After 5 Years Outer Wild’s Community Is Still Debating What The Game Is Even About.

Outer Wilds ending is a bit weird. The ending of Outer Wilds is a long sequence of surprising and on the surface random events strung together. There is obviously a lot going on during Outer Wilds ending, but it is difficult to put the finger onto the subtext.
So when I sat down and started to write this Outer Wids retrospective I set myself a simple goal. I wanted to figure out an interpretation of the ending of Outer Wilds that I myself found logical and fitting.
And this formidable honest goal - sent me down a pretty deep rabbit hole.
It took me weeks of research to come up with an interpretation of Outer Wilds ending that I found satisfying. An interpretation of the ending that carries a surprisingly beautiful and philosophical message about freedom and about choice.
In this video, we are going to dig up this message piece by piece.
We will discuss the premise of Outer Wilds, recap its story and main mysteries, talk about the actual science that inspired the games mechanics, have a chat about core ideas of existentialist philosophy and in the end, we will hopefully combine all the different pieces into a cohesive whole - that allows us to understand the message that is hidden within the subtext of Outer Wild’s ending.
====== Patreon
Help content like this survive on the platform: / ceave
====== Timestamps-----------
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:18 - The Five Travellers (Outer Wilds Premise)
00:28:42 - Echoes Of The Past (Story Discussion)
00:43:24 - Light And Moon (Scientific Inspiration)
00:53:12 - 22 Minutes (Central Mysteries)
01:04:13 - The Death Of God - (Existentialism Basics)
01:21:38 - The Eye Of The Universe (Existentialist Subtext Of The Ending)
====== Links
Jim Al-Khalili explains the “Double Slit” experiment: • Double Slit Experiment...
Existentialism lecture: • Existentialism
====== Credits for the Music
Outer Wilds OST - “Castaways”, “End Times”, “Timber Hearth”, “End Time”, “14,3 Billion Years”, “Final Voyage”, “Traveler Theme (Piano Solo)”. “Main Theme”
Super Mario Odyssey OST - Fossil Falls 8-Bit!
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time OST - “Gerudo Valley”
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask OST - “Last Day”, “Magic Hags Potion Shop”
------Holfix
/ holfix
HolFix - Beyond The Kingdom
• [Free Music] HolFix - ...
Additionally, the video uses licensed music from productioncrate.com

[@purplepyro8950]

disclaimer: DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO UNTIL YOU HAVE PLAYED THE GAME. not saying ceave's video is bad, it's not. every single one of ceave's videos is a masterpiece. but you only have one chance to experience what this game is, and any spoilers may greatly decrease your enjoyment of it. its a life-changing experience. please, if you can, play the game first. i promise you you will thank me edit: ceave actually addresses the fact that spoilers dont usually ruin enjoyment for games or movies or whatnot. outer wilds, however, is a game where your progression is based completely on how much you know about the game. i could boot up a new save file right now and beat it in like 3 minutes. if you want to actually enjoy your experience, i cannot recommend watching this until you have beat the game. then come back and watch this actually life-changing masterpiece of a video

[@technoboop1890]

ABSOLUTELY THIS. Please play the game for yourself first, otherwise you will lose out on a masterpiece.

[@witherschat]

When the beginning of part 2 hit, I paused, asked myself if I'd ever play the game, and realized I probably could never handle it. I watched the rest of the video: no regrets.

[@mr.cook5]

​@@witherschatyou could have :) but the choice was yours, cheers.

[@psgamer-il2pt]

@@witherschat why do you think you couldnt have handled it

[@witherschat]

@@psgamer-il2pt 1) Game too heavy for me to handle the story and themes on my own. 2) Not really my style of gameplay.

[@shish2k]

I always thought that Outer Wilds was an 11/10 game except for the weird ending where things kind of go into off the rails random nonsense. Turns out it was actually a 15/10 game and I was just too dumb to get it. Thank you for explaining ❤

[@wortwortwort117]

Now that is a random nonsense take right there

[@kali_kali_kali_]

No way the goat made a video about the best experience i've ever had with a video game in my lifetime

[@maaki50]

Exactly my thoughts!

[@Quwertyn007]

I can't believe it either omg

[@Xeamless]

no way it is my fwiend nyaa~

[@kali_kali_kali_]

@@Xeamless hiiii Xeamy :3 :3

[@celestialwaffle1491]

Well yeah, the Hollow Knight video was great!

[@minerman60101]

A few corrections (spoilers inside, ofc): Ghost Matter only spread out across the Solar System, not the universe as you said a few times. You call Feldspar a Nomai during the ending sequence lol. I think you completely missed the point of the Chert stuff in the ending by not talking to him enough. His dialogue actually changes throughout the loop because he's using his telescope to update the Hearthian starcharts, and discovers that some of the stars are going supernova, and he suggests you zoom in with your scope to spy any of these yourself. As the loop progresses, he becomes more and more terrified, seeing that most of the stars he's seeing are exploding. So in the ending, that's his telescope looking at all of the stars, and you zoom in with your scope to do much the same.

[@QuintaFeira12]

Another weird thing about the interpretations, is how he calls Solanum the "odd one out", when they're easily the most fitting and most important aspect of the ending. The Nomai stacking on each others shoulders isn't just representative of the Nomai. It's entirely representative of ourselves and what comes after. Every single thing that was required to reach the eye of the universe was already under the Nomai's possession, and yet, the one who gets to do it was us. We stand on their shoulders. Without any single one of their successes or failures, we wouldn't be there, and it's in finding and understanding the Nomai that we actually achieve it. You can't build anything without a foundation, and we get the literal corpses of the Nomai to build one for us. And soon, our own corpse was going to be the foundation for someone else. Who is Solanum in the ending? She's... Basically you. She's the smart, intrepid astronaut in the beginning of a big adventure of discovery. She never got to have that journey. And yet, despite you not being able to say a single word she could understand, she tells you a lot. She's there to shoulder your journey. So even in the end, a little bit of her carried on.

