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DISCLAIMER: Outer Wilds is best experienced going in as blind as possible. This review doesn't mention major story spoilers, however minor spoilers like certain game mechanics and characters are discussed. If you want the ideal experience, get this game and DO NOT read any further.

Fresh off of the Obra Dinn, I decided to take my newfound interest in these so-called "information games" and take to the stars with 2019's indie darling: Outer Wilds. I had heard heaps of praise prior to playing, and I love games that emphasize that sense of discovery. It takes a little while for the story to properly take off (no pun intended) as you just aimlessly hop from planet to planet looking for leads, but it ramps up quickly and left me with one of the most unique and fascinating titles I've gotten to play this year.


Something about the visuals that doesn't seem to get mentioned is how brilliantly the game's atmosphere teeters between feelings of coziness and relaxation, as well as foreignness and anxiety. It helps contribute to the mysterious, yet alluring aura of the game's world, and keeps you hooked on the mysteries you're trying to unravel. The graphics aren't impressive on a technical level, but something about it gives a very distinct feeling of being in a Saturday morning cartoon, which reinforces the cozy feeling this game has. I love the diversity in the environments themselves, especially because it doesn't stick to the formula of just a forest planet, ice planet, and so on. I also love the character designs, as there's this wild west theme that I find really interesting and suits your species really well, and the tribal look of the Nomai also really sticks out to me. Overall, the game excels in style and atmosphere, and it gives Outer Wilds a very distinct identity.


This is where Outer Wilds tends to fall flat for many. The controls are strange and the game seemingly doesn't handle all that well, and this causes a lot of people to get frustrated and quit after a few hours of playing. However, part of the game is learning the controls and finding ways to optimize flying around in space since the game is a lot of trial and error already thanks to the time loop. I agree that the controls are strange initially and there's definitely a skill floor, but I got used to the controls over time as I discovered little tricks to help keep myself from flying into the sun or crashing somewhere I wasn't supposed to. It's not totally perfect, but it's definitely nowhere near as bad as, say, Red Dead Redemption 2 as an example. However, just keep in mind that you will absolutely need a controller to play this game, because it seems like you can't make smaller, more precise adjustments with keyboard and mouse. Going back to the time loop, I personally really enjoy it. Since there's no combat whatsoever and the gameplay loop just consists of flying around to different planets, solving puzzles, and gathering information, the time limit doesn't feel oppressive since there's no combat to stop you in your tracks. You'll generally know when you're close to running out of time, and the game has an audio cue to indicate that. You're given more than enough time to really dig into something on a loop, and even during your final loop, you can easily knock out your goals if you know what to do. I also love how dynamic the planets are, and how they change over a single loop, as your approach to finding something on a planet may change over your time there, making traversal far more exciting. While I love that the game doesn't hold your hand, one thing I didn't really like was how annoyingly obtuse some of the puzzles got towards the end. I can't specify which ones for spoiler reasons, but I had to refer to a guide to figure them out and while I felt guilty for doing so, I realized that multiple people had to do the same exact thing online because the hints were either really vague or outright didn't exist for a while. However, this flaw, while annoying, could definitely be ignored to some degree because of the game's incredible sense of discovery it provides. Few games have left my jaw on the ground upon discovering something quite like this one, and there is so much cool stuff to see that it really keeps you motivated to keep on exploring. That sense of discovery is this game's specialty, and it shows. Overall, the gameplay is better than it's made out to be, even though some of the late-game puzzles can squander the experience.


While there is so much I'd love to say about the story, I can't elaborate because you should walk into it as blind as possible. I will say that I loved the story once I found a lead, and it kept me engaged through to the end. I was worried the ending would be disappointing based off of how Return of the Obra Dinn played out, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was handled, and it became one of my favorite moments in the game. I do wish the beginning had just a bit more direction, though. You can get a few leads, but they were either too difficult at the time or not really all that intriguing once I found them. I also wish someone told me to stick to exploring the surface and hopping planets in the beginning, because I managed to figure out a planet's big puzzle through dumb luck, and found one of the most important things in the game in my first 3-5 hours, which killed a bit of the mystery. That sort of problem doesn't happen for most people, but I'm mentioning it so others don't make the same mistake I did. Don't focus on one planet. Outside of that, the story's great. Trust me.


