u/Eric_Dawsby

A friend of mine made an animation for Outer Wilds, take a peek. I've only watched it on mobile but it should work for desktop.

https://slatecoderunner.github.io/foxyverse-dreams/

I was giving my interpretation of the game to a friend, and they liked my post and implored me to post it here. Let me know what you think and share your own thoughts on the game if you wish.

Outer Wilds to me feels like passion let loose, particularly the story of the Hatchling. They were an aspiring astronaut who on the day of their first launch had life snuffed out before they could fully explore the solar system, yet due to things beyond their control at the time they were given infinite chances. They have all the time they could ever want to explore freely, the limits of death and fear could not hold them back, they are able to fully go all out and try anything and everything.

And what is a better gift than that? For the Hatchling who clearly took an interest in the Nomai, considering they helped create the Nomai translator, they are able to not only find out the history of the Nomai but they are able to experiment with their advanced technology and even meet a "living" Nomai.

Yet despite this, they're trapped.

22 minutes to explore is plenty and yet never enough, they cannot talk to their friends because they will never remember (except Gabbro who has a different philosophy on this ordeal). They are always destined to wake up by that campfire with only their memories remaining. An immortal soul, trapped by the very technology that keeps them alive. One day their passion will burn out, as they've seen all there is to see.

When everything known is explored, what's left but the unknown?

The Stranger with it's denizens, fear being what's left of their lives, spreading it to the Hatchling as well. Yet they wouldn't be an explorer without bravery. They master that world like they mastered their own, eventually discovering a kindred spirit. An immortal soul, trapped by the very technology that keeps them alive. Passion burned out as they have lived a millennia, alone, in the dark. But due to fate, or coincidence, they meet. The Hatchling is able to free them, but not without costing their own freedom as well. Despite that, the Prisoner offers them freedom in return, hand in hand as they face the unknown of death.

When the Hatchling reaches the Eye and the campfire sequence begins. Every character has a lesson to impart on them. But I believe the Hatchling themselves has something to tell the player by that point.

Passion will burn out in time, that's the nature of it. Yet that's not a bad thing. The fire that pushes them forward is their guiding light, bringing joy to their actions and making memories they never want to forget. They had their time, they let their passion bring them to heights thought impossible, but eventually it wavers. Does that mean the warmth and happiness it brought was for nothing? No, it served its purpose and kept the Hatchling going, and gave them the adventure of a lifetime.

I believe if every character left something for the next universe, the Hatchling left them the passion of life and adventure.

I'm on a quest rn, and I need to know your interpretations of Outer Wilds as a whole. What is it about in your eyes, and what does it mean to you?