***While I have done my best to write a review that is spoiler-free, I've endeavoured to do so in a way that (still) expresses my sheer adoration and, hopefully, piques your curiosity and interest.

I only HIGHLY recommend to experience this game for yourself. Please AVOID looking up any spoilers or even any information/guides (wiki, reddit, etc.) before playing this game! Seriously. For reasons I cannot disclose (but, playing this game, you might come to that same realisation) - this, ideally, should be a personal, journey-like experience.***




Outer Wilds was an experience so outstanding, so extraordinary, it left a lasting impression that I find hard to put into words.

This game is genuinely AWEsome - and I mean that in every sense of the word!

From the moment I found myself in cozy little Timber Hearth, I was taken - utterly captivated by the mystery and beauty of the universe Mobius Digital had created. All the wonderful characters and personalities throughout the game stole my heart completely, and the sense of discovery and exploration, paired with such deeply intricate worldbuilding, stunning visuals and sceneries, took my breath away over and over.

The way the game encourages curiosity and rewards exploration with meaningful revelations is brilliant. Combined with the plethora of unique and trippy mechanics of the game - utilising the ASTONISHING physics simulation that is, dare I say, bordering on perfection - this fascinating "search" left me in perpetual shock and awe...

Good. God. The entirety of Outer Wilds stands as a milestone of jaw-dropping, ingenious, absolutely MASTERCRAFTED game design!

And yet...

Still...

These are not even the aspects that blew my mind the most in this game.

What truly astonished me was how Outer Wilds delves into themes of curiosity (and the pursuit of knowledge - science - as a result), the passage of time, and our place in the universe. These explorations are genuinely life-changing.

Yes.

This is more than a game.

It is an experience that can alter your perspective on life.

Outer Wilds has affected me on an existential level, unlike ANY other game before...
Unlike most anything before, really.
I felt God from this game more than I'd ever done as a pious girl in church.
Ever since playing this game, I feel like I've been undergoing a sort of spiritual awakening. It's genuinely made me look at- and ponder life in a way I had never done before.
For better or worse, this has proven to be a profoundly thought-provoking and downright transformative experience, for me.

With all my heart... more than I could say for any other game:

You owe it to yourself to experience it at least once in your lifetime.

I wish I could - forget - and play it, full of wonder, for the very first time again.

I have played and watched many indie and story-driven games. They're amongst my favourite genres. There are numerous games that have touched me on an emotional level, and many that have made me cry. Some had (have) even left me emotionally wrecked, with an inexplicable emptiness that lingered for weeks and months.

And yet, Outer Wilds hit... differently.

Outer Wilds is special.

I think it changed my life.


Addendum:

You know, I really envy you, human who doesn't yet know this game... Because I know that I almost certainly never will have an experience quite like this one - in a video game - again. I envy you the chance to experience this for the first time... And am I excited for you!
Knowing that there are people that have yet to experience this experience for the first time fills me with a vicarious pleasure, a mix of some kind of empathy and a pure, bittersweet joy.

However, it would be remiss of me not to also give a fair warning:
I am a highly emotional person. And when I played Outer Wilds for the first time, I was in one of the darkest places in my life. These circumstances have made its impact on me that much more powerful.

I am very taken by this game - but it very well may actually not be to your (and everyone's) liking.
I do believe that, maybe, you need to have a certain mindset to be able to enjoy this game.

So as not to give a completely biased review, I will say this:
If you need (or like) a lot of hand-holding in your games, lack in critical/analytical thinking (e.g. connecting and applying information) and/or, most importantly, don't have an inkling of curiosity (the desire to actually look around and explore)
- then this will not be a fitting game for you.

(Of course, that is is just my personal opinion - but I have seen a couple of different people play through this game now, and it has made me draw a few conclusions.)


