There have been very few media experiences that have actually had a lasting impact on me, but Outer Wilds definitely has. I’ve never been one to get emotional at any media. There are a few exceptions, such as UP or Schindler’s List (how can you not be emotional at these?), but definitely no video games. That all changed with Outer Wilds.
What is Outer Wilds?
Outer Wilds is a 2019 open-world action-adventure/mystery game developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive. Although initially not a huge success at its launch, the game has consistently been gaining more notoriety over the past five years.
As for its subject matter and general premise, if you haven’t played the game, I would highly recommend avoiding doing any form of browser search. The overall experience works best when you know literally nothing about it. With that being said, I will discuss some of my favorite aspects of the game while avoiding spoilers, but would still recommend playing Outer Wilds first before reading further.
Real Time Physics
The most prominent element of Outer Wilds is its physics system. Everything in the game is calculated in real time, meaning that certain forces and effects on the player and environment are all being computed at that moment. If you are not very familiar with the classic logic of video game development, this is not a common practice. Most games will keep animations, forces, and other physical elements on “rails.” Rather than have the computer/game engine calculate the physical forces at that moment, they are rendered ahead of time in the game’s development and replayed for the player in the game. This creates the illusion that certain elements are being affected by physical laws even when they are not.
As mentioned before, Outer Wilds handles this differently. It’s ability to calculate physics in real time creates a greater level of realism to how we experience forces in real life. From a technical standpoint, this is a near insane level of dedication.
The Story
The overall story, and the way the story is told is also very creative and unique. Rather than a linear progression, the story is told in pieces that the player has to mentally connect themselves. An in-game menu helps provide some clarity on certain subjects, but otherwise, the player has to be the one to piece together the elements of the story. The best way to analogize this is to compare it to a detective finding relatively small and unrelated clues to piece together a chronological overview of the crime. It’s a very engaging and satisfying gameplay structure that always encourages the player to think “outside of the box” to finish.
The emotional aspect of the story is its biggest strong suit. Without getting into spoilers, the story focuses on existential topics. The ending provides conflicting feelings of fear, sadness, and acceptance somehow all at the same time. I have never cried at the ending of a video game ever in my life, but this finally did it for me. The story’s overall moral message is so touching and introspective that it is simply too hard to describe.
The Soundtrack
The music soundtrack easily makes up 50% of the enjoyment of the game. I still listen to the whole soundtrack sometimes while working on college assignments or personal projects. It’s very relaxing and emotional, providing a sense of joy mixed with a soft neutrality and melancholy. As is the case in most media, the soundtrack sets the vibe for the game from the very beginning. Just as the opening of Star Wars introduces the main theme immediately to the audience, Outer Wilds does the same directly from the moment you open the menu screen. The soundtrack is even more amazing in the game’s DLC, Echoes of the Eye.
Echoes of the Eye
Echoes of the Eye is the game’s only DLC (secondary downloadable content) and takes roughly around half the time to complete as the base game. The story for the DLC is told at a new area within the same gameplay space as the base game. In a game filled with “ah ha” moments, this initial discovery of the DLC’s added area is definitely a shock.
The DLC’s story is itself, just as rich and detailed as the base game’s, offering a new perspective and twist to the general plot. Once again, it is existential and introspective in nature, touching on moral responsibility and understanding. In some ways, the DLC improves on the base game’s story elements while still keeping true with the established canon of the universe.
The Lingering Effect
Since finishing the game over two months ago, it is still having an effect on the way I approach story-driven content. It is truly a game you can only play once, as once you know how to beat it, there is no way to replay the game.
Outer Wilds is now in the contending to be one of my favorite games of all time. Since finishing the story, I’ve been recommending both Outer Wilds and its DLC to almost anybody I can find. Now, that includes all of you.
Outer Wilds is available on the Steam store standardly for $24.99, not counting its DLC. It is definitely worth the price! Go play it!