[@cillianennis9921]

@@QuintaFeira12 She also is the only one that doesn't appear in the ending if you don't meet her. She is easily missed if you know what to do allowing an alternative ending to occur where no life appears in the new universe symbolic of how you never knew truly of another sentient life form & thus that knowledge is missing from the foundation of the universe when you haven't meet her.

[@atroris5450]

My favorite detail about Outer Wilds is how you can describe the story like a poem: 1 eye to send out a signal... 2 eyes to hide it away... 3 eyes to give their life finding it... 4 eyes to reach it.

[@CatOnACell]

that is the signal that will be heard at teh start of the end next time. so beautiful.

[@MadeByClaudio]

i get 1 eye is the eye of the univers 3 eyes are the nomai and 4 eyes are the hearthians but what is 2 eyes

[@nyabine]

​@@MadeByClaudio have you played Echoes of the Eye?

[@MadeByClaudio]

@@nyabine not yet just finished base game

[@atroris5450]

@@MadeByClaudio The 2 eyes are in the DLC!

[@tregi]

Great video, I really enjoyed it! A few minor corrections that aren't even relevant to the analysis and don't really matter: -You said Timber Hearth has a volcanic core, but actually we can go to Timber Hearth's core. The zero-g cave is the core of Timber Hearth, and a little fun fact: The zero-g in the cave is not being faked, it actually is zero-g there physically because you are in the middle of the planet, so it pulls you equally in every direction. -You said the Interloper exploded and covered the universe in ghost matter. Probably just a typo, I'm sure you know it's only the solar system that was covered -When describing how the warp platforms work, you make it sound like if you didn't look up you wouldn't warp, which is not the case. The direction you are looking has no bearing on whether you warp or not, the text in the White Hole Station tells you to look up just so you have a visual clue as to when it happens -At the ending when you get Chert's drums, the thing that makes the stars appear is not a projector, but Chert's telescope

[@Nikola_M]

The zero-g is also present in the module in the center of Giants Deep. While not the exact center, it's close enough that the gravity isn't noticeable.

[@brunoberganholidias5790]

I'm also not sure about how the Ash Twin Project works. Ceave says that it creates a black hole that consumes the whole solar system, but in my opinion the ATP only transports the data saved by the statues. If the whole solar system were actually transported, then every time the loop happened there would be an extra solar system alongside the current one, so in the end there would be ~9 million concurrent sets of planets, which we don't observe. So much so that if you're inside the Ash Twin's core when the supernova happens, I'm pretty sure you only duplicate yourself if you stand right next to the core. If you stand at the boundary of the core, nothing happens. Either way, I can't stress how great this video was. Ceave's interpretation of the best experience I've had in gaming is really fucking interesting

[@TlalocTemporal]

​@@brunoberganholidias5790-- I came here to say this one the most. If you jump in the black hole in the ATP, a diplicate of you exists next loop, so if the entire solar system was being sent back, we'd see extra planets all over very quickly.

[@sepiar7682]

Ceave, Outer Wilds is my favorite game ever, I have watched over 15 playthroughs of it after finishing it for myself and roped my friends in too, and I have watched literally dozens of videos analyzing its themes, but this video still managed to blow every idea I had about the game out of the water. I've never heard anyone give an interpretation like yours, or at least with as much evidence, and certain details like the final Chert puzzle really convinces me that in some way, that is what this game is about. Thank you for showing me a new meaning behind my favorite game of all time, a year and a half after I played it. I think I have a far better handle on the DLC's themes, but I'd love for you to prove me wrong again!

[@sinom]

41:00 small issue here. They never actually sent the universe back in time. They only sent the information the probe gathered and the memories of anyone linked with the statues (also information) back in time.

[@KiernanGrimes]

I also noticed that immediately. I'm surprised there aren't more people mentioning it. The reason they needed the power of the sun was because traveling further back in time requires exponentially more power, not because they needed it to send the whole universe back

[@bripint]

Yes, exactly, and the experiment at the High Energy Lab is what shows that by putting energy into the warp system, you can increase the interval. That's why it's viewable to the naked eye there, and that understanding was key to the development of the Ash Twin Project.

[@WhoTnT]

I should have scrolled to find this comment before posting mine lol.

[@caleb8495]

but what is the effective difftence between the information and sending the physical you back in time. where is the "self"? also does not the change in the memories in the brain costitulte sending physical matter back in time?

[@AwesomeEth9]

Yes. This seems an like an oddly big mistake in such an otherwise thorough video.

[@Mwarrior1991]

you are a beautiful writer. i feel, i think, and i reflect on the things i do when i listen to your words. from something as simple as the button mapping in my Zelda game to heavy philosophy like choosing what my values are. you make art. thank you so much! i hope you're so proud of everything you create!

[@haggis_insanis5713]

one of my favorite things about every video on this channel is the rabbit holes. it is clear that when ceave is researching for each video, he goes down many rabbit holes. however, when he writes the video, instead of going down the same rabbit holes, he plays the lights turning of transition, puts a bag over your head, and places you at the bottom of a pit with a seemingly random meaning. he then talks you out of the pit, eventually leading back to the game. this change of pace solidifies the meaning of the rabbit hole where he can just reference its meanings because it is placed firmly in the front of your mind. Amazing

[@maaki50]

@@haggis_insanis5713 well said!

[@BinaryBolias]

@@maaki50 _Pfft. Well I could say it better, ya doofus._ It's called good storytelling. 😉

[@vermilisix]

It's great to see a fresh perspective on my favourite game. 1:43:45 - According to a developer interview, 22 minutes was around the time at which the simulation of the solar system started to break.

[@erwin101]

And very silly things happen if you never start the loop like the interloper crashing into giant's deep.

[@BBSplat]

So hyped to see this in my feed. I played Outer Wilds a little over a month ago and I'm still thinking about it obsessively almost every day.

