Game2026

Outbound

AdventureCasualIndieSimulation

Developer Square Glade Games

Outbound is a 2026 adventure video game developed by Square Glade Games and published by Silver Lining Games. It was released on 11 May 2026 for Windows and Xbox Series X/S, and on 14 May 2026 for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

414 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works

Audience score

60
Fresh

173 positive · 117 negative
95% range 54–65%

Source+−=
Steam reviews1731170
Bluesky *23474
Mastodon *6014
Lemmy *012

* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).

Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
945 of 1,231 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)

What players are saying

59% recommend · 156 yes, 110 no

Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 266 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (1,634 of 2,218 positive).

Many players find the game relaxing and cozy, but some say it becomes dull and repetitive. [1][2][3] Several reviewers complain about slow movement, limited resources, and a grindy gameplay loop. [1][4][5] Some players criticize the developer's handling of Kickstarter backers and review responses. [6][7][8]

Liked
Disliked
Representative posts
  • [6]Steam user Steam user …7461Steam review · May 11, 2026 · Not recommended

    Negative reviews exist for a reason. It’s not a good look when developers ask players to change or remove criticism instead of addressing the actual issues being raised. Reviews help consumers decide what they’re spending their money on, and trying to silence criticism only damages trust. It’s also frustrating to see the developer mainly respond to negative reviews while largely ignoring the people leaving positive …

  • [4]Steam user Steam user …4764Steam review · May 15, 2026 · Not recommended

    It's a sad review to give, but at least it's sincere. This game was on my wishlist since its Steam page was up. While I wasn't part of the Kickstarter, I was eagerly waiting for it, and it was probably one of the games I was looking forward to most this year. This game starts so well, it's crazy. The first 10~20 minutes are just amazing. The way the game starts, the van, the first scenarios, the atmosphere, the way …

  • [1]Steam user Steam user …5723Steam review · May 11, 2026 · Recommended

    A game that made me wish Steam had a "Meh" button. It’s cozy, sure… but cozy only gets you so far before the experience starts feeling dull. Outbound is a very slow-paced survival/crafting game focused on gathering resources and building. The core loop quickly becomes repetitive: Collect resources → Rest → Collect resources→ Rest. You can’t chop down trees — you’re stuck scavenging the same handful of locations over …

  • [2]Steam user Steam user …5839Steam review · May 13, 2026 · Recommended

    Don't listen to the people saying the game is boring and there's nothing to do. There's a lot to do. i believe half of these people didn't even read the description. Its SUPPOSED to be a relaxing game with no enemies to fight. Its fun getting stoned AF and playing this game. its addicting. I highly recommend if you like chill games and base building. DONT get this game if you expect fighting and that sort of stuff. …

  • [3]Steam user Steam user …0337Steam review · May 12, 2026 · Recommended

    Not sure I get all of the negative reviews on this one. It's relaxing - not exciting. The developer even made a video on the steam store page asking "is this game right for you?" and laid out all of the bullet-points. This isn't Zelda or Counterstrike. It's relaxing.

Summarised from 34 of the 363 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made

RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account

Players who liked Outbound talk about cozy and relaxing atmosphere; those who didn't talk about gameplay becomes repetitive and grindy. Which matters more to you?

Critics, per Wikipedia

Outbound received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator site Metacritic. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received weak approval, being recommended by 26% of critics. Destructoid rated it 6/10, and wrote that it "nails atmosphere and customization, but struggles to keep its open world engaging." PC Games rated the game 8/10 and describes that it provides "a good mix of discovery, crafting, and building." Nintendo Life rated it 7/10 and praised the exploration and gameplay loop.

From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.

Reactions

60 of 414 · most liked first
  • Steam user Steam user …7461Steam reviews · May 11, 2026

    Negative reviews exist for a reason. It’s not a good look when developers ask players to change or remove criticism instead of addressing the actual issues being raised. Reviews help consumers decide what they’re spending their money on, and trying to silence criticism only damages trust. It’s also frustrating to see the developer mainly respond to negative reviews while largely ignoring the people leaving positive ones. If you want a strong community, show appreciation to everyone supporting…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8486Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 15 h played

    While the gameplay itself is chill and relaxing, I have to give this a negative review due to the poor handling of the Kickstarter campaign. I backed this project back in 2024, but as the release date approached, I watched content creators get early access to the full game. While I understand this is done for marketing purposes, it feels wrong to watch people stream a game you helped fund while you are denied access even just a few days early. To make matters worse, they failed to deliver…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5714Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 1 h played

