Spoiler-Free

What happens when you throw away traditional mission structures, forget about hand-holding tutorials, and instead build a game driven entirely by curiosity? You get Outer Wilds—a stunning, open-ended space exploration experience that delivers one of the most memorable adventures in modern gaming.

A Unique Beginning

You awaken as a Hearthian—an alien with four eyes—on your home planet, Timber Hearth. Above you, a giant green gas giant floats in orbit, and something explodes nearby. You’re quickly nudged toward the town observatory, passing through a clever tutorial that subtly teaches you everything you’ll need to survive in the wilds of space.

Unlike most games, Outer Wilds gives you all the tools upfront. There are no upgrade trees or fancy unlockables. From the beginning, it’s all about observation, experimentation, and exploration. The museum beneath the observatory plants the first seeds of mystery: a terrifying anglerfish, a strange quantum shard, ancient ruins. The story begins not with a cinematic, but with a question—what is going on out there?

Follow Your Curiosity

There are no quests. No mission logs. Just a solar system full of mysteries, clues, and ancient civilizations. Instead of guiding you, the game invites you. Want to track down other travelers? Or visit the strange white dwarf off in the distance? It’s entirely up to you. You’ll begin piecing together clues, building a web of connections via your ship’s onboard computer.

The core gameplay revolves around a 22-minute time loop—once the sun explodes in a supernova, the loop resets. You retain everything you’ve learned, and each run becomes a chance to explore new locations, uncover more of the story, or try solving a puzzle with fresh knowledge.

Gameplay – 20/20

No combat. No inventory. Just you, your spaceship, and the unknown. Every challenge is built around problem-solving and curiosity. The 22-minute cycle creates an incredible rhythm: tension, urgency, and the thrill of discovery packed into every loop. Whether you're dodging planetary debris or manipulating quantum objects, Outer Wilds keeps you thinking from beginning to end.

Graphics & Sound – 19/20

Outer Wilds is visually stunning—not because of photorealism, but because of its design. Planets feel handcrafted, full of personality and surprise. Whether you're watching an eclipse from a dusty moon or drifting into the eye of a storm, every view is a moment worth pausing for.

The soundtrack is phenomenal. Acoustic, ambient, and emotionally rich—it reacts subtly to your actions and environments. It’ll stick with you long after you stop playing.

Controls & UI – 14/15

Flying your ship might take a few minutes to get used to—especially with Newtonian physics—but it quickly becomes second nature. The interface is clean, and the way the story is visually mapped through the ship’s log is a masterstroke. It makes navigating the narrative as satisfying as exploring the stars.

Replayability – 10/15

This is where Outer Wilds is more of a one-shot experience. Once you've unraveled its mysteries, there’s little reason to return right away. But it’s a game worth replaying years later—when you’ve forgotten the details and want to feel that magic again.

Immersion – 8/10

Every planet has a distinct feel. The history of the Nomai (an ancient alien race), the scattered ruins, the weird natural phenomena—it’s a universe you believe in. That said, NPC interactions are limited. Most characters exist just to set you off in a direction, not to evolve with your discoveries. A little more reactivity here would’ve gone a long way.

Challenge Level – 9/10

The puzzles range from head-scratchers to genuinely mind-blowing. Occasionally, you might feel stuck or lost—but that’s part of the beauty. Answers aren’t handed to you—they’re earned. It’s a game that respects your intelligence and rewards your persistence.

Mods & Modability – 5/10

There’s not much mod support, and that’s a shame. Outer Wilds would be an incredible playground for creative tweaks or custom worlds. But given its tightly crafted nature, it's understandable.

Final Score: 85/100 – A Modern Classic

Outer Wilds isn’t just a game—it’s an experience. It defies traditional structures in favour of something more intimate, more cerebral, and far more rewarding. The mysteries you uncover aren’t just answers to puzzles—they’re discoveries that change how you see the entire game world.

Don’t spoil this one for yourself. If you’re even a little curious, dive in and get lost among the stars.

Available now at Keydom Games.