[@yvancluet8146]

played in 3 years ago and I'm still obsessed lmao

[@superbnns]

Welcome to the club brother

[@magma_fire_bagwan]

I beat the game in March of last year. I still think about it often

[@xjamiec]

Yeah I played it after Skillup gave it his goty in 2019, I'm probably more obsessed now.

[@TheRealBatabii]

They never "sent the entire solar system back in time". The only thing that goes back in time, aside from player shenanigans, is the MEMORIES of whoever is paired to the statues, and the DATA that is sent from the probe(s)

[@creativenametxt2960]

It's so cool to see Ceave finally do a video about Outer Wilds, especially since his mention of it during one of his other videos (maybe it was from a Zelda one?) is what made me discover it. It may just be my favourite game of all time.

[@Naito9874]

funny how on my screen, the comment above yours says an AMA a few years ago, so I believe it was that?

[@zanilis]

With your interpretation, it makes much sense that Chert is absolutely terrified when she realises that the universe is dying, and that she and the others only have a couple minutes left to live. She's the scientific, she killed her god, and now that she faces the nothingness of her existence, everything loses purposes and she freaks out. Great video!

[@moshimeshowu747]

Small disagreement about having no idea where to go at the start of the game. If you talk to the NPCs, a decent number of them comment on going to Timer Hearth's moon (the name escapes me atm). If you then go to Timber Hearth's moon, you'll find notes from one of the travellers leading to the planet they're on, or you can go to the planet locator which pretty clearly points you to Brittle Hollow. I dont know why nobody Ive watched a review of have mentioned that the game does give you a starting point to build on. Did they just not find the npc that recommends going to the moon first?

[@felipe970421]

There are multiple NPCs that give you potential places to go. The fisherman hearthian, for instance, strongly hints towards Giant's Deep.

[@JM-us3fr]

Incredible analysis Ceave! I'm not really someone who tears up at video games, but after the experience I had with this game, I can't help but tear up at its music. It definitely hits something deep inside me.

[@evanholman4876]

this game perfectly recounts the journey i went on after the breakup with my ex, only difference is i had no guide, after that break up i was left not only loveless but also friendless and completely alone without even co workers to talk to, i cant believe i managed to pull through in the end but here i am

[@nathanielkershner5904]

It was never directly said in this video, but the entire quantum moon, and by extension Solanum, are completely optional. and if you never figure out the mysteries of the quantum moon, if you never meet her, then she isn't there. The end sequence is completed without her, and you would never know she was missing. The Guide is the one part of this that not everyone will have.

[@SolDizZo]

This represents Reciprocity. I would encourage anyone who has grown in the fashion that you have to start to look outward and pick up people who are down-- once or twice-- then ASAP give them the tools to pick themselves up and be capable of carrying on without you. Mentors come in all shapes and sizes.

[@Ahrpigi]

I first saw the ending of Outer Wilds when I was breaking up with my partner of nine years. The end sequence, about things ending but that not being intrinsically bad, the future being built on the past, and hoping for good things even if you won't be there to see them... It hit me like a truck when we were having serious discussions about finding a way forward, or if we needed to roll credits before things went supernova. It was a long time adrift in the dark between, and there was a lot of necessary time alone for retrospection, introspection, healing, and change. I'm glad to say it's a metaphorical new universe now, with echoes of the good that came before, and lessons about what to do different. Outer Wilds still makes me very emotional and brings me to tears, but it's mostly positive now. I really hope that it's same for you, or will be later. 🫂

[@Peastable]

You mentioning this game in an AMA a few years ago played a huge role in me discovering it. I’m so excited to see you talk about what’s become my favorite game of all time.

[@oddgarrett2619]

Exactly! That mention, where Ceave paused his video and said something along the lines of "If you like mystery games, just go and play Outer Wilds blind" was how I discovered the game too. So happy to see a breakdown based on what led him to that recommendation

[@thatoneguy385]

No way this only has 5,5k views, it's an absolute masterpiece and one of the best videos I've ever watched! Btw, if you manage to get to the eye of the universe without ever visiting Solanum, she isn't present, meaning the ending song plays without her instrument (the synth if I'm correct)

[@Flo-rj8tz]

solanum is represented by the piano, and her presence really cements that the travellers at the campfire are "only" our memories/impressions of them. For one, she is able to talk our language, but she also plays her music using the staff which isn't really its purpose from what we know (we don't have any indications of the Nomai being musical at all afaik). It's just that music is so deeply ingrained in the Hearthians' culture, that the hatchling projects that onto her.

[@ReverendTed]

@@Flo-rj8tz "I'm glad you remembered me."

[@cleander3645]

jesus christ how is it possible that you only have 40k subs that video was amazing i dont remember why i supped exactly but man im glad i did at the end i almost cried it was so beautiful. thank you so much for this great video and keep em coming^^

[@psgamer-il2pt]

he has another bigger channel called ceave gaming (its not just him playing games)

[@witherschat]

Watched it all now. The video is an utter masterpiece. Then, as far as videos go, I would absolute love to see a retrospective on Undertale one day.

[@rookermtg9321]

I have heard many people interpret this game as a story about accepting death and how the idea of an afterlife makes life lose meaning or whatever. Your interpretation I think not only makes more sense, but also simply makes me want to be a better person. I've always loved the idea of letting yourself become better. It's so much scarier than it sounds. But at the same time, our ability to become is the only reason that there's any reason for me to live through hard times. Thanks for this. You made me cry with hope.

[@dankdudet1127]

Sexy man

[@WHErwin]

Fantastic work as always, Ceave. I was a little anxious about watching this video because I've seen so many people waffle about this game and its themes and mechanics that I thought maybe everything had been said about it already, which in hindsight is a little silly. Outer Wilds is a game close to my heart, probably my favourite game of all time, and your reading of its narrative themes opened my eyes to a new perspective to view it from. I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me. It allowed me to experience the sense of awe and discovery this game is so good at creating one more time, while also proposing a good way to view our own lives and our place in this world. Outer wilds truly is a special game, and you've really done it justice here. I look forward to what comes next, as always.