    It's certainly cozy and the art style is very cute, I was quite amused by the Firewatch reference in the lookout tower. However the game mechanics are incredibly shallow with very little variety, even exploring the world felt... meh. Definately not worth the asking price, not even with the 10% off with the launch discount. UPDATE: Didn't realise I was the top negative review and sparked off a bunch of drama! Feel somewhat awful about that - I'm not going to weigh into what happened, but I do…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5723Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 9 h played

    A game that made me wish Steam had a "Meh" button. It’s cozy, sure… but cozy only gets you so far before the experience starts feeling dull. Outbound is a very slow-paced survival/crafting game focused on gathering resources and building. The core loop quickly becomes repetitive: Collect resources → Rest → Collect resources→ Rest. You can’t chop down trees — you’re stuck scavenging the same handful of locations over and over. Resources aren't very wide spread and I often found myself having…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7163Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 5 h played

    The game is too boring, lacking any sort of challenges or exciting content. You drive around in circles, upgrade some things on your van, and that's about it. I had very high hopes for this game but it definitely failed to deliver more than a few hours worth of amusement. I would advice against purchasing the game until either more content comes out or the price drops dramatically.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …1473Steam reviews · May 12, 2026

    All I have to say is wow, what a shame. I cannot stress how excited I was for this game. Exploring a beautiful map with things to explore, lite survival elements, upgrading my van. I tried to disagree with the negative reviews, but they're right. I'll try to sum it up without getting too long. Character creation: I expected a few more options for the full release, but nope. You can't even alter faces or anything. At best, it's skin tone, clothes, hair, and nails, and that's practically it.…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …1466Steam reviews · May 13, 2026 · 23 h played

    I would really like to give this game a good review, but I just can't because of a few reasons. The first one, as others has mentioned, is the bad way in which they dealt with the kickstarter backers, which I was a part of. Firstly, they could have sent the keys a day in advance, we would have been able to pre-load the game and just play it when it released. But no, many people including me, got it a few hours after the game was released and that just plain sucks. The second one is that, I…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4764Steam reviews · May 15, 2026 · 3 h played

    It's a sad review to give, but at least it's sincere. This game was on my wishlist since its Steam page was up. While I wasn't part of the Kickstarter, I was eagerly waiting for it, and it was probably one of the games I was looking forward to most this year. This game starts so well, it's crazy. The first 10~20 minutes are just amazing. The way the game starts, the van, the first scenarios, the atmosphere, the way it teaches you the basic mechanics, it's just well done. But then you get to…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5383Steam reviews · May 14, 2026 · 8 h played

    Outbound – COZY SUFFERING SIMULATOR Beautiful atmosphere. Cool van. First map hits different. You start the game thinking: “Damn… cozy roadtrip survival with the wife. This is gonna be great.” Then reality arrives like a wooden freight train. Drive 20 seconds. Stop van. Open door. Pick up 3 logs. Run out of stamina. Close door. Repeat until your soul leaves your body. You’re not surviving nature. You’re surviving game design. Then you finally discover a POI after…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2033Steam reviews · Jun 1, 2026 · 18 h played

    I really really really wanted to like this game. I'm going to front-load all of the positive thoughts I have about the game so as not to come off as a hater, as it's clearly a labour of love and I appreciate what it's shot for, even if it's fallen short. It's got solid bones, a lovely aesthetic, and a beautiful solarpunk eco friendly vibe and message which I thoroughly enjoy. You drive around picturesque locations collecting and reusing refuse and recycling litter to build your base of…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7062Steam reviews · May 12, 2026

    I normally like chill relaxing games, but it is so boring. The exploration is the only okay part. Gathering resources isn't fun and the whole thing feels like a chore in a sense. Devs also begging to change reviews isn't a good look. Would maybe be worth it for $10

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6856Steam reviews · May 24, 2026 · 12 h played

    Game has solid bones and beautiful graphics. It reminds me a lot of Raft, but needs more polish to really be a fun adventure game. The game disguises itself as a chill, relaxing game, but is deceptively much more grindy and punishing than I have expected without really offering many meaningful upgrades on the journey. In this game you craft the upgrades because you need the upgrades for artificial checks -- they don't actually improve your gameplay. The recurring theme is that you get punished…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4755Steam reviews · Jul 9, 2026 · 11 h played

