Contrary to the common belief that you must dive into the game completely blind, I've created a spoiler-free starter guide to help newcomers avoid early frustration. Would love your feedback!
Wrote it for a friend but I think it might be helpful for some people. Any feedback is appreciated
Welcome to Outer Wilds!
The biggest mistake many new players make is: “I want to quickly take off in this spaceship; this village probably isn’t that important.” Oh, quite the opposite! You can easily find out if this game is for you by doing the following test:
Spend the first half hour exploring everything in the village. Pay attention to the signs, visit all points of interest, and get familiar with some of the mechanics. Make sure to check out the Zero-G Cave and, most importantly – and last – the museum! First, you won’t understand many things later if you haven’t already seen or learned about them in the museum. Second, here’s the test:
If you feel no curiosity or desire to explore the solar system on your way back to the spaceship, this game is probably not for you. But if one or two hints have piqued your curiosity and made you want to uncover more, then your adventure begins now! Here are four tips:
Nothing in this game is “unfairly” hidden. You’ll never need to scour the ground for tiny details, check the backs of buildings, or do anything like that. Everything important is easy to spot – as long as you know what you’re looking for. “Hidden in plain sight” describes it perfectly.
Use the ship’s computer after every expedition to review what you’ve learned. It’s also great for helping you connect the dots between different pieces of information.
Don’t forget your tools! The signalscope, the camera, and the scout launcher (which also has a camera and can provide light) are often invaluable when you’re stuck.
NEVER GOOGLE! If you’re stuck, explore somewhere else instead. The ship’s computer in Rumor Mode is perfect for pointing out where you might want to go next. If you’re truly stuck, ask someone who has finished the game or post in the subreddit. They take spoilers very seriously and will only give you small nudges in the right direction.
Bonus Tip: Always put on your spacesuit before stepping out of the spaceship! xDD (And no, this is absolutely *not* based on personal experience …)