[@BackseatStreams]

Love the video! Something about your commentary on the ending I wanna mention is that the “projector” that’s projecting the suns to get Chert’s instrument in the ending is actually a telescope. He has it on Ember Twin too, since observing deep space is his thing. So I think that’s a hint to “zoom in on this rather than getting close”, since that’s what a telescope does. However, your reading of it being a section searching the deepest reaches of what you learned / discovering a new function of your signalscope right at the end are just as valid. The prompt of the telescope doesn’t make it less true, so I actually agree either way!

[@nathanielkershner5904]

This video is freddy. It broke me.

[@psgamer-il2pt]

@@nathanielkershner5904 what?

[@maromania7]

@@psgamer-il2pt an inside joke on the channel he's responding to. a "Freddy" is an object, character, tool, etc that breaks everything. Coined from how you can use Freddy in FNAF: Security Breach to break near everything, sometimes even without trying. So this video is a Freddy because it was used to break thier brain.

[@Naito9874]

​@@maromania7 wow, I hadn't realized this was Backseat before reading your comment, nice lmao

[@haggis_insanis5713]

i love the pretend blured spoilers in the beginning of each video. please add one for each video.

[@Churahm]

Hollow knight... Majora's mask... Now outer wilds. You are really going through my favorite games of all time and I love this. Your content is inspiring and so much fun to watch!

[@PoissonedApple1]

These are truly special games. It's interesting learning from these videos that a lot of people are specially into these specific games.

[@lfofd]

I do not usually leave comments, but this video deserves an exception. When I saw it appears in my subscription feed, I quickly installed Outer Wilds and played it over the last few days before watching your video. It was on my list for a long time and I can thank you enough for motivating me to play the game. It was one on the best gaming experience I ever had. Your retrospective was very interesting to watch and it's fun to see how different people can experience the game in different ways. Those 14.3 billions year went by in the blink of an eye ;)

[@taterman27]

Outer wilds took a bit to click for me. I started, had a lot of fun, but ran into what felt like a dead end, and I just didn’t pick the game up again for a few months. I came back and had forgotten a lot of the stuff I learned, so I spent like an hour reading the ship log, making connections, writing things that I need to try down. I was then super invested into the game, I kept finding new things, the end goal became more and more clear, and I finally beat the game. No other thing has pulled me into a universe like that. I literally made my own connections using information that I found on my own, no plot line pushing me forward. If you had told me that I would cry at the ending of outer wilds after my first hour of gameplay I wouldn’t have believed you, but the way that this fictional becomes so familiar and is so beautiful is amazing and it’s something that will be hard to match by any other game I’ll play. Spoilers ahead On top of the immersive gameplay, the story was amazing. Like my jaw dropped when I got to the sun station and realized it wasn’t the Nomai who had caused the supernova, it wasn’t science gone wrong, it was just the natural course of the universe. Then I learn that the Nomai all went extinct because of the comet and it was practically instant extinction. My heart dropped when I started putting the pieces together.

[@FFmax33]

"Don't worry that is not the final boss fight in the background yet" Literally the final enemy you face on your last loop

[@cinthiaMP]

ceave, i absolutely love how i always start your videos skeptic and then end up utterly convinced of what you're trying to say. and i love your interpretation of the game and the ending, it gave me a whole new perspective to think about and things to cry over, so thank you for the wonderful video!

[@captncuddlybear9404]

One of my favorite aspects about Outer Wilds are these types of videos. I've watched a lot of videos covering Outer Wilds, and I absolutely love how everyone who talks about it is able to come to their own conclusion and find their own meaning in it. Never before have I played a game, where when I click on a video like this, I know that I'm going to hear a completely new perspective that I've never heard, or at least a significant nuance that significantly changes the perspective.

[@marcgomez8391]

I've been meaning to play this game for a few weeks and bought it during a sale on Steam. Then I saw this video in my feed and I was like "okay, it's actually time to play it now." So I just went and immersed myself in it and beat it over two days last weekend, then came back and watched this video. Really put a fantastic bow on it, helping me both understand the story and the subtext better. Fantastic game, fantastic video. Thanks Ceave! Looking forward to the next video.

[@marialopez-ql9ec]

You know its a good say when Ceave Perspective uploads during the first day if your epic trip to Las Vegas, Thanks Ceave 😇

[@geek12098]

Oh boy was I excited when I saw this pop up in my subscriptions page ! I always love your analyses, so I knew your take on Outer Wilds would be great. And you absolutely delivered ! You managed to bring a fresh interpretation of the game, and given how many great video analysis there are out there, it's very impressive ! A very interesting aspect of Outer Wilds is also how it motivates us to explore. Never at any point we are being rewarded with any material thing. We explore the entire solar system, go through terrifying places, do dangerous things, and none of it is motivated by the wish to gain upgrades, money, items, etc... And I realized that this is exactly what Vladimir Jankélévitch describes in his text “Adventure, Boredom, Seriousness” (I hope there's an English translation out there) when he opposes the Adventurer and the Adventurous (I think that's how it would be translated ?), where the Adventurer goes on adventures because he's motivated by materialistic goals, where the Adventurous goes on adventures because he... he just does, he's naturally motivated to do so. And Jankélévitch argues that this is a more noble form of adventure. Anyway, if you want to fuel that "existantialism" aspect a bit more, you could look into all that ! SPOILERS : Personally, I will always remember the moment when we finally arrive at the Sun Station. To get there, we have to overcome so many fears, so many obstacles, learn so many things... So when we finally teleport to it, we're incredibly excited. And since we know that the Sun Station was meant to makle the Sun explode, we think that by getting to it and stopping it, we would save the Solar System! So when after all these efforts we learn that in fact the Sun Station is not responsible for the supernova, and the Sun simply ran out of fuel, it's an immense gut punch. The realization that in fact there is nothing we can do left me stunned. As I watched the surface of the Sun rushing behind the immense glass window, I just felt powerless and defeated. And yet, I didn't feel out of options, which was curious. Despite the innevitable death of everything, I still had things to do : keep on investigating the Eye and the Ash Twin project. It was such and strange and memorable sensation.

