Outer Wilds is an award-winning open-world space exploration game developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive. It was released in 2019 and had players explore a mysterious solar system trapped in a time loop.

Sooner or later, we all look up at the stars and wonder if there’s meaning to our existence. This existential pondering can begin when we learn that even the sun will someday explode. Some of us – often the introspective types – find ourselves stuck on these thoughts, driven to understand what makes life worthwhile. If everything is going to be erased, what’s the point?

In The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus describes Sisyphus’ eternal struggle as he rolls a boulder up a hill. “One must imagine Sisyphus happy,” Camus suggests, implying that meaning is found in embracing the struggle itself. That doesn’t sound fun at all, though. Absurdism can be an antidote to existential dread but at the risk of stripping meaning from everything, even empathy, as seen in Camus’ The Stranger. Outer Wilds starts on a cozy alien planet but soon tests the player’s resilience.

The game offers a comforting perspective on life’s meaning but it doesn’t come lightly. It requires the player to truly understand the meaning of finding pleasure in the journey – much like Sisyphus.

Architects of Outer Wilds

The creation of Outer Wilds began as a student project by Alex Beachum at USC’s Interactive Media program. Initially, Beachum’s thesis focused on small prototypes built around ideas like exploring a space shuttle or encountering a mysterious cabin that moved when you weren’t looking. This thesis soon caught the eye of Masi Oka, known to many as Hiro Nakamura from NBC‘s Heroes.

Under the wing of Mobius Digital, a studio Oka co-founded, Beachum’s project grew. It evolved into a groundbreaking game, supported and published by Annapurna Interactive, known for unique narrative-driven titles like What Remains of Edith Finch, Stray, Neon White, and 12 Minutes.

Exploring the game: gameplay and story

Outer Wilds places you in the role of an astronaut from a charming alien civilization on Timber Hearth. Your goal is to explore a miniature, fully interactive solar system, uncovering its many mysteries. Every 22 minutes, the solar system resets as the sun goes supernova, forcing the player back to the beginning. There’s no traditional “progression” – each loop is an opportunity to learn, observe, and carry new knowledge forward.

The physics of Outer Wilds: a realistic cosmic model

We wanted to make a game where you are exploring the world as it changes over time […] to get away from the idea that game environments are static. It works well with space exploration, of course. We wanted to make something where you fly a spaceship around and get to that feeling of, you know, it’s dangerous. You really shouldn’t be in space. We wanted to do Newtonian flight mechanics where you’re just drifting with your ship and planets are hurtling around the sun.

Alex Beachum, The Making of Outer Wilds – Documentary by Noclip

When players first launch their tiny spaceship, the initial instinct is often to marvel at the view. Checking tools and the map, soaking in the beauty of the environment. That wonder quickly turns to terror when you realize you’ve drifted too close to the sun’s orbit and it roasts you alive.

Black holes, too, are an ominous presence in the game: terrifying, silent voids that suck in anything that gets too close, leaving only the cold, dark unknown in their wake. The experience of being pulled into one is nothing short of unsettling.

Outer Wilds also delves into the realm of quantum physics. Science deepens both the gameplay and the game’s philosophical themes. The Quantum Moon, for example, can exist in multiple states at once until observed. Witnessing the universe as it unfolds is the key.

Soundscapes that touch the soul

The music of Outer Wilds perfectly complements the game’s themes, creating a soothing and haunting atmosphere. The soundtrack gently lulls the player through the cosmos with its cozy, calming melodies. It inspires deep introspection, immersing players in a vast, infinite, yet profoundly personal world.
Composed by Andrew Prahlow, the soundtrack evolves with the player’s journey. Each piece is crafted with care to amplify the emotional weight of discovery and loss, reflecting the player’s experience. The music sets the tone for an unforgettable adventure, capturing the essence of the game’s emotional depth.
Just like in real life, Outer Wilds weaves moments of joy and sorrow together.

For instance, if you fall into a black hole, you’re transported to a remote point in the universe. You will be able to see your solar system from afar but it will be too distant to return to. You can only drift aimlessly, listening to distant radio waves, waiting for the sun to go supernova. By tuning in, you hear the other explorers play their instruments all from separate planets. If the planets align, their melodies intertwine into the main theme. These characters are scattered across the solar system, doomed to never meet again, yet in music, they unite. Outer Wilds’ theme feels like the sound that letting go of pain makes. It’s these small, poignant details that make Outer Wilds feel truly special.

Expanding the journey: Echoes of the Eye

The Outer Wilds expansion, Echoes of the Eye, introduces new environments, story elements, and mechanics. It keeps the core experience of exploration but offers a darker, more intense atmosphere.
For fans of the base game, Echoes of the Eye provides fresh challenges and thought-provoking questions. Just a heads up, the expansion introduces more horror-oriented elements. Players are frequently forced to navigate in the dark.

Invincible summer of Outer Wilds

Instead of focusing on pushing heavy boulders up hills, this quote is better suited for the feeling that Outer Wilds ultimately leaves us with:

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. – Albert Camus

The universe is infinite, filled with both joy and empty, meaningless voids. The same can be said about the vast space within us. Outer Wilds reminds us that we have an infinite supply of light, curiosity, and joy – we just need to learn how to tap into it. This is a process that requires time and patience, two crucial elements in uncovering the game’s greatest secret.

Much like Jonathan Blow’s The Witness, Outer Wilds challenges our intellect with puzzles that are more than just mechanical challenges – they are intricately woven into the fabric of the world’s design. Yet the game goes even further, blending avant-garde physics with profound metaphysical questions about time, existence, and the nature of the universe, ultimately helping the player cope with existential dread.

It’s no wonder that Outer Wilds received critical acclaim, winning numerous awards such as the BAFTA Games Awards for Best Game, Best Game Design, Best Narrative, and Best Original Property, as well as four Webby Awards in the categories of Adventure Games, Best Art Direction, and Best Game Design – and many more.