If you’re looking for some games like Outer Wilds, you’ve come to the right place. Outer Wilds is a unique experience, blending elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, and light platforming.
The unique blend of puzzle solving, unbridled exploration, and time travel makes it hard to pin down similar games. Despite this, we are up for finding the best indie or AAA title that fits all your needs, including space adventures and single-player ones like Outer Wilds on PC & console.
It’s one of those rare games that feels like it was designed specifically for you – no matter who you are, you’ll find something to love in Outer Wilds. But what if you’re looking for something similar? Something that scratches that same Outer Wilds itch? Here are a few games that might do the trick.
Best Games Like Outer Wilds
Contents
No Man’s Sky
Some people didn’t like No Man’s Sky when it first came out because they thought it was too shallow and that there wasn’t enough to do. But I always saw it as a game that you could only play for $60 if you didn’t mind that it was still in development. Now the game has more of the promised features, and I think it’s worth that price.
Since it was released, the game has been updated many times. The most recent update was the foundation update, which let players stake a claim to a planet and build a base there. The game is similar to Outer Wilds when it comes to exploration.
Outer Wilds is the unique planet in No Man’s Sky. It has a goal, but it is different than No Man’s Sky, which keeps adding new content with updates. This makes it more fun to play, and you can keep playing it for a long time.
The game keeps getting new content. The latest update added new game modes and seasonal objectives. Another update, Frontiers, is coming soon with more multiplayer features and community challenges.
Outer Wilds and No Man’s Sky are both games that focus on exploration. However, Outer Wilds only uses puzzles to keep players interested, while No Man’s Sky also includes online game modes and crafting.
Subnautica
Subnautica left early access in 2018 and is often compared to Outer Wilds. The game starts with the player controlling Ryley Robinson, who crash-lands their ship on an ocean planet populated by aliens. There are four difficulty modes that players can choose from.
There are three different game settings that you can choose from. The easiest one makes you invincible and lets you craft any item without finding the blueprint.
The most challenging setting turns on all the meters, including hunger and thirst, so it’s a permanent death experience.
Subnautica has goals for players to achieve and an end game. Unlike No Man’s Sky, you are free to choose how to pursue these goals. There is more freedom in Outer Wilds, but Subnautica is mostly a non-linear experience.
Subnautica is a good game, but it doesn’t compare to Outer Wilds. Outer Wilds is better because it has a deeper meaning and a sense of the bigger picture.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Subanautica is a game like Outer Wilds but has some different features. Ghost Trick is also a game with a story, but it is only available on the DS and iOS platforms.
This game is based on a popular Japanese anime franchise from the 1990s. Shu Takumi, the creator of the Ace Attorney franchise, wrote the story.
In Ghost Trick, players assume the role of Sissel, a deceased protagonist who can travel between worlds: where time moves and where it stands still; players must take advantage of this mechanic during their journey.
Along the way, the game includes several puzzles that must be solved differently; for example, players can interact with items in the real world and get clues from the NPCs’ reactions.
If you’re looking for an exciting and enjoyable gaming experience, Outer Wilds is a great choice. Players who enjoyed the game’s story will love learning more about Sissel’s past and why he was killed.
The Witness
The Witness is a puzzle game that is different than other games. It is in first-person perspective. But it does not have crates or pressure buttons to solve the puzzles.
This game is mostly open-world, so if you get stuck on one puzzle, you can always take a break and return to it later.
There are enough different types of puzzles to keep things interesting.
Although the game cost $40 when it was released in 2016, the developers say there are over 800 puzzles. They also predict that the average player will spend 80 hours playing it.
The game is available on many different platforms. If you are looking for a casual puzzle game, you will probably enjoy it.
Return of Obra Dinn
The Return of Obra Dinn, by solo developer Lucas Pope, was released in 2018 to widespread acclaim. Pope is best known for his 2013 hit Papers, Please, and has gained a reputation in indie circles as an innovative and unique game developer.
He comes up with gameplay concepts with narrative, substantial implications, and consequences. The game was highly praised for its art style, gameplay, and narrative on release, winning several awards, including the game of the year.
You play the game as if you are one of the people on the ship. You discover what happened to the ship and why everyone is either dead or missing.
Players have access to a magical pocket watch that allows them to see the last moment of someone’s death or hear their final moments. This enables them to recreate events very much like Will Graham from Hannibal.
Players can enter the corpses of previous victims to see visions. As they explore this realm, everything is logged so players can go back and look for clues.
The game also has a unique look. It is monochromatic and has a dithering effect, which makes it look like old TVs from the 1800s.
This look is very appropriate for the setting of the game.
Sometimes, it’s not the best idea to go out and explore; it’s a little boring. Outer Wilds is one of those games that you don’t want to play for too long because it becomes tedious and uninteresting. It does provide a new way to learn how to survive in the woods.
Again, it’s not quite like Outer Wilds, but if you liked its adventure and puzzle aspects, I recommend giving it a try; it’s an exciting experience in its own right.
Conclusion
These are just a few games like Outer Wilds – but there are plenty more out there waiting to be discovered. So explore – who knows what you’ll find?
