We discuss ten games like Outer Wilds you must play. Add these well-recommended games to your gaming library.
Outer Wilds is a 2019 game with players trapped in a time loop exploring the cosmos, solving puzzles to learn about ancient society. While seen by many as a relaxing title and one allowing for quiet introspection from the player about their place in the universe, whenever their character is in hazardous environments, the time loop resets, forcing the world to be memorized.
Developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive, Outer Wilds quickly became critically acclaimed, with many reviews hailing it as their game of the year. It’s one loved by many, and if you’re looking for other titles like it, here are ten games like Outer Wilds you must play.
10 games like Outer Wilds
Firewatch (2016)
Firewatch is set in the wilderness of Wyoming, as players take control of a fire lookout called Henry. He starts talking to his supervisor, Delilah, through a walkie-talkie, and together they unravel the mystery in the forest.
Players can choose dialogue choices affecting their relationship with Delilah and interact with the world to find out what’s going on.
No Man’s Sky (2016)
Anyone who enjoys space exploration in Outer Wilds is bound to love the exploration in No Man’s Sky. Players have to make their way to the center of the universe, visiting planets along the way.
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While initially disappointing due to being overhyped by the developer, many updates to the game have made it more interesting, with new ships to get, settlements to find, and space battles to be had.
Subnautica (2018)
Subnautica is an exploration game set on a watery alien planet, where players must dive deep, gathering resources to plan for their eventual escape.
Players have to manage a hunger and thirst meter and other threats, but there are other modes that let them turn it off: a sandbox mode where players have more creative freedom and a hardcore mode with permadeath.
Portal franchise (2007-2011)
If players loved the puzzles in Outer Wilds, then they’ll love what Portal 1 and Portal 2 have to offer. Set in a testing facility, the player is armed only with a portal gun and their wits to complete challenges for the evil robots GLaDOS and Wheatley, two antagonists who love nothing more than to torment the player.
Spiritfarer (2020)
While players traverse the galaxy in Outer Wilds, they’ll have plenty of time for introspection about the universe and its mysteries. If this introspection is appealing, then another relaxing game is Spiritfarer, where players help transport the dead to the afterlife on their ship.
During this, players will have a great deal of time to think about death and the afterlife; something rarely touched on in gaming.
The Witness (2016)
The Witness is a puzzle game set in an open world, where players complete a series of challenges to unlock all of its secrets. There are no instructions for how these puzzles are supposed to be solved; players have to use the knowledge gained throughout the game to figure out how to progress.
Obduction (2016)
The player character in Obduction is having a bad day. First abducted by aliens and then dumped on an unfamiliar planet who knows how far from Earth, they have to explore the environment, solving puzzles, making decisions to influence the game’s ending, and ultimately try to find a way home.
The Forgotten City (2021)
If players like the idea of using a time loop to explore the world like in Outer Wilds, then players will love The Forgotten City. Set in Ancient Rome, players can unravel the mystery of who destroyed the city by rewinding time.
This means players can loop back once they know the outcomes of certain events and be one step behind their opponents.
The Wild Case (2021)
A 2-D point-and-click adventure, The Wild Case has players uncover a mystery, all while avoiding horrible monsters. They’ll meet a colorful cast of characters during their adventure, solve head-scratchingly challenging puzzles, and experience wild encounters as players make their way through the game.
Heaven’s Vault (2019)
A sci-fi game with a heavy emphasis on archeology, players take on the role of Aliya Elasra, who is uncovering the mystery of the Ancients, a lost civilization that used a hieroglyphic language to communicate. The gameplay and story are non-linear, meaning that the player can choose their own route through the world as they explore society from long ago.
Do you have any other recommendations for games like Outer Wilds? Let us know in the comments below.
