Outer Wilds is one of the best games I have ever played, not only is the story phenomenally told through the environments that you find along the way, it's also all left there for the player to find for themselves, no forced cut scenes, no gating of players from key areas, no way-points to follow. They manage to create a world that is chuck full of stuff to explore, and with emotional moments with minimal NPC interaction!

The story takes centre stage in this game and shines at doing so, the majority of the games narrative comes in the form of ancient text's left by a long dead civilisation in their abandoned structures spread throughout the solar system, you being a meagre single explorer sent on a archaeological excavation trying to understand something far greater then you, what you discover is both depressing and awe inspiring. It's as many people mention in their reviews I wish I could erase the memory of this game and play it again!

Now, I'm a sucker for soundtracks in games and let me tell you This game has one phenomenal soundtrack that sets the tone perfectly for the adventure, no bombastic action packed tracks here. Instead we are greeted by a soothing banjo, harmonica, flute and harmonica, just the instruments for contemplating the heat death of the universe. I cannot give enough praise to the soundtrack I'd place it up there with Toby Foxes Undertale and Zelda OoT, another reason why this game is amazing.

Furthermore, the compact gameplay loop system of the game(Which i will not go into too much detail as it goes into spoiler territory), forces the player to plan ahead instead of just aimlessly exploring without any threat, I believe that this system is what allows this game to separate itself from what some people call "walking Sims". In addition the actual game has some challenges in store, be it the threats that await in dark bramble or trying to capture the illusive Quantum Moon, to the Thalassophobic experience of Giant's Deep, there is some actual brain power that must be used when playing this game.

Now, let's talk art, this game rocks the Forest Cabin Firewood similar aesthetics, the art has a very cartoony style, the ship which you utilise isn't some technical marvel instead held together by duct tape and wood, in contrast to the Nomai asymmetric style. There is very little in the way of horror in the game as well (some might argue that dark bramble is scary) which lulls you in expecting some chill story about exploration, it betrays this motif with the aforementioned story especially with escape pod 3 and the interloper.

I cannot recommend this game enough to anyone who enjoys exploration and engaging stories, the freedom that is provided to the player combined with the soundtrack and the story make for a once in a life time experience that I personally will not forget. This game deserved me repurchasing it on steam just so I could write this review after having completed it twice on Epic. A must play.