Ever since it came out I have heard only good things about this game. And it sounds like a perfect fit for me. I enjoy figuring out puzzles, I enjoy figuring out lore and I love to explore.
I picked it up during a sale a while ago and since then I had 3 or 4 attempts of trying to get into the game but after a few hours I'm just too frustrated and give up.
My problem is, that I am so horribly bad at moving around, it infuriates me like no other game ever has. Like, I want to go to that planet, I board my ship, I fly towards the planet. I either slow down too late and die crashing into the planet or I slow down too early and by the time I get to my destination the planet has already moved away too much. So I either wait until it comes back around or I try to follow it wich usually ends with me crashing into it. It's like slapstick comedy. The autopilot let me crash into stuff blocking its path so I gave up on that too.
The few times I managed to get to a planet, I couldn't enjoy exploring, knowing I will have to pilot this spaceship again. When I think about having to be at a specific location at a specific time, it fills me with horror. Moving in lower/zero gravity is also not enjoyable for me.
I want to love this game so bad but I just can't. I know this game is a one-time experience so I am torn on what to do.
Are my problems with this game so fundamental that I should just give up and watch someone else's playthrough on YouTube? Or are my experiences in a normal range and I should keep trying until the movement clicks with me?
I fear that the longer I wait the higher the chance that I randomly encounter a huge spoiler somewhere in the internet.
Thank you for reading and thanks in advance for any recommendations, advice or feedback
Edit: Thanks a lot everyone! I will give it another shot and use a combination of autopilot and manual movement. If that doesn't work I'll look at some mods. If that also doesn't work I'll give up and just watch someone else play it. I feel like I'm extra bad at this because my spacial awareness sucks in real life too. Can't tell if a car in the distance is moving or parked and if it's moving how fast. Don't worry I never even bothered to try to get a driving license lol
Once it's boring.
Very specific kind of game, you have to settle into it and realize there are no stakes.
If the only problem is moving the shuttle, it's probably worth watching a video and figuring that out, but if exploring is still boring for you, it might not be your brand of soda.
Watching a playthrough is a good idea too, it's a good story and I think you'll still appreciate it vicariously.
Outer Wilds mild spoiler for finale
There is a moment when you realize that this one action will rise it from no stakes to all of them and you need to go through that place. That feeling is irreplaceable. No amount of watching a playthrough will emulate that.
Reading a book about an adventurer isn't the same as being that adventurer, but that doesn't make reading a book the wrong decision for some people.
Also, I'll say, outer wilds is a very passive game. No matter what you're doing. It mostly feels like you're being shown things rather than actively taking part.
That's part of the point of the game, that you aren't an active participant in the events.