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Outer Wilds

2019 · Mobius Digital

Investigate a small solar system where knowledge and curiosity unlock a mystery across repeating cycles.

PLATFORMS

PCXbox OnePS4PS5Xbox Series X/SNintendo Switch

GAMEBOX SCORE

95

Provisional GAMEBOX editorial ratings. These are not verified facts or aggregate review scores.

/ 100

Retro Score85
Hidden Gem91
Revival Potential70

GAME DNA

experience
Discovery-led · Contemplative · Experimental
genre
Adventure · Exploration
mood
Quiet · Mysterious
gameplay
Exploration · Discovery · Puzzle
difficulty
Medium
era
2010s
pacing
Slow
perspective
First-person
structure
Open world

DISCOVER BY GAME DNA

Game DNA is GAMEBOX editorial classification; era comes from the sourced release year. Ratings are separate editorial judgements.

QuietMysteriousExplorationDiscoveryPuzzle

ABOUT THE GAME

Investigate a small solar system where knowledge and curiosity unlock a mystery across repeating cycles.

Investigate a small solar system where knowledge and curiosity unlock a mystery across repeating cycles.

WHERE CAN I PLAY IT?

Availability information will be added to the GAMEBOX database.

We only list legal and officially available platforms and services.

RETRO HISTORY

First listed release: 2019. Explore the cited source for the game's release and development history.

ORIGINAL RELEASE
2019
Developer
Mobius Digital
Publisher
Annapurna Interactive

DISCOVER MORE

SIMILAR GAMES

Explore what makes games feel like Outer Wilds

GAMEBOX algorithmic assessments of editorial Game DNA. Confidence describes overlap strength, not a probability of enjoyment.

2012

Journey

65% SIMILAR

STRONG MATCH

Quiet · Mysterious · Exploration · Adventure · Contemplative

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Quiet / Mysterious mood; Exploration / Adventure genre; Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative29% distinctive overlap · 25.8 / 90.2 points
  • mood: Mysterious · Quiet100% distinctive overlap · 73.4 / 73.4 points
  • genre: Adventure · Exploration100% distinctive overlap · 35.9 / 35.9 points
  • gameplay: Discovery · Exploration · Puzzle100% distinctive overlap · 24.8 / 24.8 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2010s100% distinctive overlap · 4.8 / 4.8 points

2000

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

51% SIMILAR

GOOD MATCH

Contemplative · Experimental · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation) and Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation); Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative · Discovery-led · Experimental100% distinctive overlap · 89.1 / 89.1 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 67.7 points
  • genre: Adventure25% distinctive overlap · 8.4 / 33.2 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle40% distinctive overlap · 9.2 / 23.1 points
  • structure: Open world100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2018

Return of the Obra Dinn

37% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Experimental · Discovery-led · Mysterious

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces); Mysterious mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led · Experimental46% distinctive overlap · 40.7 / 88.3 points
  • mood: Mysterious30% distinctive overlap · 19.2 / 62.9 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 38.0 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle53% distinctive overlap · 11.8 / 22.3 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2010s100% distinctive overlap · 4.8 / 4.8 points

2007

Portal

37% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Experimental · Discovery-led · Mysterious

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces); Mysterious mood.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led · Experimental63% distinctive overlap · 54.0 / 86.4 points
  • mood: Mysterious30% distinctive overlap · 19.2 / 62.9 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 38.0 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle53% distinctive overlap · 11.8 / 22.3 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.0 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2005

Shadow of the Colossus

33% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Contemplative · Mysterious · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Contemplative experiences (taking time for observation, reflection and interpretation); Mysterious mood; Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Contemplative23% distinctive overlap · 20.5 / 89.2 points
  • mood: Mysterious21% distinctive overlap · 14.5 / 67.6 points
  • genre: Adventure25% distinctive overlap · 8.4 / 33.2 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Puzzle21% distinctive overlap · 6.6 / 32.1 points
  • structure: Open world100% distinctive overlap · 25.7 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2002

Metroid Prime

28% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Mysterious · Discovery-led · Adventure

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Mysterious mood; Discovery-led experiences (progressing through curiosity and finding new knowledge or spaces); Adventure genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Discovery-led22% distinctive overlap · 17.7 / 80.8 points
  • mood: Mysterious25% distinctive overlap · 18.4 / 72.4 points
  • genre: Adventure24% distinctive overlap · 8.3 / 34.7 points
  • gameplay: Discovery · Exploration49% distinctive overlap · 12.0 / 24.6 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 25.7 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: First-person100% distinctive overlap · 8.0 / 8.0 points
  • difficulty: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 3.6 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points