Outbound Review: A Cosy Road Trip That Spins Its Wheels? Destructoid's Verdict

Outbound is like a pleasant journey through a colorful, abandoned open world featuring a customizable van. Developed by Square Glade Games, the title released today on PC via Steam, with console versions to follow on May 14. The appealing idea is to take things at your own pace, gather resources to build with, upgrade your vehicle, and go from a simple van to a real caravan. Solo or in online co-op for up to 4 players, exploration offers a variety of landscapes, from deserted beaches to lush forests, to discover at the pace of exploring one location after another, in the sense of landmarks granting access to new areas.

Now that the scene is set, let's look at the content of the Destructoid journalist's review. According to him, the gameplay unfolds with total freedom, without any oppressive or linear narrative quest, just the desire to drive, craft, and build. The van customization system is flexible: you can add beds, kitchens, solar panels, greenhouses to go green, as well as the option to settle into an eco-friendly vibe. It's as cosy as can be, even the survival mechanics are lightweight: you need to eat, drink, and manage energy, but nothing that smothers the gaming experience. Co-op fosters a road trip spirit among friends, even if synchronization occasionally falters a bit.

Graphically, the game embraces a vibrant pop cartoon style, entirely conducive to a very zen atmosphere, with a level of environmental detail heightened by the soft lighting that just invites you to settle in and enjoy. The sound design is on par: we get a soothing soundtrack with acoustic guitar rendered very well, with natural sound effects sitting alongside it without overwhelming it. This is where the formula sometimes seems to run out of steam. Exploration turns into aimless wandering, maps that unlock too slowly don't even move the main thread forward, and the upgrade system is somewhat repetitive. The van's physics struggle to hold up, with colorless automated trips, and bugs start breaking immersion within the first few hours of play.

Speaking of which, how long does it take to finish the adventure? Expect a playtime of around twenty hours solo (a bit more in multiplayer). Still according to Destructoid, Outbound makes you dream thanks to its atmosphere, but you're never quite sure until the end whether it can keep you hooked. A good breath of fresh air for cosy game aficionados, one that needs patching quickly to polish up the experience!