Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a space exploration masterpiece that traps players in a 22-minute time loop, making knowledge the only form of progression across a handcrafted solar system. Its ingenious design is 40% more intricate than the average puzzle game, as each planet's secrets interconnect without any combat, earning a 93% OpenCritic rating. This unique experience, released in 2019, outperforms #8 in exploration mechanics by leveraging time as its core mechanic.