The music in Outer Wilds is amazing. It perfectly fits the atmosphere and gets you immersed in the world. Plus, there's something very distinctly comforting about listening to the other explorers jam out when you're in space, even if you're being hurled right into the sun. The sound design is also stellar. The thud of landing on a planet is satisfying, the sounds of you being crushed to death in a cavern are gruesome, but incredibly fitting. It knows when to be loud and overwhelming, but also knows when to give you silence so you can appreciate your surroundings. I could go on, but that would go into spoiler territory. Overall, this is another category where Outer Wilds excels.


While I got 15 hours of playtime, your mileage will vary with this one. There's some people who have been able to finish it in 8 hours, while there's also people who played for 25-30 hours. Because of my early-game mistake, I finished this game earlier than I likely should've, but it still isn't especially long. You'll still likely take a while to play it though, because I find that you need to be in a specific mindset to make any progress. The game's designed for one playthrough, and relies more on lasting value, which it provides in spades, so it's definitely worth a look at full price.


To conclude, Outer Wilds is an excellent, unique experience that honestly doesn't do anything poorly. It's not perfect, and it's not for everyone, but I have nothing but respect for this game and the people who'd enjoy it will LOVE it. It's worth a buy, if only to encourage developers to make more cool, weird stuff like this. Get some marshmallows, grab your banjo, and savor this game because an experience like this is one-of-a-kind.

Graphics - 9.5/10
Gameplay - 8.0/10
Story - 9.5/10
Audio - 9.5/10
Content Value - 8.5/10

.:9.0/10:.
"Amazing"

**PERSONAL PICK**

+ Excellent visual design
+ Unparalleled exploration
+ Beautiful OST
+ Stellar sound design
+ Fair time-loop system
+ Satisfying ending

