against it. Very early on, you discover you are stuck in a 22-minute time-loop, and when the clock runs out, the star at the center of your star system goes supernova. Much like Majora's Mask, you have a limited amount of time to make sense of what's happening while also trying to prevent a major catastrophe. What is most brilliant about this game is how even knowing that the end is always near, it is never ominous. And with most things in the rest of the game, you never feel hostility or calamity. Everything exists without you; The player is not the hero. Nothing revolves around you. This calm indifference is what most compelled me to keep playing and why I love this game so much.

As a cosmology nerd and aspiring astrophysicist, this game hit all the checkmarks I could have for a space exploration game. It is very accurate and tackles very interesting subjects, however, I can understand that it might not be everyone's interest to discuss or even think about the intricacies of the universe, but I believe that even if you aren't deeply interested in the questions it proposes, the game absolutely delivers in its gameplay and story. The flight and EVA controls are great and work well with either K+M or with a gamepad (although I recommend a gamepad if possible). There is so much to talk about how its story develops, but I obviously won't discuss that here. Finally, this game does a very good job of attuning our sense of discovery, which is a thing many open-world games fail. One of the few games I can think of that made me want to search every nook and cranny of its world is Breath of The Wild. BoTW does an incredible job of inviting you to search for little clues and pieces of context for its lore, either by the promise of Koroks or new items or diaries. None of this is necessary for the completion of BoTW, which is why Outer Wilds perfected this approach. Differently from BoTW, it is necessary for you to collect those little tidbits of lore every chance you can, and if you are anything like me, discovering and learning new things is one of the most exciting things to do. And if that is so, this game absolutely deserves your attention.

Now, the soundtrack. I can't help but parallel to BoTW again, a game with a very subtle soundtrack and sound design. The sounds and music are very memorable and fit the atmosphere (no pun intended) impeccably. The most striking example I can give is when 2 minutes remain in your time-loop, a somber, but calming melody plays. You know you only have a short amount of time left when you hear this, but it somehow isn't threatening, it is rather comforting like you know everything is going to be ok. The creeping ambiance of cosmophobia is always subtly there, and if it were not the music, it would be a truly horrifying experience. This soundtrack can be defined as somberly calm, which fits the bill for anything space-related.

I've compared this game to both Majora's Mask and BoTW, which are both critically acclaimed games. These are games that value both exploration and the player's curiosity, while also providing the tools for you to pursue your curiosity at your own pace. Outer Wilds has captured and improved upon what has made these games some of the best video game experiences I've had. The sense of discovery and achievement is immaculate and perfect.

To finish up, if you've read until this point, I ask you to give this game a try, for it has cemented its position as my favorite game of all time. And I will forever cherish its little moments, which meant a lot to me as a lover of science and especially physics. I wish I could go back in time to experience Outer Wilds for the first time again, a truly riveting experience.

Edit: It has now been over a year since I wrote this. And I am happy to say it has stuck with me. Not only do I go back to the soundtrack periodically, but its story also remains intact in my memory. In retrospect, the writing, besides the soundtrack, added so much to the experience that I cannot perceive ever forgetting about it. Their subtleties connect everything together, making it unforgettable. So much so, that even going back now, I am still shocked at its intricacies. I wish I could go into details of why this game is how it is, but that is something you'll find out yourself. Stay curious, and play this game.