    Let me lead with this game has incredible potential. The good: 1.Extremely scenic / visual with great pathing that showcases all the beautiful views as you travel through the game. 2. The Van is such a cozy concept, and the option to customize it with a base is charming. 3. Traveling to new places is exciting and could set up for really great story telling. The bad: 1. The player is punished, and I do mean punished, with a PAINFULLY SLOW walking speed. The sprinting speed should be the…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2349Steam reviews · May 13, 2026 · 7 h played

    The game is very ambitious, but at the moment it’s still very rough around the edges. Let’s start with the positives: 1. The atmosphere – it’s there, and the feeling of going for a walk in the woods or camping is captured very well. 2. The sounds of nature are beautifully rendered: when you’re driving and it’s raining with thunder (though it stops very abruptly), or when you’re sitting by the campfire listening to it crackle. 3. Crafting – simply well-executed mechanics and an ambitious idea:…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3281Steam reviews · May 16, 2026 · 18 h played

    I wanted to like this game so much. I gave it a solid 18 hours and I had finally had enough. The stamina/slow player is so frustrating and the absolute difficulty of finding certain resources slows progression down even further. The last straw was the dumb mechanic of your vehicle over heating making you have to stop every 100 feet or so to cool it down. Maybe in the future if these issues are solved, I'll get back into it. But something tells me these are all very deliberate. After reading…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8209Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 3 h played

    Honestly, pretty let down. Was excited for this game, but it just isn't fun. Cons: - the gameplay loop is tedious and repetitive: you explore and collect, in order to... explore and collect some more. - even core mechanics feel underwhelming a few examples: you have tools, but can't equip them. You just walk up to resources, press interact and an animation happens. Inventory isn't based on weight, just number of items, so you can have 20 stone or wood, which somehow is the same…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3639Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 4 h played

    i have to be honest... i’m not a huge fan of this genre. most crafting exploration games i’ve played feel like a grind fest and the only game i truly enjoyed was The Long Dark because it actually felt like i was exploring the world and doing whatever i wanted. it felt free. and you know what... this feels like a much cozier, chiller version of that. i was excited for Outbound because the idea of a cozy game where you live the "dream nomadic life" just interested me so much. but i really didn’t…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6276Steam reviews · Aug 2, 2026 · 3 h played

    It honestly breaks my heart to give this review. I was a kickstarter backer and I was so excited for this game, but as many other reviews say, it's just soulless. There's no purpose, there's no lore, there's no story. Honestly I think just calling it Sandbox might be more accurate. It's just... drive around, unlock things... and that's it. I thought there would be a story... There is so many quick win tweaks they could make... You go to towers, get information etc. Much like Raft does. You…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7798Steam reviews · Jun 5, 2026 · 1 h played

    I backed the Kickstarter and have no strong opinions either way regarding it. I played the demo as well. The idea is SUPER charming. I really love the idea of a cozy camper you can build on, of meandering about taking in the sights. I really, really wanted to love this game. Unfortunately, the gameplay is really, REALLY boring. You spend most of your time picking up the same few resources, so you can complete the same few tasks. There are so many little machines you have to build and make…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …9717Steam reviews · May 12, 2026

    Unfortunately I had the displeasure of backing this "game" on Kickstarter. You're probably thinking, oh you probably got a good deal on it then? Nah, I actually paid more for less. But this review is not about paying more for this "game" than everyone else did. This review is about the devs gaslighting people and asking them to take down their negative reviews and or change them. That right there screams "we don't have faith in our game" and they should probably rethink their whole way of doing…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2999Steam reviews · May 13, 2026

    I will say this game does look to be very good but it just feels bland and soo unfinished. The price doesn't match with your going to play having 10 dollars would make since, there is like no danger like bears or anything, the crafting is just meh imo. Overall the game is very relaxing and everything but just looks very unfinished.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7683Steam reviews · Aug 29, 2026 · 9 h played

    I wanted to like this game as I really love the idea of getting out there and exploring. Unfortunately this game has you so focused on grinding just so that you can unlock things that will allow you to grind some more. Why does it take a different (harder to obtain) wood type to create the same fire? Why do you not unlock a flashlight until halfway through the game? Why, in a multiplayer game, do you encounter a farm with MANY dogs (who have been abandoned) and you can only take one? Why, in a…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8024Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 4 h played

    Disappointed and had a game breaking bug that ended the game for me. School bus (which i paid for) suddenly stopping going forward and only would go backward. like it was stuck on something. loading saves did not fix it. so that was the end for me and im not starting over. Even before that the game is shallow and boring. Building is not fun, crafting is same old same old. for some reason we still have slow walking to punish us for picking things up, stamina bars and food and health meters.…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6235Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 5 h played