[@Aberyswith]

omg the come back of one of my favorite content creator, talking about my favorite game ever? What a wonderful afternoon

[@brettrichards4048]

So I played this game around when your video launched, either finishing it right before or right after. I was in a dark place going through one of the most difficult times of my life and my friend who helped me through it had me sit down and play the game with him. The game touched me and helped me get out emotions I was struggling with, but i struggled for how or why the game really touched me or why it was special or what it meant to me. There was something magical about the ending but I struggled to put it into words. And then I found your video. I dont think any piece of media and video essay about it has had a stronger more tangible impact on my personal life then this. The game helped me through a rough time, but the message in this video helped me to grow and improve as a person and turned my life around. At least a dozen views on this are from me as I keep going back to it to help ground myself and keep myself focused on improving myself in the here and now. The work you do isnt just great but it changed my personal life in a real way. You're an absolutely amazing creator. DLC video when?

[@CeavePerspective]

Thank you for the kind words, and best of luck to you!

[@wolfenar9285]

I am totally speechless, even as KZbin showed me this 6 days after upload im very glad i got ot shown. I think at least half tbe video my mouth stood right open. This was incredible. I often get consumed by videos but this really broke the scale of Everything i saw so far

[@TheBirdOfParadox]

This was really good, and I think the most comprehensive interpretation of Outer Wilds ending that I have seen. Really got me thinking. Within the framework of your interpretation, I personally believe that Esker actually represents reaching out to others. Esker is characterized by their deep loneliness, they are always desperate to keep talking to other whenever you visit them. Here at the end, they are the first one there. They reach out to you and in turn encourage you to gather everyone else. They also express their greatfulness to be able to make music with *everyone*.

[@SpeedyFlash05]

Honestly this video amazes me. The fact that this game is still forming my view on philosophy and existentialism and just existence as a whole is crazy, and the way this video puts how I've felt into words is so insane. It really feels like whenever I'm at my lowest I find something new in this game that gets me out of a rut and helps me find meaning and reason to push on again. So thank you Ceave for helping me in this way, and for helping cement that to me Outer Wilds is and will continue to be the best game of all time.

[@TheFunFlame]

As someone studying quantum physics at uni, you did a good job explaining systems you don't entirely understand. As a lover of outer wilds I thank you for such a beautiful video exploring the amazing experience and philosophy it presents. So in-depth and so very welcome.

[@DementedDuskull]

1:16:16 This video came at the perfect time for me: I was playing The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom while watching Adam of YMS stream and play the Talos Principle, a game that itself is filled with enigmas and puzzles and thought provoking philosophy. And Adam eventually got on the subject of "randomness" and made the position that no thing is truly random because having the thought that other things could have happened is an illusion, that only one option is ever picked, always, so nothing is random because every option is perfectly built up and justified, which is supported by how computers famously can't be random by nature, they are all built on meticulous process, and their random number generators only create an illusion of randomness that is in reality a series of commands that only _seems_ arbitrary. Of course, this was hard to grapple with since I and many other would probably describe a "random thing" as something that just happens unexpectedly and with little justification, like a glitch in a video game could be perceived as random, even though that too is the product of a set of deliberate computational responses. Anyway, so this was the conundrum on my mind that I entered this video with, which I watched also while playing Zelda, but then near the end, I had to stop and really pay attention as the video got into discussions of metaphysics, quantum mechanics, and to my surprise, _randomness_ and what it means to have free will. Adam's position was pseudo-built on the idea of fate, moreso that the future is written as it happens, not that it is all destined, in other words, there is only one timeline that we inhabit and perceive. What especially spoke to me here was that freedom is a coin with responsibility on its other side, that when one is free to choose, they are therefore responsible for the choices they make. See, Adam was saying that nothing is random because when one choice is made, the others cease to exist, all that remains being the thought that you _could_ have made those other choices, an illusion as he says. That is the responsibility of freedom in a nutshell, that you must always live in the present and keep moving forward and you can't go back to relive other choices, other paths, other timelines because you only get one. Since you can't go back and do something else, you are inherently responsible for your choice. This is the idea that is challenged in Outer Wilds, where you DO get to go back and try other options, only to eventually find out that there _is_ only one _true_ way forward, one true end, no matter what you do. The final outcome of Outer Wilds is already determined. It is not. Random. Amazing video as ever, Ceave. And you may also want to give the Talos Principle games a shot to see what the core of those are.

[@maxbenson5472]

back in 2019 I was talking with a friend about a new game I had played, The Outer Worlds, recommending it to him as he loves Fallout. He said he played it already but it wasnt really for him. We talked a little about the game and his experience made absolutely no sense to me. Now seeing this video I finally understand he was actually talking about this game that also came out that year.

[@xanathar8659]

Wow Ceave, I knew as soon as you said you'd be making a video about Outer Wilds that it would be amazing, but you still managed to blow me away. Outer Wilds is easily one of my absolute favourite games ever, and I've certainly seen a lot of interpretations of the story and whatnot. But as someone who considers themself to be an existentialist, and who has an intense interest in both existential philosophy and quantum physics, I never even noticed the parallels that draw these two together in Outer Wilds. You have made an excellent comparison in your beautifully authentic style of video and it was an absolute treat to watch. Thank you for continuing to be incredible!

[@alexanderthegreat4817]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS CEAVE I've been watching for years and years since the mushroom kingdom championships you are amazing and make some of the best content on the platform

[@cartronw5775]

2:20 this transition with the music gave me chills omg

[@StarHeaven07]

That music sting hit like the Kool-aid man busting a wall down. Never thought a Dark Souls quote would match up so well like that.