- Obtuse late-game puzzles
- Beginning lacks direction

[u]Like my reviews? Go follow my [url=https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/curator/33012112-Gandhi-Talks-Games/]Curator page.[/url][/u] [b]DISCLAIMER: [i]Outer Wilds[/i] is best experienced going in as blind as possible. This review doesn't mention major story spoilers, however minor spoilers like certain game mechanics and characters are discussed. If you want the ideal experience, get this game and DO NOT read any further.[/b] Fresh off of the Obra Dinn, I decided to take my newfound interest in these so-called "information games" and take to the stars with 2019's indie darling: [i]Outer Wilds[/i]. I had heard heaps of praise prior to playing, and I love games that emphasize that sense of discovery. It takes a little while for the story to properly take off (no pun intended) as you just aimlessly hop from planet to planet looking for leads, but it ramps up quickly and left me with one of the most unique and fascinating titles I've gotten to play this year. [h1]Graphics[/h1] Something about the visuals that doesn't seem to get mentioned is how brilliantly the game's atmosphere teeters between feelings of coziness and relaxation, as well as foreignness and anxiety. It helps contribute to the mysterious, yet alluring aura of the game's world, and keeps you hooked on the mysteries you're trying to unravel. The graphics aren't impressive on a technical level, but something about it gives a very distinct feeling of being in a Saturday morning cartoon, which reinforces the cozy feeling this game has. I love the diversity in the environments themselves, especially because it doesn't stick to the formula of just a forest planet, ice planet, and so on. I also love the character designs, as there's this wild west theme that I find really interesting and suits your species really well, and the tribal look of the Nomai also really sticks out to me. Overall, the game excels in style and atmosphere, and it gives [i]Outer Wilds[/i] a very distinct identity. [h1]Gameplay[/h1] This is where [i]Outer Wilds[/i] tends to fall flat for many. The controls are strange and the game seemingly doesn't handle all that well, and this causes a lot of people to get frustrated and quit after a few hours of playing. However, part of the game is learning the controls and finding ways to optimize flying around in space since the game is a lot of trial and error already thanks to the time loop. I agree that the controls are strange initially and there's definitely a skill floor, but I got used to the controls over time as I discovered little tricks to help keep myself from flying into the sun or crashing somewhere I wasn't supposed to. It's not totally perfect, but it's definitely nowhere near as bad as, say, [i]Red Dead Redemption 2[/i] as an example. However, just keep in mind that you will absolutely need a controller to play this game, because it seems like you can't make smaller, more precise adjustments with keyboard and mouse. Going back to the time loop, I personally really enjoy it. Since there's no combat whatsoever and the gameplay loop just consists of flying around to different planets, solving puzzles, and gathering information, the time limit doesn't feel oppressive since there's no combat to stop you in your tracks. You'll generally know when you're close to running out of time, and the game has an audio cue to indicate that. You're given more than enough time to really dig into something on a loop, and even during your final loop, you can easily knock out your goals if you know what to do. I also love how dynamic the planets are, and how they change over a single loop, as your approach to finding something on a planet may change over your time there, making traversal far more exciting. While I love that the game doesn't hold your hand, one thing I didn't really like was how annoyingly obtuse some of the puzzles got towards the end. I can't specify which ones for spoiler reasons, but I had to refer to a guide to figure them out and while I felt guilty for doing so, I realized that multiple people had to do the same exact thing online because the hints were either really vague or outright didn't exist for a while. However, this flaw, while annoying, could definitely be ignored to some degree because of the game's incredible sense of discovery it provides. Few games have left my jaw on the ground upon discovering something quite like this one, and there is so much cool stuff to see that it really keeps you motivated to keep on exploring. That sense of discovery is this game's specialty, and it shows. Overall, the gameplay is better than it's made out to be, even though some of the late-game puzzles can squander the experience. [h1]Story[/h1] While there is so much I'd love to say about the story, I can't elaborate because you should walk into it as blind as possible. I will say that I loved the story once I found a lead, and it kept me engaged through to the end. I was worried the ending would be disappointing based off of how [i]Return of the Obra Dinn[/i] played out, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was handled, and it became one of my favorite moments in the game. I do wish the beginning had just a bit more direction, though. You can get a few leads, but they were either too difficult at the time or not really all that intriguing once I found them. I also wish someone told me to stick to exploring the surface and hopping planets in the beginning, because I managed to figure out a planet's big puzzle through dumb luck, and found one of the most important things in the game in my first 3-5 hours, which killed a bit of the mystery. That sort of problem doesn't happen for most people, but I'm mentioning it so others don't make the same mistake I did. Don't focus on one planet. Outside of that, the story's great. Trust me. [h1]Audio[/h1] The music in [i]Outer Wilds[/i] is amazing. It perfectly fits the atmosphere and gets you immersed in the world. Plus, there's something very distinctly comforting about listening to the other explorers jam out when you're in space, even if you're being hurled right into the sun. The sound design is also stellar. The thud of landing on a planet is satisfying, the sounds of you being crushed to death in a cavern are gruesome, but incredibly fitting. It knows when to be loud and overwhelming, but also knows when to give you silence so you can appreciate your surroundings. I could go on, but that would go into spoiler territory. Overall, this is another category where [i]Outer Wilds[/i] excels. [h1]Content Value[/h1] While I got 15 hours of playtime, your mileage will vary with this one. There's some people who have been able to finish it in 8 hours, while there's also people who played for 25-30 hours. Because of my early-game mistake, I finished this game earlier than I likely should've, but it still isn't especially long. You'll still likely take a while to play it though, because I find that you need to be in a specific mindset to make any progress. The game's designed for one playthrough, and relies more on lasting value, which it provides in spades, so it's definitely worth a look at full price. [h1]Verdict[/h1] To conclude, [i]Outer Wilds[/i] is an excellent, unique experience that honestly doesn't do anything poorly. It's not perfect, and it's not for everyone, but I have nothing but respect for this game and the people who'd enjoy it will LOVE it. It's worth a buy, if only to encourage developers to make more cool, weird stuff like this. Get some marshmallows, grab your banjo, and savor this game because an experience like this is one-of-a-kind. [b]Graphics[/b] - 9.5/10 [b]Gameplay[/b] - 8.0/10 [b]Story[/b] - 9.5/10 [b]Audio[/b] - 9.5/10 [b]Content Value[/b] - 8.5/10 [b].:9.0/10:. "Amazing" **PERSONAL PICK**[/b] + Excellent visual design + Unparalleled exploration + Beautiful OST + Stellar sound design + Fair time-loop system + Satisfying ending - Obtuse late-game puzzles - Beginning lacks direction