    To buy or not to buy, that is the question >.< As a fellow wanderer, lover of outdoor exploration with a secret dream of RV living, I was really looking forward to this game. And while I am enjoying the experience, the hefty price tag gives me pause. If you are like me and have fond memories on the road and in the wilderness, you will find a sense of solace in this game. The gameplay loop is very basic. I personally don’t mind this too much as I find it relaxing, but I can see how some people…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0011Steam reviews · May 17, 2026 · 1 h played

    It's a bit slow paced. There is not a need to have a carry weight/stamina mechanic or an overheat mechanic at all. Poor choice. Wasn't for me. Also devs were trying to get people to refund/remove negative reviews. Big oof.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Pittsburgh Scanner @pgh-scanner.comBluesky · Feb 20, 2025

    Polish Hill. Bigelow Blvd near Frank Curto Park Outbound. Caller said that they hit a pot hole in a Fiat and it's game over Tony.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6927Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 10 h played

    Let me start off by saying that I have 100+ hours in this game before it was released as a playtester. I can't say anything yet about how the game performs at launch, but I can say that the devs will do everything they can to fix bugs as fast as possible. During the playtests, they showed me that they are really invested in the game and want the best for us players! The same goes for feedback, tell them! They want to work with us to make the game better. Now about the actual game itself. My…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7660Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 2 h played

    I've been excited to play this game for weeks. It lacks any real depth, movements are way too slow and has no real purpose other than driving (slowly) and picking stuff up. It is honestly disappointing and kind of boring.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3558Steam reviews · May 11, 2026 · 1 h played

    Hmmmmmm. Unfortunately I'm a little disappointed by this one. I kickstarted it a few years ago based on the premise (LOVE the idea of a vanlife game), and I was really expecting a little more here. Especially given how much I paid compared to the full release price (almost DOUBLE the price - yikes). The graphics are too basic, which contributes to the issue that there's nothing interesting to see or explore or uncover, dull repetitive collectibles (there are a LOT of them), no real story or…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6524Steam reviews · May 22, 2026 · 24 h played

    I was a Kickstarter backer for this game, and was really excited for it. I still think it has a lot of promise, but it's very clearly in early access and not advertised as such. I had hope when I played the alpha demo, thinking sure the word is pretty lifeless right now, but I'm so excited to see what they'll add. For release it wasn't really much, definitely not worth the price on launch. I still think this game has a lot of promise....eventually when they add all of the things which should…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0780Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 2 h played

    Do you like running around empty stretches of land? Do you like constantly running out of hunger bar, stamina and your vehicle's gas tank being empty while you have to scrounge constantly for wood and food? Do you like static resource spawns and not being able to hunt animals because this is a cozy game so you have to give them food instead or not being able to chop trees and wood is only obtained from the ground? For a game marketed as a cozy camper game, you spend only 20% of the time in the…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2280Steam reviews · Jun 26, 2026 · 3 h played

    It's a shell of a game right now and should be labelled early access. Developers seem committed to pushing this forward, but your mileage may vary.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Johanna | They Make Games @theymakegames.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 24, 2025

    ✨ GAME FOCUS | Outbound ✨ Build your own home on wheels! Harvest resources, craft furniture to decorate your van, and grow colourful gardens to create the ultimate cozy place ☀️ #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3980Steam reviews · May 14, 2026 · 7 h played

    It's fine, I suppose, one of those "I wish I could give a thumbs up and thumbs down" games. My biggest gripes are how scarce resources are to get, how the stamina mechanic feels punishing in a way, and how it resets my settings every time I open the game. It feel very early access versus full release yet.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0300Steam reviews · May 15, 2026 · 35 h played

    I've finished the game, and...unfortunately I cannot currently recommend it. Don't get me wrong: I mostly had a good time tooling around the various zones. But some resource gathering, like clay, had me seeing red in what's supposed to be a cozy game. When you really need a lot of something for necessary upgrades, and the nodes are sparse, provide one item per node, AND don't all respawn the next day...that's just too much of not enough. Running out of a resource that's only provided in one…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3409Steam reviews · May 17, 2026 · 1 h played

    The gameplay does have cozy vibes but the pacing is really slow. The vehicle overheats, you can get over-encumbered and once it's night time you lost your ability to sprint because you are "tired". All of these debuffs join together to make the gameplay very annoying imo.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Wario64 @wario64.bsky.socialBluesky · May 5, 2026