[@viridisspielt]

Probably the best KZbin person analysing probably the best game of all time for almost 2 hours? This is just absolute perfection and I'm so thankful for this channel and all the heart and dedication you put into this project! I've been looking forward to this video ever since you've teased it, and it was 100% worth the wait. One thing I absolutely adore are the chapter title cards in your recent videos. These really hit different, I've had literal goosebumps with every single one of them in this video haha

[@spidergirlspinnerets]

Ceave, I truly believe this is my favourite video on all of KZbin. You unwrap the ideas at play so well, build up to every detail so nicely, and make it all so truly enjoyable. Outer Wilds is, pun intended, such a stellar game, and I am eternally thankful that you've helped unravel it a little more for me. This video gave me the exact same feeling that I got throughout all of the game; when I first saw the black hole, when the sun first imploded, when the quantum shards danced around me, when I first met Gabbro, and not least of all when we meet Solanum. I also heavily heavily appreciate even the brief mention of how gender plays into this (I'm especially fond of gentle ladies, gentle men, and gentle people in general, that was a very nice touch to hear.) Thank you again for your work, I'm so so glad you're here and willing to share.

[@cartronw5775]

I audibly gasped when I saw the title me when one of my favorite commentary channels talks about my favorite game

[@cbgbees_]

This is the best and most in-depth analysis of Outer Wilds I've ever seen. I will remember this game for all of my life. You don't know how much this video means to me. Thank you for making this...and to the developers for making a truly beautiful work of art.

[@TerraWispr]

One of my fav youtubers making a video on one of my fav games!!

[@cousinoer6]

Incredible video! As soon as I saw this video come out, I knew I had to suck it up and face my fears to finally complete this game. I don't do too well with horror games, and stuff adjacent to them, so both times I attempted playing this game I ended up dropping it when all that was left was exploring the brambles and the inner part of giant's deep. Both areas creeped me out to the point where I couldn't bring myself to face them to be able to complete the game. I promised myself I wouldn't watch this video until I actually managed to complete Outer Wilds, and I did just that yesterday. I faced my fears of the dark bramble and giant's deep core, and slowly solved the remaining mysteries to see the ending of this wonderful game. In the end I took a step to making a new me, one that won't let pixels on a screen scare me off from a great experience. I plan on taking that further by playing through the DLC, which I notice has an explicit menu option to reduce scares, I'm not going to turn that on, I'm going all in. It's pretty appropriate that in the end, you gotta face up to the angler fish and jelly fish to retrieve feldspar's harmonica, the two fears that kept me from finishing this great game for a few years. You say the angler fish isn't the final boss, but for me it kinda was haha. Definitely looking forward to what you come out with next! EDIT: I have now completed the DLC, all without the option to reduce scares. It was a bit rough for me, but I pushed through and was rewarded yet another fun puzzle solving experience.

[@wiiuandmii7619]

Randomly looking up your channel to rewatch the MM video only to find out this JUST GOT UPLOADED is one of the best things this channel has ever delivered me, and this video is about to top it. Thanks as ever.

[@doublel942]

Literally the best videos on KZbin

[@darqed]

I never thought that Ceave would say directly towards me that I'm wrong

[@Enderdude600]

I was so excited for this one and you definitely did not disappoint! After watching every single ounce of outer wilds content on youtube, I can confidently say this is the best one. I haven't seen anyone dive nearly as deep into the meaning and themes in this game. I love this game so much and you put to words what I felt was missing from the collective understanding of this game. The ending of this video got me as emotional as when I played it the first time. Truly a work of art, thank you Ceave!

[@emshe]

this channel is everything i never knew i wanted from a youtube channel. kuddos to you Ceave

[@Klarid]

Chert literally tells you to use your signal scope as a telescope when you speak to them. They point out that it reveals super novae you can't see otherwise. I've seen a couple people struggle with that last puzzle and I have no idea why lol.

[@unaielizalde]

Hi Ceave! I discovered this amazing game while watching one of your videos a few years ago. You briefly mentioned it, and I was so intrigued by the few words you said about it that I bought it just based on your recommendation. I knew next to nothing about it when I first played it, and it was an unforgettable gaming experience. I'm so glad you talked about it all those years ago. Thank you! And now, let's watch this video!

[@OMarc11711]

Same here! I actually watched another video about spanish youtubers recommending outer wilds before, but it was because ceave mentioned it, that I bought it!

[@zuetme1146]

I knew this was going to happen but im no less exited about it because of that, Its difficult to describe how happy i am about the existence of this video

[@mustacheman529]

My favorite part of Outer Wilds was when I reached the Sun Station. I had read enough Nomai notes to know that they planned to blow up the sun, and so I thought I was about to finish. Then, my horror when I realized the death was natural. The hopelessness when I realized there was nothing I could do. Fantastic video game. I wish I could gather up the courage to finish the DLC.

[@grxdy6362]

I think this is one of the best interpretations of Outer Wilds' story that ive seen. Might be because ive never seen one like it before, but youre honestly a good writer, this is a nice change from the normal mario stuff i see from you, and i wouldve never expected you to have played this game. Outer Wilds was the best experience i have ever had in a video game, and might be one of my favourite pieces of media ever. I am glad we had similar thoughts about it, it makes me feel not as bad for sortof feeling tears come near the end of the game, and this bringing those back to me. thank you Ceave. ❤

[@Dan-km8je]

you call feldspar a nomai at 1:28:46 haha awesome video, outer wilds is my favorite game of all time, its an interactive poem. one massive work of art. thanks for letting me revisit it. you're a really great literary analyst.

[@williamwolfe962]

It's a small distinction, but the Nomai didn't send the solar system back in time. The energy of the supernova allowed them to create a black hole that sent the probe data back further in time. With the giant solar panels on the ash twins, they could only send your probe back like 1 second. So in order to have enough time for the probe to collect any data, they needed more energy. Once the probe automatically loops and finds the eye, it automatically triggered the statues to activate as well so that they could beam their consciousness back and NOT blow the sun up again. Only your memories go back in time and change the past because you now have new knowledge. So when the statues activated it was because the eye had been found!

[@williamwolfe962]

I think they were aware of the possibilities of destroying the fabric of the universe by sending matter through time, so they only sent information... I never thought about that!

