Jar 05 · Space exploration mystery · Mobius Digital / Annapurna Interactive, 2019
Outer Wilds
A tiny solar system resets every 22 minutes. Explore planets, read the notes of a lost alien people and work out why the sun is dying.
Edition reviewed: Outer Wilds (2019).
Official artwork © Mobius Digital / Annapurna InteractiveWhat you do
Fly a little spaceship between handmade planets, explore ruins and piece together a mystery using only what you learn.
Who it suits
Curious minds who love solving mysteries. The less you know before starting, the better.
01Arrival
You wake by a campfire on launch day. Twenty-two minutes later, the sun explodes. Then you wake by the campfire again.
02Deeper in
Each loop you learn something new on a different planet, and the ship's log connects the clues. It is one of the great discoveries in games.
03Safe places to stop
Every loop ends by itself after 22 minutes, which makes it the easiest game on the shelf to stop.
Why it works
- An unforgettable mystery
- A solar system full of wonder
- Built-in 22-minute sessions
Watch out for
- Fiddly spaceship controls
- Some areas are frightening
The score
Overall 4.8 out of 5 · Lush · how we score
Our verdict
One of the best games ever made. Go in knowing nothing.
Written by the Moss Byte desk. Updated 23 October 2026. Facts were checked against the publisher and store pages at that date; prices and platforms can change.