    Coming to Game Pass: news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/0... Ultimate: -Forza Horizon 6 (5/19) -Mixtape (5/7) -Outbound (5/11) -Black Jacket (5/12) -Call of the Elder Gods (5/12) -Subnautica 2 (5/14) Premium: -Final Fantasy V (today) -Ben 10 Power Trip (5/6) -Descenders Next (5/6) -Wheel World (5/6)

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • kris anka @kristaferanka.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 1, 2026

    rolled credits on Outbound and truly loved this game

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • Mat Piscatella @matpiscatella.bsky.socialBluesky · May 27, 2026

    Circana Player Engagement Tracker - US Top 10 Titles by Total Weekly Active Users (Not Concurrent) - W/E May 16, 2026 - Subnautica 2 debuts 2nd on Steam - Forza Horizon 6 early access placed 16th on Xbox - Outbound ranked 21st on Xbox with Game Pass add - Everything is Crab launches 30th on Steam

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …9502Steam reviews · May 21, 2026 · 2 h played

    I thought I was buying a finished product untill I saw the roadmap. The steam page doesn't state that this game is early access but it feels like it. It feels very empty and the roadmap shows devs are going to to add stuff like NPCs and quests in winter? I'm in a weird position right now where I like the game enough that I want to play it but at the same time if I finish it now I will have an incomplete experience and I don't think i'd replay the whole thing again just for features that…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …3637Steam reviews · May 14, 2026 · 7 h played

    (Update/additional feedback after 6hs below) Initial review after 2hs The game has a lot of potential, but in it's current state it feels like an early access game. None of the game mechanics feel satisfying or fun. - Driving around is slower than walking and you can't even get up hills that you can walk (you find motor upgrades later, if you stick around that long) - You are constantly stressed by finding fuel for the car, food for you and collect every piece of ressource that you spot,…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …1049Steam reviews · May 15, 2026 · 21 h played

    Addicting, but not fun — and definitely not relaxing. I’ve played for 20 hours, and my van looks like a drug lab. The crafting system is completely overdone. Why do you need 10+ different workbenches in a game that is supposed to be relaxing? They take up all the available space and make everything feel cluttered and out of place. Exploration also feels unrewarding. The game turns into a constant grind for resources. You can’t even progress into new areas without meeting specific skill…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5839Steam reviews · May 13, 2026 · 11 h played

    Don't listen to the people saying the game is boring and there's nothing to do. There's a lot to do. i believe half of these people didn't even read the description. Its SUPPOSED to be a relaxing game with no enemies to fight. Its fun getting stoned AF and playing this game. its addicting. I highly recommend if you like chill games and base building. DONT get this game if you expect fighting and that sort of stuff. This game to me feels like a combination of RV There Yet, Raft and Firewatch.…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8497Steam reviews · Jun 27, 2026 · 21 h played

    Outbound was one of my most anticipated games this year and what a letdown. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the cozy vibes and quite honestly, that was it. The demo was very promising, it gives you a great expectation that the full game will have a lot more content to it, except it doesn't. I'm on the last map of the game and I felt like I've barely done anything. It's like cooking a full meal without any seasoning. It's fine to not have a storyline, but at least give us more things to do, more…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0402Steam reviews · Aug 2, 2026 · 8 h played

    I hate to review games poorly, but at the time of playing - just after the fishing update - the game feels... unfinished. Like a pretty prototype. My friend immediately started making a mod for the light system, as it is just a cone with a semi-opaque shader, which blinds you if you turn it on. The movement is not enjoyable. Tolerable in the van, but rough on your feet. Worst of all, though.. is the core issue that I have to wait to do the things I find enjoyable when playing with friends. If…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4078Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 5 h played

    I've been looking forward to this game for a while and was excited about the mobile base aspect and the amount of customization it seemed to offer. I knew this was going to be a more cozy game, but it teeters on the edge of boring. I'll start with the good; I like the dump chest in the van so I don't need to organize, driving is pretty fluid, learning curve is non-existent so it's easy to pick up. Unfortunately, these features aren't enough to keep me playing. At $25 this game is…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6856Steam reviews · Sep 9, 2026 · 5 h played

    Some interesting mechanics, but after the first hour it becomes incredibly boring. You can't even just find a place to camp and watch the sunset because you're too concerned about constantly filling your hunger bar. I also really don't understand the fishing mechanic when you can't eat the fish you catch. Like, you want me to catch all the fish for, what, bragging rights? Maybe it's perfect for some, but some does not include I.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2049Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 3 h played

    i backed this game on kickstarter because i liked the premise of just exploring, crafting, and improving your shack you build on top of your off the grid van, but somehow despite delivering on exactly what they promised, it feels hollow. the game feels like it lacks purpose or reason. why is there a health bar when theres no threat? why does crafting require so much wood when i cant harvest trees and instead have to play eye spy with logs in tall grass? why does a wooden plank require 2 logs…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0423Steam reviews · May 25, 2026 · 36 h played

