While open-world games are notorious for being stuffed with secrets hidden in their darkest corners, there's something about games set in space that make secrets that much more likely to exist at the fringes of the world. That is probably because of how easy it is to hide secrets in the vast emptiness of outer space, as opposed to trying to stick them in an out-of-the-way cabin in a world like The Witcher's. Mobius Games' Outer Wilds is no different in this regard.
Secrets in a game like Outer Wilds are a tricky subject. Considering the whole point of the game is to uncover the mysteries of its finely-crafted solar system, determining what actually is a secret and what is simply a well-hidden piece of lore can be a tall order. However, enough time has passed since the game's release that the following secrets are indeed secrets, and some are so well-hidden that it's no surprise many players cruised right past them.
8 The Fig Backer Satellite
Designed to look similar to the real-life Voyager 1 satellite, the Backers' Satellite in Outer Wilds can be found hurtling around the solar system right from the start of the game. To locate it, head toward the Hourglass Twins and start scanning the nearby area. Eventually, the satellite can be targeted by the ship's autopilot,, although it won't have a name to identify it.
Once they arrive, players can look at a slideshow of photos submitted by the game's financial backers on the satellite's monitors. There is a declaration printed on the side that states that the satellite was launched on December 28th, 2799 at 9 a.m., and players can hear a persistent audio recording of someone saying "We're off, like a dirty shirt in the wash."
7 Hidden Nomai Scroll
On the surface of Brittle Hollow, found between the Gravity Cannon and the crashed Nomai escape pod, is a Nomai scroll partially buried in the planet's surface. The scroll is easy to miss, as it blends in very well with the rocky surroundings, but it is found next to a large tree.
The scroll can be taken to any Nomai scroll socket, several of which can be found below the surface of Brittle Hollow. When it is plugged in, the player's translator will read the scroll as a smiley face, after which a QR code will be displayed. When scanned, the QR code displays the text "Pivot's Easter egg."
6 Gabbro's Weeping Angels
Doctor Who fans likely had some frightening flashbacks when dealing with quantum objects in Outer Wilds. On Timber Hearth there is a place called the Quantum Grove, which is where players learn about the applications of quantum mechanics in the game. However, also found in that grove is a mysterious poem, written on a set of wooden signs.
That poem was written by Gabbro, one of the Outer Wilds Ventures astronauts. When players visit Gabbro on Giant's Deep and ask them about the poem, they mention want to create quantum art, including creature sculptures that show up and "scare the daylights out of you." These sculptures Gabbro mentions are a reference to the Weeping Angels, a terrifying villain from Doctor Who that only moves when its victims aren't looking.
5 The Terminator Nomai
While there are a couple of clues to be found on Hollow's Lantern, there isn't much exploring to be done on Brittle Hollow's moon due to it brimming with lakes of molten lava. However, as each loop progresses and Hollow's Lantern launches much of that lava out into space, certain things hidden below the lava's surface will reveal themselves.
One such hidden object is the skeleton of a Nomai, who seemingly died when they fell into the moon's lava. However, the pose in which the Nomai died - with both arms sticking up out of the lava - is seemingly a reference to the legendary ending of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While this Nomai is doing a "rock on" sign with its hands, as opposed to the thumb's up given by Arnold's T-800, it's hard not to see this as a call back to James Cameron's classic action sequel.
4 The Korok Seed
As expected, the Outer WildsEchoes of the Eye DLC brought with it a few hidden secrets of its own, including an homage to one of the game's inspirations, The Legend of Zelda. This secret is found in The Endless Canyon, an area of The Stranger's simulation that features a giant building with multiple levels inhabited by several Pursuers.
To find this Easter egg, players must use the device located at the entrance to this section of the simulation to turn the lights off in the building across the canyon. Then, cross the canyon and head towards the large stage on the building's left side. Walk up to the balcony just next to the stage, and follow it all the way around to a new door that only appears when the lights are out. Head up the stairs inside, avoiding the Pursuer that is patrolling up there, and jump out the window at the top onto the roof below. Follow the roof around and up to the top, and situated at the roof's apex will be a single Korok seed. It won't upgrade the player's inventory, but it sure is cute.
3 The Portrait Room
In another area of The Stranger's simulation, this one known as the Hidden Gorge, there is an art gallery guarded by a Pursuer along the same path that leads to the Forbidden Archives. However, once The Stranger's dam breaks and kills all the Pursuers in the simulation, the gallery can be accessed.
The first image on the left is actually an illusory wall. Jumping through it, players will find a staircase leading down. At the bottom of the staircase is a room filled with candles, with an unusual portrait of a Pursuer hanging on the wall. There is a unique piece of music that plays exclusively in this room, and that alone makes it worth seeking out.
2 Comet The Cat
Found in the Submerged Structure area of the simulation, this secret is hidden at the furthest edges of the island that makes up this area. Past the bridges and the trees, beyond a set of rocks, and at the island's edge, there is a rock with a candle on it. Lighting the candle will cause a faint audio cue to play: the sound of a cat's purr.
After lighting this candle, players should back away, set the lantern on the ground, and then walk outside its radius. This essentially puts the simulation into "admin mode," a trick that is taught once players progress far enough in the DLC. When they approach the candle again, there is now an adorable little cat curled up on the rock. This cat is also mentioned in the game's credits under the "Special Thanks" header, referred to as "my cat Comet."
1 The Mysterious Dark Bramble Seed
Deep within the terrifying maze of Dark Bramble, there is a seed that seemingly leads only to itself. Players could easily dismiss this seed as being a red herring, just one more diversion to get them lost in the planet's disorienting fog. However, firing the Scout Launcher into the seed reveals something even more frightening.
The image that returns is a picture of a Dark Bramble seed surrounded by dead bodies, and these dead bodies are all humans. This secret is a two-for-one. It is both a subtle nod to what was potentially humanity's ultimate fate in the game's universe. It is also a reference to a point-and-click Indie game by developer Golden Glitch called Elsinore, which is set in the world of Shakespeare's Hamlet, was released in the same year as Outer Wilds, and also features a time loop mechanic.
Outer Wilds was released on May 28th, 2019, and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. A 4k 60fps update for the game was released for next-gen consoles on September 8th, 2022.