One of the most impressive feats in video games of 2019 was the diversity of stories told in the realm of science fiction. FromThe Outer WorldstoControltoDeath Stranding, some of the most critically acclaimed games of the year were sci-fi. It is a common subgenre for games to explore, so this statement holds true for most years, but 2019 specifically featured three games about exploring space: each had a different take on space exploration that reflect the values of the game.
Three of the best Sci-Figames of 2019 were, in their own individual ways, about exploring space in a ship.Outer Wildswas about the terrors of space and discovering the past through exploration. The space exploration inStar WarsJedi: Fallen Orderwas about evoking the feeling of truly inhabiting the galaxy far, far away. And inThe Outer Worlds,the ship felt like a home for the player’s crew. Each of these games have a completely different take on what it means to explore a galaxy.
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Outer Wilds
One of thebest indie games of 2019,Outer Wildsis one of the most ambitious games both in terms of how it tells its story and how it lets players explore its world.Outer Wildsoperates on a 22 minute time loop where the sun supernovas at the end, resetting the loop. Players jump in their ship and explore of the handful of handcrafted planets in any order to try and uncover what exactly happened with the ancestral Nomai race and prevent the end of the galaxy.
The ship inOuter Wildsis a rickety old thing, patched together by a race of aliens that are clearly not meant to go into space. From the very beginning, the aesthetic of this tiny ship says so much about the world and its inhabitants. And that’s before players take off and launch into space.
Players soon find themselves in a flying deathtrap. The ship is finicky on purpose and learning the physics is the biggest learning curve in the game. Often this learning ends with a trip to the sun, but over the 20 hours or so that the game lasts players learn to overcome these challenges. The space travel inOuter Wildsconveys both the wonder and horror of space through its mechanics, tying the gameplay into the narrative themes in a way entirely unique to this game.
The ship inOuter Wildsis also the only sense of progression and permanence in the entire game. It represents comfort and safety despite how often it leads players to their doom. For the most part, progression inOuter Wildsis measured by player knowledge; this is what makes the game so special and rewarding. But that is not entirely true. The ship’s log keeps track of the places players have explored and the narrative threads they’ve unraveled. Presented in an information web that might be seen on a crime show, or the Pepe Silvia episode ofAlways Sunny, this is where players can see their leads and figure out where to go next. Before launching off, it is crucial to check the log and see what new information has been uncovered before launching off for the next adventure.
The Outer Worlds
The ship inThe Outer Worlds, theFalloutstyle RPG from Obsidian, serves a much different purpose but one that also lines up with the what the game is trying to achieve. Of course, it acts as a way to take the player from one planet to the next, but more so than that it acts as a home forthe game’s companions. The Unreliable is the closest games have come to the Normandy fromMass Effectin a long time and it is one of the highlights ofThe Outer Worlds.
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The Unreliable is a space players can explore, but the only purpose of doing so is to spend more time with the companions. From lovable Parvati and Vicar Max to the ship’s AI ADA, pretty muchall of these supporting charactersare worth talking to and exploring their companion quests, most of which can only be activated on the ship. The Unreliable is a crucial character hub that feels like a lived in space. The companions interact behind the scenes and form friendships.
Ellie and Felix are always goofing off together, drinking or playing cards. Vicar Max is often alone in his room, being contemplative as he is want to do. Any players who plays theThe Outer Worldswithout checking in on the crew every couple hours is missing out on some of the best characterization in the game. Once again, the role of the ship is emblematic of the strengths ofThe Outer Worlds: characters and the relationships between them.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Jedi: Fallen Ordermay just be the most critically acclaimed piece ofStar Warsmedia of the year, being so farmore well received thanRise of Skywalker.The Mantis, the ship belonging to the lovable Greez, takes Cal Kestis and his companions from planet to planet, all while reminding the player that this isStar Warswithout being derivative of any of the films
In terms of these games, the ship inFallen Orderserves the least amount of function. It is pure aesthetic. While it has Metroidvania elements, the game is not about exploring the wayOuter Wildsis. Sure, players can customize their lightsaber, have short conversations with crew members, and check on their terrarium, but the function of the Mantis inFallen Orderis to make the jump to light speed and make the player feel like they are in a galaxy far, far away.
Jedi: Fallen Orderstrikes a great balance of making players feel like they are experiencing aStar Warsstory that is both brand new and authenticallyStar Wars.In terms of design, The Mantis is both fresh and comforting and making that iconic jump to light speed gets players hyped up for the next episode of their adventure.
