6 ms·

Outer Wilds, and imperatively its DLC, are transcendent gaming experiences. Like many, I stopped playing my first time over a frustration with the jet pack and

• embedding-shape 8mo ago
  I guess this is the one time maybe reading the comments first saved me of a spoiler I didn't want to be exposed to, so thank you :) Guess I finally need to give it a try before it get accidentally spoiled for me.
• the__alchemist 8mo ago
  The "first surprise" is why I tell people "Just play this game, and don't look up anything about it!". The two games the article has pictures of games are IMO everyone who plays games should play; they are two of the best of all time.
  • bsimpson 8mo ago
    I stopped reading when he started naming things in Outer Wilds. (Perhaps ironic, considering the title.) What are the games you're recommending?
    • xerox13ster 8mo ago
      It is insane to me that they ask that question in the title of the article and then go on to spoil the big first surprise. “How do we talk to people about these games without spoiling it for them? Oh, I know I will spoil it for everybody who reads this article!!! “It’s one of my favorite in the genre (maybe the best) and it requires a level of secrecy because it takes away the wow factor if you learn details about it early, but ANYWAYS here’s some details about it!!!!!!!!”
    • the__alchemist 8mo ago
      Outer Wilds and Blue Prince
• Terr_ 8mo ago
  In terms of things I'd say to encourage someone to play without spoilers, I think I'd focus on mechanics, like: 1. The game has depth to its locations that shows up on repeated visits. Expect to return with better tools/information to see new things. Shortcuts will reveal themselves over time. 2. There is an in-game tool that takes notes for you, hints at undiscovered content, and can provide on-screen waypoints to help you navigate. 3. Don't be too worried about your (avatar's) personal safety, or about rushing. Later there may be times where both might matter for your goals, but the game is designed to support trial-and-error.
  • smallmancontrov 8mo ago
    2. Yes! The automatic notes are perfect for getting back on track without spoilers. "There is more to explore here."
    • Terr_ 8mo ago
      I know for some people it removes a sense of wonder and mystery, but as a completionist sort, I really appreciate "you found everything nearby" indicators. It means the game/designer respects my time as a human with (a few) other things to do everyday.
      • hibikir 8mo ago
        Which points out one of the yet reasons why I consider Outer Wilds one of the best games I have ever played, while Blue Prince, which many consider a similar game, as one of the worst. Respect for my time and for where I want to focus my attention.
        • tialaramex 8mo ago
          I understand why this was frustrating, but the problem is that what you wanted conflicts with the game design. Random drafting is crucial to Blue Prince's design - which means early on when you have few resources and no knowledge you won't be able to "focus my attention" because the draft will override your preferences. This isn't an issue for a late game player, but of course you can't get there. FWIW while I enjoyed watching other people play Outer Wilds, I found the fine control needed too frustrating. I might decide to investigate part of Brittle Hollow, travel there, fall into the hole, painstakingly get back, fall in again, reset, new day. That's exactly the same frustration you had, but for a different reason and as a result I was often unable to tell which of three things was true: 1. That cannot be done, it's an important fact about Outer Wilds, a revelation 2. I can't do that, I'm incompetent. Sucks to be me. Maybe try again? 3. That cannot be done, whoops, game engine limitation, unimportant. I never had this in Blue Prince and so I was much better able to enjoy both the game itself and watching others play after I was done (Atelier etc.)
• ajoseps 8mo ago
  I’ve played the main game but never the DLC. Is it worth going back and running through again?
  • humodz 8mo ago
    Yeah, it ties up the game perfectly
  • outforwilds 8mo ago
    Yes! Introduces what is easily my favorite planet, and a completely new story of nearly identical length. New characters, new tools, new mechanics, new puzzles. Same feel (except narratively its a bit more spoopy). It's like a selfquel. (Also, worth noting that if you start a new game, you can just go straight to playing the DLC content without having to replay or complete the base game)
    • tialaramex 8mo ago
      I think it is worth knowing that the spookiness isn't for everybody and is the part most likely to turn some players off. The game offers features to make it as mild as possible without destroying their narrative intent, but it is definitely there. If you know that you frighten easily and don't react well to it - like maybe you went in a haunted house ride once and then couldn't sleep for a week, this might not be your jam and that's OK. It's not a skill issue, the game has been conceived so that if you scare easily but keep playing you can work around the issue and succeed. But obviously if after that initial moment of terror you just can't face playing any more that's not a good purchase.
      • outforwilds 8mo ago
        Definitely, but said spookiness is also completely without violence or gore or any real "horror" tropes other than trying to stealth your way through dark hallways.
        • jamilton 8mo ago
• pluralmonad 8mo ago
  After this comment I immediately closed my eyes and stuck my fingers in my ears (and added the game to my wishlist). I appreciate the rec, it looks great.
