Reflections on Outer Wilds

1. The Gentle Kindness of the Nomai

What touched me the most during my exploration was the ancient Nomai race. They possessed the most advanced scientific technology in the galaxy, yet when they discovered tiny, newly hatched local lifeforms underground during their grand pursuit of an ultimate goal, they chose to prioritize ecological harmony. They even scaled back their development plans for the sake of these small creatures.

They sought the ultimate truths of science but never lost their reverence for life. It’s because of their gentle kindness from tens of thousands of years ago that, tens of thousands of years later, a rookie astronaut could wake up by a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and brimming with curiosity about the universe. As the protagonist, I’m just a newbie on my first day of space exploration, yet how lucky I am to carry the memories of all those who came before me, walking the path they couldn’t complete even at the cost of their entire civilization, and seeing the view at the end of the road on their behalf.

2. The Collapse of Life

The game is filled with fascinating concepts about "quantum observation." And this is the ultimate philosophical metaphor for life itself—our lives, through our observation, collapse into a specific experience. When all possibilities condense into a single, definitive outcome, all we can do is face the ending with grace.

3. I’m Not Here to Save the World

Many games like to hand us the script of a "savior." But Outer Wilds made me realize: I’m not here to save the world; I’m here to experience the life of the universe alongside everyone else.

This experience is much like life itself. It helped me understand what it means to "learn to accept and say goodbye." We can’t change the grand trajectory of fate, but we can approach it with curiosity, to experience and observe. The protagonist is incredibly fortunate—though each world only lasts 22 minutes, they get the chance to carry the memories of those before them and walk the entire path, seeing the view at the end on their behalf.

Just Live This Life Fully

After finishing the game, I felt deeply healed. That long-standing existential crisis and anxiety seemed to dissipate along with the final melody played by the campfire, fading into the stars.

What is the meaning of life? Perhaps the answer is: to experience, to observe, and to live this life fully.

Outer Wilds is a game you can only play once, because once you "know" the knowledge within, the game can never be the same again.

We can’t stop the universe from reaching its end, but we can decide how to approach it—with curiosity to understand, with kindness toward others, and with courage to say goodbye.

Thank you, Mobius Digital. Thank you, Nomai predecessors. Goodbye, solar system.