The short version is that Echoes of the Eye is a near-perfect expansion and truly elevates Outer Wilds into being one of the best video games of all time.

The long version is.. well it's hard to really talk about anything that happens in Outer Wilds or this DLC due to danger of spoilers. The discovery and exploration is the core of the experience so the less someone knows going into it, the better (everyone who has played this game will tell you that).
If I had to describe EotE on a surface level I would say that Mobius have managed to disguise what could easily be considered a sequel to Outer Wilds as a 13€ DLC add-on. Therefore I would recommend checking out the new content after having completed the main game at least once.

The new area requires the player to use existing mechanics while also introducing some new ones that uh, again, I can't really go into for spoiler reasons. I especially liked the different methods of storytelling in this one. EotE breaks with conventions from the base game and relies more on what I would label "show, don't tell". You are still unravelling a mystery and figuring out why things are the way they are, but this time it feels a lot more focused and linear while still giving you 100% freedom to approach this new location in any way you want. The way this was designed reminded me a lot of games such as Tacoma or Hyper Light Drifter, just that here it gets perfected. I was delighted to once again have had multiple moments playing through this DLC where I accidentally stumbled upon something new and only later with some gained knowledge was able to piece it together, something that I would define as THE core element of Outer Wilds.

Something that I also want to highlight is the insane level of technical detail of this new area. As much as Outer Wilds is known for impressive visuals and precisely timed "happenings" on a massive planetary scale that make your jaw drop when first witnessing them, EotE just amps it up to eleven, accompanied by an incredible sound design that works in perfect harmony with the exploration gameplay.

It is worth noting that some parts of this DLC fall straight into the horror game genre, so if you are afraid of the dark like me, this could make these segments tough and nerve wrecking. I am thankful that the developers included an option (and disclaimer at the start) to reduce some of these elements while not destroying too much of the intended experience.


Before I dive too deep I just want to say this: If you didn't like Outer Wilds because the core gameplay was not your thing or you couldn't get used to the controls, this will not change anything. But if you are like me and have been fascinated by this game since the day you started playing it for the first time, then Echoes of the Eye is a must-play. This is a masterclass in what a DLC should be; something that builds upon and completes a work that you already thought was whole until you experienced this missing piece.

I am sad that this is the first and last piece of content we will ever get for this game, but I could not have asked for a better way to end it. I hope whatever Mobius bring next will be just as magical.

"Time to send our spark out into the darkness."

The short version is that Echoes of the Eye is a near-perfect expansion and truly elevates Outer Wilds into being one of the best video games of all time. The long version is.. [i]well[/i] it's hard to really talk about anything that happens in Outer Wilds or this DLC due to danger of spoilers. The discovery and exploration is the core of the experience so the less someone knows going into it, the better (everyone who has played this game will tell you that). If I had to describe EotE on a surface level I would say that Mobius have managed to disguise what could easily be considered a sequel to Outer Wilds as a 13€ DLC add-on. Therefore I would recommend checking out the new content after having completed the main game at least once. The new area requires the player to use existing mechanics while also introducing some new ones that uh, again, I can't really go into for spoiler reasons. I especially liked the different methods of storytelling in this one. EotE breaks with conventions from the base game and relies more on what I would label [b]"show, don't tell"[/b]. You are still unravelling a mystery and figuring out why things are the way they are, but this time it feels a lot more focused and linear while still giving you 100% freedom to approach this new location in any way you want. The way this was designed reminded me a lot of games such as Tacoma or Hyper Light Drifter, just that here it gets perfected. I was delighted to once again have had multiple moments playing through this DLC where I accidentally stumbled upon something new and only later with some gained knowledge was able to piece it together, something that I would define as [b]THE[/b] core element of Outer Wilds. Something that I also want to highlight is the insane level of technical detail of this new area. As much as Outer Wilds is known for impressive visuals and precisely timed "happenings" on a massive planetary scale that make your jaw drop when first witnessing them, EotE just amps it up to eleven, accompanied by an incredible sound design that works in perfect harmony with the exploration gameplay. It is worth noting that some parts of this DLC fall straight into the horror game genre, so if you are afraid of the dark like me, this could make these segments tough and nerve wrecking. I am thankful that the developers included an option (and disclaimer at the start) to reduce some of these elements while not destroying too much of the intended experience. [b]Before I dive too deep I just want to say this:[/b] If you didn't like Outer Wilds because the core gameplay was not your thing or you couldn't get used to the controls, this will not change anything. But if you are like me and have been fascinated by this game since the day you started playing it for the first time, then Echoes of the Eye is a must-play. This is a masterclass in what a DLC should be; something that builds upon and completes a work that you already thought was whole until you experienced this missing piece. I am sad that this is the first and last piece of content we will ever get for this game, but I could not have asked for a better way to end it. I hope whatever Mobius bring next will be just as magical. [b][i][u]"Time to send our spark out into the darkness."[/u][/i][/b]