• runevault 8mo ago
  I really should get back to outer wilds. I like you bounced off of it because of the controls, and I keep meaning to go back because people I have faith in swear by it. I know the most basic secret you learn incredibly early, but that's the only 'spoiler' I know.
  • superultra 8mo ago
    Do it! You’ll likely thank us later. The controls are wonky but it’s not a AAA title, so there are things about it that are a little rough for sure.
• zargon 8mo ago
  Controls were great, didn't see whatever it is that people love about the story, and the game loop made me quit.
• zeroonetwothree 8mo ago
  I wasn’t really a fan, didn’t like the gameplay loop. A puzzle game I liked 100x more is “Baba is You”. Should be very appealing to programmers.
  • urxvtcd 8mo ago
    Baba is You is literally a sokoban for software engineers, highly recommended. It's quite difficult though.
  • Levitz 8mo ago
    Worth checking out Nimi's Garden map pack too, could be called Baba is You 2 really.
• mh2266 8mo ago
  is it really a puzzle game? I recently dragged myself through The Witness finally and found it to be mostly not that interesting, most puzzle games have bounced off me similarly. Outer Wilds, though, what a game. but it felt more like exploring in BotW, even although there is obviously no combat... kinda? there is sort of "combat" in one of the planets, although the only thing that you can do is lose. hmm, that planet is like BotW, but you have 3 hearts and a stick, and every enemy is a Lynel.
  • mpyne 8mo ago
    Yeah I generally enjoy puzzle games and didn't find Outer Wilds very good from that perspective. And it had some surprisingly intensive dexterity requirements in sections of the game that make it impossible to progress without looking up spoilers, and I'm not talking about the spaceship controls. And when I finally put the game down and just watched through the rest on Youtube, like, I could see what the game was getting at and why people would be fascinated by it but it was by no means life-changing unless you've had a very boring life.
    • dugidugout 8mo ago
      It isn't very meaningful to assert your arbitrary threshold for "life-changing" as a criteria to measure one's life. It is quite distracting as a closer to an otherwise thoughtful reply.
      • mpyne 8mo ago
        People who talk about Outer Wilds describe it that way. For instance just two comments up in the thread is "Outer Wilds, and imperatively its DLC, are transcendent gaming experiences." And this is the normal type of comment you see when this game comes up. If this were objectively true that the game is simply transcendent (assuming we can agree on what this would mean), then it would make sense to power through an otherwise unexpectedly arduous game that you thought was going to be more akin to a puzzle game, because of the experience you would be able to take with you and ponder afterwards. The destination would make the rough journey worth it. Having bought and played through much of the game based on the evangelism for it online, I simply want to make clear that it should not be considered a unanimous opinion that the game is transcendent and that a rough journey would therefore be worth it. Saying too much about the game itself would spoil it for people who would enjoy it, but those who might be leery of it deserve to know that it's still a game, can still be unenjoyable if it's not your thing, and that you won't necessarily miss an irreplacable life-changing positive experience if you don't knock it off of your Bucket List. I apologize for going against the orthodoxy with regard to this game, but people deserve to know they're not alone if they didn't find it the experience it was advertised to be.
• stavros 8mo ago
  I didn't really get it, and the problem with these games is that you can't ask, because you might spoil the surprise. The controls were fine, even fun, but I just wasn't really captivated by the story. I don't know if I'm missing something that would make the game click for me, or if I just won't enjoy it. I can't ask anyone, because I'll ruin it if I am actually missing something.
  • Zizizizz 8mo ago
    Pretty good youtube video that may help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHwZd53CyLc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHwZd53CyLc
    • stavros 8mo ago
      Thank you!
  • pawelduda 8mo ago
    Nowadays you can ask LLM (Gemini is great for this), specifically for a spoiler-free clue
    • stavros 8mo ago
      Hm it wasn't so much that I got stuck, I more didn't really enjoy the genre, but maybe I did miss something. Asking the LLM is a great idea, thanks!
• Cthulhu_ 8mo ago
  The movement wasn't too big an issue for me, but that's probably because I've played Kerbal Space Program, in which moving around in space is a pretty steep learning curve. Anyway, that aside, it's a great game, you get a board where you can see everything you've discovered, whether you missed anything important, and links to other things you can pursue still. Or just go to a random planet / place of interest.
• deleted 8mo ago
  [deleted]
• superultra 8mo ago
  Your username checks out! As someone who’s played a lot of video games, very few gameshave come close to the experience that was Outer Wilds. Textbook definition of a game I wish I could forget so I could play again for the first time.
• glimshe 8mo ago
  I hate Outer Wilds and is one of the few games I stopped playing out of sheer frustration. The movement mechanics are a sign of lack of respect for the player. Blue Prince is the best puzzle game in the past 10 years.