Out There: Oceans of Time

Explore and discover the wonders of the cosmos in Out There: Oceans of Time. As far as space exploration sims go, this title manages to distance itself from the competition by delivering a deeply immersive narrative experience that’s shaped by every little decision you make in your travels.

If exploring randomly generated environments and complex narrative experiences sound appealing to you, then this game has you covered. The rich selection of bizarre characters and exotic worlds to explore will sate any player’s knack for exploring, and that’s not to mention the spectacular overall presentation and satisfying gameplay loop.

An Alien Cosmos

Based on the foundations of its prequel, Out There: Oceans of Time offers a new coat of paint for the classic randomly-generated space exploration roguelike. Not only has the presentation been revamped for this sequel, but the overall quality of the plot and how believable the dialogues sound have all received a major overhaul as well.

In the same vein as other space sims like No Man’s Sky and Rimworld, Out There: Oceans of Time puts you in command of a fleet of spacefarers exploring the most remote corners of the galaxy. Along the way, you’ll meet a colorful cast of randomly-generated characters that might aid you in your travels — or they could even choose to become your sworn enemies.

As Commander, your every decision will shape how your travels turn out. Since every game of Out There: Oceans of Time is randomly generated, you’ll have to adapt your tactics to the conditions of every specific playthrough. When it comes to how the plot develops after every choice you make, very few games offer such an engaging experience as this one does.

It goes without saying that exploring the vastness of space can be more than a bit taxing on your resources, so your management skills will also be put to the ultimate test.

Out-of-this-world Presentation

One aspect that this sequel nailed without a doubt is its presentation. Not only do graphics look phenomenal in full 3D, but the user interface has been also radically revamped compared to how it used to look in the original Out There: Ω Edition.

Space has never looked as beautiful as it does in Out There: Oceans of Time. In your travels to track down the nefarious Archon, you’ll come across some beautiful alien landscapes and bewitching deep-space vistas that will undoubtedly take your breath away.

Each alien species you find is also incredibly well designed. Their intricate models make these extraterrestrial beings feel organic and complement the overall “alien” aesthetic that the whole game exudes. This is no Mass Effect, where it seems like every other alien is a humanoid with blue skin: alien designs in Out There: Oceans of Time are truly out of this galaxy.

It’s worth mentioning that some of the original game’s infamous RNG has made it into the sequel. As in every roguelike game, some random elements might absolutely wreck your playthrough, but that’s just how it is when you play a game as random as this. If it is any consolation, it feels like the odds are slightly more inclined in your favor this time around.

Pros

• Excellent plot and amazing dialogue make the game’s world feel incredibly alive
• Great visuals and fascinating landscapes
• Addictive gameplay loop that encourages exploration

Cons

• Randomness can feel a bit unfair at times
• Some mechanics might look daunting to new players