By Nicolas S.

Here is a unique experience that left a profound mark on me. While it may not be something I created, it holds a poetic essence that, I think, deserves to be shared. The main theme of the story is a video game called Outer Wilds. Now, you might question if a video game can truly belong in the world of art, and honestly, I largely agree with you. Yet, there are a few exceptional creations by talented individuals that are absolutely worth exploring, and I think this is one of them.

Outer Wilds is a journey into mystery and discovery. It has no enemies, no weapons, no dark overlords, no quests, no rankings, and no competition with other players. There is only you, the story, the world, and your memory. Set in an alternative universe, you embody a young creature who has just been appointed the new astronaut of the tribe. Armed with a rocket, your mission is to explore your solar system and uncover the remnants of a long-gone civilisation. Your primary weapon for this journey: a translator, which allows you to translate messages left behind by this ancient race. These messages, inscribed on walls, range from family discussions to grand scientific announcements.

One of the game’s core mechanics is that it resets every 22 minutes. After each cycle, nothing you have done is saved. Everything you have accomplished vanishes except your own memory as the player. This memory is what you will rely on while exploring the universe, seeking to unravel what happened, why time keeps restarting, and what you can do about it. I will not spoil the details because the less you know, the better your experience will be if you choose to play it. But I will say that the story touches on many profound themes: the importance of the journey, the fragility of life, the pursuit of knowledge, the passage of time, death, and the inevitable end of all things.

I hope I have sparked your interest in giving it a try because, as you can probably tell, I highly recommend this game. I could go on for hours about its exceptional level design, the physics, the beautiful soundtrack, and the intricate, mind-blowing story. But what I really want to highlight is why I believe this game is a masterpiece. As I mentioned, you spend the game investigating the remnants of a vanished civilisation through the messages they left behind. You never interact with an individual from this race—only find sketches on walls of how they looked like and, occasionally, their skeletons. Yet, as you progress, you learn more about them—who they were, what they were doing, and why they disappeared. You start to know their names, their habits, their personalities, and even little anecdotes about their lives. The more you play, the more you feel as though you know them, even though you have never seen one. And as you stumble upon their graves and the remains of their final moments, it hits hard. For me, the most powerful aspect of this game is its ability to make you feel deeply attached to beings that do not exist, all through the medium of text.

It may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy exploration, mystery, and puzzle-solving, I encourage you to give it a chance. You might just find a journey that resonates with you as profoundly as it did with me.