Can You Keep Playing Outer Wilds After Seeing the Endings?
Yes, you can absolutely keep exploring and playing in the Outer Wilds universe after reaching what many consider the "end" and seeing the various endings. With its time loop mechanic, emphasis on non-linear exploration, and mysteries to uncover, Outer Wilds offers quite a bit to do even after witnessing the major revelations at the heart of the game.
As a passionate gamer and content creator myself, I want to provide a comprehensive guide on what to expect if you decide to keep playing Outer Wilds post-ending, options for what you can do, and tips to get the most out of the experience.
Post-Game Open World Gameplay
Outer Wilds gamers should think of the critical ending moments – like entering the Eye of the Universe or removing the Ash Twin Project warp core – as the conclusion of the main "story", but not the end of meaningful gameplay, discoveries, or fun in the universe.
Once you‘ve reached post-game:
- The time loop continues allowing ongoing exploration
- You retain discoveries and explorer/ship logs opened
- Planet environments and gameplay areas remain open
- Side quests, mysteries, and Achievements/Trophies are still available
So in many ways, Outer Wilds becomes an open world sandbox to enjoy. I‘ve spent over 30 hours in my personal post-game adventures – that‘s more than many entire games!
What To Do After Beating Outer Wilds
While everyone‘s post-ending experiences will differ, here are some of my favorite activities I highly recommend you pursue:
Mop Up Missing Ship Logs
Even after "beating" the game, don‘t forget to find all available explorer and ship logs if you haven‘t already. These provide valuable history and backstory details.
| Type | Total # |
|---|---|
| Explorer Logs | 29 |
| Nomai Logs | 80 |
| Ship Logs | 9 |
Use online guides if you‘re struggling to locating them all.
Seek Out Secret/Alternate Endings
Outer Wilds has several secret endings that offer Easter eggs, fun moments, or poignant perspectives.
Some of my favorites include:
- The Prisoner‘s Vision – Special ending if you free The Prisoner
- The Dream World – By removing the ATP warp core
- A Step Too Far – Fly 20,000km outside your solar system
Complete the Echoes of the Eye DLC
I cannot recommend enough taking time to play through Echoes of the Eye DLC after finishing base Outer Wilds. Released in late 2021, it offers a beautifully crafted, creepy expansion adding 3-4+ hours of fresh story, locations, and puzzles.
Relax and Soak in the Universe
Perhaps most importantly, adopt a relaxing mindset and make time to soak in Outer Wilds‘ universe. With no time pressure, focus on thoughtful exploration and appreciating little details without worrying about the next supernova.
Some of my favorite places to unwind include:
- Sitting atop the Tower of Quantum Knowledge watching the black hole
- Floating down Giant‘s Deep storm or getting shot out by a cyclone
- Taking in the imposing architecture of Brittle Hollow
- Wandering the oceans of the Stranger (Echoes DLC)
So in summary, yes – absolutely dive back in and play on in Outer Wilds post-ending credits! Approach it as an open world and make your own adventure mopping up logs, experiencing secrets, playing the DLC, or just immersing yourself in the ambience of space!
Let me know in comments if you have any other favorite post-game activities in Outer Wilds I should try out!