    Outbound in a nutshell - a chaotic pool of imprudent game mechanics mixed together. =============== EDIT: So I finished the game to the end. And my initial thoughts about Outbound after just one biome were confirmed. I wouldn't change something about my negative points that'll follow down below. Honestly, now I think this game tries to be too much of different things / genres and that's why the mix is so weird and not cool. It tries to be a cozy camping, driving around, enjoying the scenary…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0800Steam reviews · May 16, 2026 · 5 h played

    As someone who played the demo, this game is exactly what I expected and I still love it. Due to the mixed reviews, I would like to take this time to give some tips/tricks and game details that can make or break your experience Here are my caveats for my fellow cozy gamers: - there are a couple of settings I find important to change from the beginning: day length -> crank that ♥♥♥♥ up to max; auto turn vehicle lights on -> off; keep in mind there are still some bugs in this game, so both of…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Liam @ GamingOnLinux @gamingonlinux.comBluesky · Oct 16, 2025

    Open world exploration game Outbound looks super cosy and hit over 1 million Steam wishlists #Outbound #Gaming #PCGaming

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8560Steam reviews · Jul 8, 2026 · 25 h played

    *Edit after playing it for another 16 hours and finishing the game. The game feels soulless and needs alot of polish, so many weird movement bugs and glitches. Had multiple times where i would just go through the ground and just fall for like 30 seconds to then die and respawn 5 minutes away from the car. *spoiler- Not a major one tho. when you get further you'll start seeing people, but its just player models that looks at you in hot air balloons - and when you get to the last area is just…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0048Steam reviews · May 30, 2026 · 21 h played

    This is much more a base building game, than a chill camping game. You'll spend most of your time looking for resources and collecting them on foot. It is very slow and grindy. Finally, for what it delivers it is overpriced so I cannot recommend it.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0029Steam reviews · May 16, 2026 · 1 h played

    For the price? Hell no. This should be $10 at MAX. Runs ok but man the jank is JANKING. I truly think this is a ripoff of a game. Also SCREW overencumbancy mechanics theyre executed poorly (like here) 99% of the time

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5279Steam reviews · May 17, 2026 · 3 h played

    oh my god bro. 35 dollars and still in ea and for what. progression is just too slow, i cn barely unlock tools for progression in the environments i reach. Only saving grace is that i could hang out with my friend because serioulsy. 35 dollars. it is boring. when i reached another station that had some random ass blueprint instead of something useful i was done with it. hopefully it can improve.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8698Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 13 h played

    World feels empty. No real story or anything to keep you engaged in the world. Just drive here or there harvest a resource, build the next blueprint. Go to bed repeat.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • 🍁🍄 Jinx 🍄🍁 @jinxdoodle.bsky.socialBluesky · May 5, 2025

    This game Outbound popped out of no where for me and I cannot wait to try it. Heres hoping i get an alpha test key 😭 youtu.be/7pFcV-7cD3w?...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0834Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 4 h played

    This game is great! Not sure why people are complaining about it being dull or boring when the point is to drive around, upgrade your van and getting collectables. Pros: - Nice music - Good customisation of the home - Upgrading isn't complex like other games - Upgrades actually make a huge improvement and you can notice the difference - The gnomes and gacha pods are addicting to collect Cons: - Beginning is a little slow because you don't know what you're doing - Character models are bad and…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7683Steam reviews · May 12, 2026 · 7 h played

    Sparse If I were to sum up the entire experience of playing Outbound in a single word, it would be that. Sparse. From the trailer you get the impression that there's lots to see and do and explore in this game. Once you get into the game you realize that the points of interest are few and far between... they feel like a few flakes of salt sprinkled sparingly over a plain boiled chicken breast. Vast open empty landscapes with a few stalks of wheat to cut and, I can't literally stress this…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5512Steam reviews · Aug 27, 2026 · 15 h played

    right now its a tedious collectathon to finish the game. you spend a ton of resources just to unlock a recipe, then have to spend even more resources to actually buy the upgrade. It’s grindy (why do i need to drive to an out-of-the-way area of another map to find a specific resource?) and tedious (god i hate clay).

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →

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