85 OpenCritic An open-world game that puts a premium on exploration over checklists (coughUbisoftcough)

Open world games have continued to grow in popularity over the past two decades, but that doesn't mean they always succeed. I'm particularly picky about open world games. When open exploration is nailed down, it can be a truly incredible experience. A few of my favorites over the years have been No Man's Sky, The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Some of the best open-world games of the last decade have focused solely on allowing exploration instead of checklists, a problem that many Ubisoft games in particular have struggled with over the years. It's not that Ubisoft's formula is necessarily bad, it's just too repetitive. However, there is one game in particular that continues to be a masterclass in what free exploration should look like: The outer wilderness.

Developed by Mobius Digital, The outer wildernessThe story packs a lot into a simple premise. Players can explore the planetary system as they see fit, but there is one twist. The world is stuck in a 22 minute time loop. So once the time runs out, the main character is transported back to where they started. The main character is a member of their company's space program and it's up to them to get to the bottom of this strange time loop. This requires a lot of open world exploration in short periods of time and is still one of the best uses of open world in gaming.

Every minute counts in Outer Wilds

22 minutes is not much time to find new pieces The outer wilderness” puzzle, but that's what makes it so much fun. Players progress through the story based on how their path leads them, and this can quickly lead the protagonist to some surprising areas and planets. Alien structures, hidden caves, storms, and unlocking secret passages reveal unexpected paths to be pampered before time runs out. The outer wildernessExploration also doesn't hold players' hands. Players who like objectives may find it strange or daunting to explore at first, but it's a world worth jumping head first into.

There is no right or wrong way in the Outer Wilds

Whichever path the player chooses is the right direction. It's incredibly liberating once you let the game guide you. Let go and fully accept The outer wildernessThe gameplay loop requires players to not think too much about where they're going and instead go on a journey, which is much easier said than done. However, this is indeed a real survey. No markers or checkpoints are needed. Just like in real life, the character can simply go wherever they like and uncover unexpected gems along the way. Puzzles in The outer wilderness they can appear out of nowhere, often with only minutes to figure them out. For such a leisurely game, it's not only sweat-inducing, but absorbing. It really helps put players in the protagonist's shoes, as the mission to solve the time loop becomes more complicated with each discovery.

The open world of Outer Wilds brings to life an amazing mystery

The biggest problem with Ubisoft's checklist is that it prevents the worlds of its games from feeling fully believable. Of course, games like Ghost of Tsushima they have a similar path to the checklist, but this game does enough differently that the objectives blend better with the setting and story. For example in Ghost of Tsushimathe wind guides Jin to his next location. Many of Ubisoft's games require players to follow signs and an immersive user interface. It's hard to get lost in the world when brands are taking over the screen. is true Assassin's Creed Shadows was an improvement but Skull and bones was exaggerated.

The outer wilderness forcing the player to learn as they go means there's no way to know which direction the main character is going. It really makes the world feel alive. Instead of knowing what the next objective will be, players experience each moment at the same time as the character. Open world games without maps are hard to handle effectively, but The outer wildernessUltimately, the time loop helps his directionless approach to be less intimidating and more comforting.

One of The outer wildernessThe most magical mechanic is the Signalscope. This device functions as both a signal receiver and a telescope. During the protagonist's exploration, it can be used to pick up the signal of other travelers across the solar system, specifically the music they play. Music plays a vital role The outer wildernessand Signalscope can combine these signals to create a cohesive song.

Once the Outer Wilds puzzle is pieced together, players will experience a rewarding and thought-provoking end game

This is a no spoilers The outer wilderness articlebut the time-limited exploration ends up having a wonderful finale. Trying to make sense of it all can be a little overwhelming at first. But at the end of the story of the game, The outer wildernessThe main theme is clarified in a stunning conclusion that will make the player ponder existence itself. Even if there were markers and hand-holding along the way, it would still be a beautiful ending. The fact that the players have to actually work to figure it out for themselves at the end is what makes it The outer wilderness much more rewarding than the average open world game.

There have been some great open world puzzle games over the years, but The outer wilderness it uses it not only as a way to encourage exploration, but also to tell a heartfelt story that will stick in players' minds for days after it's finished. Without the research, the story might not have had the same impact. The outer wilderness” narrative leaves a mark that a lot of A-to-B objective-based gameplay simply lacks.The actual exploration is what makes an open world worth spending hours on. The outer wildernessThe time loop only allows players to explore for 22 minutes at a time, but every moment is meaningful.

Of course, a completely free world may not be for everyone. Some prefer ticking off checklists and meeting goals. However, for those who want to experience a beautiful exploration-based mystery, The outer wildernessThe unique gameplay shows that this is an open world game in its purest form.