[@yoyoibo]

Hearth (as in Heart+h), is an actual word meaning the floor if a fireplace… but is also often used symbolically represent safety, belonging, and home. So yeah.. it’s Heart+h, not H+earth.

[@masongames7347]

Excellent Video! I've been subscribed to your other channel for so long and had no idea this one exisited! I'm glad I can count myself among the many who managed to avoid spoilers prior to playing this game, and I'd highly recommend the experience to everyone else!

[@themajordome4108]

The first time I witnessed a supernova I was exploring the hourglass twins and talking to Chert about it. I witnessed all of his panicking dialogues, up until the one where he just gave up on everything and accepted that we were going to die. It was an incredible experience seeing the Supernova for the first time ever, seeing somebody just accept his end to the incoming death of the entire universe. This game is a masterpiece, I would give anything to experience it blindly again

[@ungabunga4783]

I was going to make a comment about how much I love the music in this game but as i was typing it felt wrong to praise just one aspect of the game because I love every part of Outer Wilds so much. I haven't had a game leave such an impression on me since I first experienced playing games and every new game I played seemed revolutionary.

[@psgamer-il2pt]

You can praise one part of an incredible game like if you were eating a really good pizza and you said how much you like the sauce nobody would think that mean you dont like the rest of it as much

[@mr.wassell7885]

I can expressly state that you have mastered the practice of presenting arguments. The ideas discussed in the last few videos have been, to put it mildly, been rather deep in nature, but you present them in such a way as to be all at once digestible for the audience and entirely engaging for the duration of your run time. I applaud your work as of late and do hope you continue to produce it. There are few things on this site that pique my interest and capture my attention as what you have done. In short, good job.

[@michaelhannappel1999]

How do you always, without fail, manage to make the most beautiful, stunning, and honestly life altering videos that I have ever seen, while wrapping it in a beautiful explanation and exploration of a video game Thank you

[@taterman27]

I already left a comment about the game itself, but I’ve got to talk about just how amazing this video was. It felt like I was playing the game again, unravelling a new sub context of the story I already discovered. It perfectly compliments the themes of Outer Wilds in a way only a few videos have done for me. I’ve watched a lot of video essays, and many of them follow the same (albeit broad) structure. Often the author of the video structures the essay like it’s own distinct story, with a beginning, climax, and resolution. It’s a very fun and engaging way that makes the essay more accessible for people who aren’t familiar with the source material that the video discusses. It’s the type of video essay where people comment “man this guy could talk about anything and it’d be interesting” and while I do love those types of videos, the essay feels, by nature, disjointed from the media it’s talking about. Not even in a bad way, it feels like the essay is it’s own standalone experience, separate from the media it’s discussing. This essay, however, made me feel like I was playing Outer Wilds again, which is incredibly impressive. I can’t prove that it’s intentional, but the way that Ceave presents information in this video feels like the non linear way that you discover things the the game. Especially towards the end of the video, when he is about to enter the Eye of the Universe, and he cuts away to one final tangent that ties the metaphor of the Eye together. It gives me the exact feeling of when I’d stumble across something new, have no idea how it works or what I’m supposed to do, I’d die, ripping me away from the interesting thing, then I’d learn new information that explains the function of the thing and puts it into context. I cried at the ending of Outer Wilds, and I was at the verge of tears at the end of this video. Not many videos have managed to put me into the topic they’re describing, I had to search through my liked videos forever to find other examples, and I only managed to find two. Nitro Rad made a beautiful video on a beautiful game, Omori, which was done as a review/plot summary hybrid, and managed to tell the same emotional plot that I already experienced through the game in an engaging and fresh way, that felt like something new and something familiar all at the same time. The other example is from Jacob Geller, his recent video on media preservation was not only a great dive into a topic I care about, but also reminded me why I care about it, and the whole video felt structured in a way that reflected the thoughts of people who want to preserve all media produced, and how devastatingly unfeasible that task is. Ceave’s video joins those as another once-in-a-blue-moon masterpiece that I will definitely watch again and again. Also this comment is way too long, if someone actually reads this full thing, could you reply or like or something, cause I kinda want to know if there’s someone out there who took a couple of minutes to read this rambling lol.

[@CeavePerspective]

I read it. Thank you!

[@ToyKeeper]

Mindfulness, gratefulness, a willingness to learn, not allowing the past to consume us, and seeking to confront our fears. These are things I was hoping to share with the person I got Outer Wilds for... and a _lack_ of those things are the reason why they hated the game. I'm sad I couldn't share such a wonderful experience with them.

[@Woedenaz]

Yes good. Just did Majora's Mask, makes perfect sense to do Outer Wilds now (for no reason in particular...) :D

[@benenach]

Ceave, thanks for making this video. I'm watching this in a moment of change in my own life. Your final sequence walking through the characters as the Hearthian, too, confronts the ultimate idea of change before they take the plunge and become a new version of themselves hit me deep. Thanks.

[@lokirofrorikstead5591]

This might be one of my new favourite videos on youtube. You took something I love and gave it a whole new meaning... that is incredible. I was shocked to hear your familiar voice from those old mario maker videos I used to watch, but I hope to hear it again many more times.

[@dingpart1]

Amazing video once again Ceave, i cannot express enough about how much I love your content.

[@ZomgyLand]

One of the best OW analysis videos I've seen. Great work!

