Outer Wilds
The universe as we know it is infinitely massive. Stretching millions or even billions of light years throughout space, it’s filled with all kinds of different galaxies potentially teeming with life of their own. Our galaxy is only a tiny piece of that puzzle, and our home: Earth, an even smaller piece. When we think about our place in all of it, in the grand plan of the universe, we’re truly a speck floating in the oceans of change. The world, the galaxy, and really the universe was just fine before us, and it’ll probably be just fine after we’re gone. So, what’s the point of it all? What’s the point of life if it inevitably ends with us returning to nothing? Mobius Digital’s Outer Wilds seeks to answer this ever-elusive question by confronting the player with the adventure of a lifetime and a mystery to discover what came before.
Outer Wilds is the story of a Hearthian, an alien race sending its first space travelers out into the great beyond from their humble home on Timber Hearth. They’re a hopeful people, longing to know what lays beyond their reach but not that concerned for the potential dangers that come with it. Before Hearthians, there was another race of beings: the Nomai, aliens coming from another place and time. They were in search of something that drew them here, and ultimately led them to their demise. What that something is? You’ll have to find that out for yourself as you play through the game. But regardless, when standing at the precipice of the unknown, you take off on your first flight out into the solar system with the hopes to find answers to the many questions you have. After all, what’s stopping you from going and getting those answers? Well, for a reason you don’t yet know, you only have 22 minutes to gather as much information as possible before the sun goes supernova, wiping out the galaxy with it. What immediately seems like an impossible task though, feels do-able the moment you awaken again on Timber Hearth with the memories of the past, and new questions about what came to pass, and how you can do it differently than before.
Space is often a difficult thing to capture in a video game, with games like No Man’s Sky trying to allow for a massive sandbox of planets to explore, but ultimately, it’s left feeling empty because of the sheer number of places to visit and the small number of things available on a given world. Outer Wilds manages to just about nail it. Throughout the course of the game, you’ll encounter 9 different planets/celestial bodies. These worlds feel as utterly distinct as one can possibly imagine. One world is almost entirely covered by water and swirling typhoons, another is eerily quiet and foggy with mysterious lights calling for travelers to seek them out, and two of them are forever entwined in each other’s gravitational field resulting in a rather beautiful dance as they travel around the sun. For a game where you’re the only real person (excluding a few other space travelers who have taken up shelter on specific worlds), the galaxy feels alive in ways other games don’t. Whenever I attempted to land my shoddily put together wooden spacecraft on a new world, it felt unique, and at times terrifying because of all that lay before me.
In a game based on answering the questions of the past, a lot of work is required to create a cohesive narrative. What Outer Wilds does incredibly well is manage to make the story interesting no matter where you find yourself in it. There isn’t a predetermined path for the player to follow, instead once you enter your ship, you’re free to travel to any planet you choose and begin your adventure wherever you see fit. The way the narrative is built, there’s something to discover everywhere and it will always lead you to another destination. With the story being told through the writings and recordings of the Nomai, you’re left to follow in their footsteps, but how you do that is entirely up to you.
Speaking of the methods of storytelling, Mobius Digital made the bold choice to avoid the use of any NPCs throughout the game, and as a result there is a fear that the world will feel empty, but instead it feels like there is a weight to everything you’re doing. The Nomai struggled and fought for every inch in this galaxy as they sought what drew them here, and learning the challenges they faced, along with the bonds they formed through their messages was truly meaningful. It felt great hearing of their successes, and hurt me to the core knowing they failed. Whenever you happen upon the remains of one of these beings that came before, there’s a moment of reflection. That person’s story that got you to where you are now and guided you one your way, had come to an end in this place. That, on its own, makes this game worth completing. You want to finish what they started, even if it means staring off into the stars as the universe turns to dust just a few more times.
Returning to the question I posed at the very beginning, Outer Wilds chooses to end on a particularly poignant note. When you reflect on the journey you undertook, the many lives you pushed across to discover the truth about what happened, there’s always a moment of silent reflection when you accomplished what you wanted to in that one life, or where you feel that there’s always something more to be learned. When the blue waves of the sun’s energy come wiping over you, there’s almost a sense of relief knowing you did what you set out to do. As I completed the game, and the credits began to roll, it finally began to hit me. The message that was always there from the beginning. Life may not have a particular meaning, and sure it’ll end one day, but that doesn’t matter! Every day we spend with those we love, or playing a particular game, or even just sitting around and enjoying some quiet time, we’re finding a reason to keep going. Life isn’t just one particular thing, it’s EVERYTHING we do, and that’s the meaning of it all. Making the best of the days we have, because even if we one day return to nothing, at least we know that while we were here, we did something.
I truly loved every minute I spent with this game, and I wish I could spend the entirety of this piece talking about every little detail. But truthfully, that journey is best left to be explored on your own. Making a game that has a profound impact on people isn’t an easy task, and when the people behind Mobius Digital set out to make this game many years ago, I’m sure they didn’t plan for it to be this powerful. But somewhere along the way, it all came together, and I’m glad I got to play it. Outer Wilds is my game of the year from 2019, and without question one of my favorite games of all time. It was a once in a life time adventure, and it’s one that I hope all of you get to enjoy for yourselves one day.
