Outer Wilds Review (Dani G)
Outer Wilds is a fantastic game that is best played with as little knowledge as possible. With that being said, it is also quite difficult to approach without first adopting the mindset that you are not here to have your hand held. You wont improve your character, upgrade your ship or be guided by a majority of common video-game tropes/crutches. Mystery is the main motivator within Outer Wilds and knowledge is both its own reward and your most valuable asset.
Initially, you may feel as though you would like to solve each mystery that Outer Wilds throws at you as soon as possible and the frustration some may have when those answers aren't immediately obtained can make you feel as though you are stagnating and getting nowhere. Once I came to understand that the knowledge needed to unlock the answers I sought were slowly being drip-fed rather than spewed at me my enjoyment started to increase greatly. I began to explore for the sake of discovering new sights and events rather than for answers as the answers would eventually come naturally. The game respects the player ability to tie pieces together themselves and it works to provide a deep sense of accomplishment, more so than a majority of video-games offer.
Outer Wilds feels both incredibly daunting in scale and surprisingly cosy at the same time. The scenic vistas and cataclysmic events leave you feeling insignificant in the grand scheme of things yet the emotional music and charming characters (both used sparingly to great effect) create a sense of humble togetherness, creating small moments that you'll come to cherish. Conversations and dialogue are sparse yet memorable and the music knows when to introduce itself appropriately to heighten the emotions behind the knowledge you come to uncover
It's incredibly rare that a game can foster such a safe atmosphere upon your initial playthrough and then slowly shift into a hauntingly sombre experience. The comfort of Timber Hearth and the innocent curiosity of the Hearthians themselves leave you excited to explore a vast and intriguing solar system yet as the mysteries unfold, you'll find yourself both yearning to unlearn the dreadful the knowledge you have discovered but unable to stop yourself from uncovering all of the dark secrets this game has to offer.
If you are willing to avail yourself emotionally to some of the game's broader themes, you may feel deeply impacted by the story and its thematic structure. If not, then honestly this is just a cool space game with very scientifically accurate mechanics and that might just sell you on it too.
I heartily recommend Outer Wilds if you have the time for it even if it takes a few attempts to get into. I myself had this game in my library for over a year, knowing that it was good yet never quite pushing myself to get past the first hour of the game. I'm very glad that I finally did and like many others who have reached the fantastic ending of this game, I wish I could experience it again for the first time.
Don't beat yourself up if you crash into the sun a few times.