[@SilverSkree]

Only within the first five minutes, but I do want to note that having some bilingual knowledge can help resolve a lot of weird language and naming questions at times like these, assuming that a work's translation is vetted by the original creators. Timber Hearth's name in Japanese is 木の炉端 (ki no robata) with the 木 being tree, wood... timber, and the 炉端 part being, literally: fireside; hearth; by the fire. The entire game also has a summer camp aesthetic and campfires are a very big part of this imagery, so there was never really any doubt in my mind one way or another over which way to interpret Timber Hearth's name. Also, just for the curious, the rest of the planet's names in Japanese are equally literal translations. Here they are just in case you want to know but are too lazy to look them up! Hourglass Twins: 砂時計の双子星 (suna dokei no futago boshi) Ash Twin: 灰の双子星 (hai no futago boshi) Ember Twin: 燃え盛る双子星 (moe sakaru futago boshi) Brittle Hollow: 脆い空洞 (moroi kuudou) Giant's Deep: 巨人の大海 (kyojin no taikai) Dark Bramble: 闇のイバラ (yami no ibara) Eye of the Universe: 宇宙の眼 (uchuu no me)

[@frogfan449]

I had a similar first experience with dark bramble, except it was the final planet I visited and I came back the next loop and then encountered the fish for the first time. It was really scary because I didn't actually see the fish before its mouth was already enclosing my ship

[@mikeatom]

One of my favorite game of all time, truly a masterpiece! Really glad to see a video about it from you!!!

[@AltecE]

My best friend passed away last year. The Outer Wilds was one of the games we bonded over, and watching the end of this video made me cry a bit that I couldn’t share it with him. Your conclusion about the 5 lessons at the end is a truly beautiful interpretation. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@Lester_Houston]

I love the fact that your two most recent videos are my 2 favorite games of all time.

[@EliSapph]

This video is so good and you're a great creator (and probably person in general), Ceave. Thank you for doing what you do

[@Haiforse]

This game is the only one to ever make me cry. Words can not explain how excited I am that one of my favorite KZbinrs decided to cover it. I can’t wait to see where this channel goes next.

[@potatotower7288]

My favourite game of all time, never though you would do a video on it!

[@tefkah]

this was amazing, I don't think could I love this game more than I already did but you somehow managed. fantastic job!

[@JM-us3fr]

I've been so excited for this video! Thanks Ceave!

[@emilycurtis766]

I must have listened to a dozen video essays and even more playthroughs of this game, I'm even going to a friends place over Thanksgiving to hang out with her while she plays it for the the first time. But this is the most thoughtful, thorough, and beautiful take I've heard on the game yet. I'm so glad you've branched out from just making Mario content.

[@BJRadianceMurphy]

I played this game over a year ago and it blew my mind apart and i feel like fundamentally changed who i am as a person....over a year later and you've done it again. I have adhd and autism, I cannot halfway love a thing. and yet....you've brought me even more love for this, cause I think you are right. Even though I've spent hundreds of hours playing, talking about, and watching others play this game....none of this ever occurred to me and you have presented it in a way that rivals the beauty of the game itself. I cannot speak for anyone else, I'll be thinking and pondering and trying to absorb everything here for a long time. Thank you for this wonderful work, that is surely art unto itself. and I hope many others can see it as beautiful and intensely as it has hit me.

[@SamsDigitalGraveyard]

So glad I finally got to watch this video after finishing Outer Wilds. Keep up the great work!

[@hungryLIKEALI0N]

One of my favorite youtubers covering my favorite game of all time

[@petevoorhees8036]

Hey Ceave, until your Patreon post I didn’t knew you uploaded a new video. Indeed the algorithm did not recommended for me. Thanks for your post and keep up your amazing work!

[@Zubagon]

Amazing Video! I just wanted to say, I really appreciate the care you took in explaining existentialism and religion. You showed clear respect for religion and beliefs while weaving around such large tricky ideas, and that was seriously impressive. 10/10.

[@ronnbumble]

Brilliant! Stellar editing as well :)

[@eastward98]

science is freaky and exciting! great philosophical discussion in this video, and the editing is amazing. a joy to experience!

[@bichlepa]

After playing Outer Wilds, I knew it touched me, but I didn't know how. This video puts everything together and showed me many details I missed. Your interpretation makes me feel humble and reassures me in my way of thinking towards the world and myself, and the meaning of life. Thank you very much! This video is extraordinary! ❤

[@probablyisaac6611]

Very excited that you're covering this!

[@GreyVictory1510]

Just.... Woooooow! This was such, such a fantastic watch!

[@chiablo]

One of my favorite KZbin channels doing a deep dive into one of my favorite games. This is amazing !

[@lucasgibson2131]

Yes yes yes yes YES YES YES

[@nathancollins1715]

Something I found especially powerful during my last playthrough, something I never gave much thought before, is a text scroll tucked away at the very bottom of the Hanging City in Brittle Hollow. It's written by a young Nomai (I think Laemi?) who laments that so many resources are being used to find the Eye, when they should instead be focusing on reuniting with their clan. It seems like just another sad message from the dead at first glance, but hear me out. Let's say the Interloper never came. And let's say that Laemi's attitude here was reflective of a general feeling among the youngest generation of Nomai, born so long after the crash of the Vessel that they have no reason to care about the Eye anymore, besides what they've been told by their elders. Laemi talks about stripping the Ash Twin Project for spare parts, using its warp core for a new Vessel instead of this pointless exercise in futility that Yarrow has dreamed up. Even if all the young Nomai didn't share this attitude, it would eventually prevail, simply due to how little progress was being made towards the Eye. If the Interloper had never come, the Nomai likely would have disabled the ATP, taken it apart piece by piece, and fled the solar system in a new vessel, taking all their knowledge with them. Maybe they would have eventually returned, but who knows? They're nomads by nature. This one little scroll reveals an entire alternate future. One where the Hearthians never uncover the secrets of the Nomai. One where the universe dies with nobody to observe the Eye. It pains me to say it, but maybe the Interloper came at the perfect time. Maybe the Nomai had to die the way they did in order to ensure the continued existence of the universe. Otherwise, their curiosity would have become a curse, leading them elsewhere and away from the one mystery they were never able to crack. I think Outer Wilds, more than anything, is about sacrifice. The Nomai died with purpose, not in vain. Their tragedy was the price the universe had to pay to renew itself. The player character basically has to accept their own death in the end, knowing that it'll usher in a new future they won't get to see. All this suffering we do in life really does have a point, even if we don't get to see it. Without it, we might forget the things that are truly important.