Outer Wilds mini-review
Welcome back game developers! The Game Developer’s Association is back with our first meeting since Spring Break.
This week, we’ll be talking about the sandbox, open world exploration mystery game, Outer Wilds. We’ll be meeting at 6 p.m. on April 4 in Gaylord 2030.
Unfortunately me and some of the other officers got very sick from the trip to the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, so this post will be short.
Also because I don’t want to spoil this game! It is one of those games where going in blind is recommended.
You play as an alien who is recruited into the Outer Wild Ventures. Your goal is to explore the solar system and report findings.
As you explore, you learn something very quickly: the sun will collapse in 22 minutes. After it does or you die, you wake up on your home planet only to be trapped in a time loop.
Throughout the game, you try to uncover why this is by discovering ancient ruins, old spaceships, and varied planets. My favorite thing about this game is the lore, and the freedom you are given to explore it.
There are many planets to explore and secrets to uncover. Plus, because the world is not too big, your time limit never seems daunting as you can get back to where you died quickly.
Flying your spaceship feels freeing, but I had a lot of trouble learning how to pilot it, leading to many crash landings.
The art and sound also deserves praise. I love how it feels like you are on a hiking trip, with the aliens living in cabins, the folk inspired soundtrack, and the trails you uncover.
The story, as I touched on, is one of my favorites in a game. The lore goes very deep, and the past lives of characters is intriguing.
Definitely give this game a go if you love exploring and mysteries, you’ll love it.
You can also hear all about it at this week’s GDA meeting! See you there space cowboys!