That said, if you do give Outer Wilds a try

- and if you love video games, I really think you should -

...Well, get ready for something very special. A gaming experience like no other.
I really hope that you enjoy it! (Even if only a fraction of as much as I did. <3)

I'll leave you with one of this game's many beautiful quotes, which I think perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the game.
Sincerely, I bid you:

[i]***While I have done my best to write a review that is spoiler-free, I've endeavoured to do so in a way that (still) expresses my sheer adoration and, hopefully, piques your curiosity and interest. I only HIGHLY recommend to experience this game for yourself. Please AVOID looking up any spoilers or even any information/guides (wiki, reddit, etc.) before playing this game! Seriously. For reasons I cannot disclose (but, playing this game, you might come to that same realisation) - this, ideally, should be a personal, journey-like experience.***[/i] [h2][i]If there is one game I wish everyone could play - One game I would recommend to ANYONE - This is the one.[/i] [/h2] Outer Wilds was an experience so outstanding, so [i]extraordinary[/i], it left a lasting impression that I find hard to put into words. This game is genuinely [i]AWEsome[/i] - and I mean that in every sense of the word! From the moment I found myself in cozy little Timber Hearth, I was taken - utterly captivated by the mystery and beauty of the universe Mobius Digital had created. All the wonderful characters and personalities throughout the game stole my heart completely, and the sense of discovery and exploration, paired with such deeply intricate worldbuilding, stunning visuals and sceneries, took my breath away over and over. The way the game encourages curiosity and rewards exploration with meaningful revelations is [i]brilliant.[/i] Combined with the plethora of unique and trippy mechanics of the game - utilising the [i]ASTONISHING[/i] physics simulation that is, dare I say, bordering on perfection - this fascinating "search" left me in perpetual shock and awe... Good. [i]God.[/i] The entirety of Outer Wilds stands as a milestone of jaw-dropping, ingenious, absolutely [i]MASTERCRAFTED[/i] game design! And yet... Still... These are not even the aspects that blew my mind the most in this game. What truly astonished me was how Outer Wilds delves into themes of curiosity (and the pursuit of knowledge - [i]science[/i] - as a result), the passage of time, and our place in the universe. These explorations are genuinely life-changing. Yes. This is more than a game. It is an experience that can alter your perspective on life. Outer Wilds has affected me on an [i]existential[/i] level, unlike [i]ANY other game[/i] before... Unlike most anything before, really. I felt God from this game more than I'd ever done as a pious girl in church. Ever since playing this game, I feel like I've been undergoing a sort of spiritual awakening. It's genuinely made me look at- and ponder life in a way I had never done before. For better or worse, this has proven to be a profoundly thought-provoking and downright transformative experience, for me. With all my heart... more than I could say for any other game: [i][h2]You owe it to yourself to experience it at least once in your lifetime.[/h2] [/i] I wish I could - [i]forget[/i] - and play it, full of wonder, for the very first time again. I have played and watched many indie and story-driven games. They're amongst my favourite genres. There are numerous games that have touched me on an emotional level, and many that have made me cry. Some had (have) even left me emotionally wrecked, with an inexplicable emptiness that lingered for weeks and months. And yet, Outer Wilds hit... differently. Outer Wilds is special. I think it changed my life. [i]Addendum:[/i] You know, I really envy you, human who doesn't yet know this game... Because I know that I almost certainly never will have an experience quite like this one - in a [i]video game[/i] - again. I envy you the chance to experience this for the first time... And am I excited for you! Knowing that there are people that have yet to experience this experience for the first time fills me with a vicarious pleasure, a mix of some kind of empathy and a pure, bittersweet joy. However, it would be remiss of me not to also give a fair warning: I am a highly emotional person. And when I played Outer Wilds for the first time, I was in one of the darkest places in my life. These circumstances have made its impact on me that much more powerful. I am very taken by this game - [i]but[/i] it very well may actually not be to your (and everyone's) liking. I do believe that, maybe, you need to have a certain mindset to be able to enjoy this game. So as not to give a completely biased review, I will say this: If you need (or like) a lot of hand-holding in your games, lack in critical/analytical thinking (e.g. connecting and applying information) and/or, most importantly, don't have an inkling of curiosity (the desire to actually look around and explore) - then this will not be a fitting game for you. (Of course, that is is just my personal opinion - but I have seen a couple of different people play through this game now, and it has made me draw a few conclusions.) That said, if you do give Outer Wilds a try [i] - and if you love video games, I really think you should -[/i] ...Well, get ready for something very special. A gaming experience like no other. I really hope that you enjoy it! (Even if only a fraction of as much as I did. <3) I'll leave you with one of this game's many beautiful quotes, which I think perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the game. Sincerely, I bid you: [h1][i]"Be curious on your journey!" <3[/i][/h1]