Outer Wilds guide: Ending and how to beat the game (2024)

So far, we’ve explored everywhere in Outer Wilds, and filled in all the information in our ship log. And that means there’s nothing left to do but head to the Eye of the Universe.

If there’s anything you’ve missed, you can check our guides for every planet.

In this guide, we’ll help you retrieve the warp core from the Ash Twin Project, install it in the Nomai Vessel on Dark Bramble, enter the coordinates for the Eye of the Universe, and finish the game.

Obviously, there are spoilers for the end of the game below.

Get the warp core from the Ash Twin Project

Head to Ash Twin. Just like on the last visit here, we’re going to wait for the Ash Twin Towers to emerge from the sand — we’re waiting for the second tower(s) to show up, after the Sun Station tower.

You’ll have to wait a bit, so park your ship somewhere near the poles, and hang out for a few minutes. (It takes about seven minutes for the towers to open up, so feel free to take one last joy ride around the solar system.)

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Stand under the bridge between the towers, and wait for the Ember Twin to pass overhead. When it’s directly above you, step onto the warp pad.

Head to the far end of the Ash Twin Project. Move the large, center ball-switch to the top to unlock the warp core. Throw the artificial gravity switch off to the side to turn it off.

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Jetpack up to the warp core and remove it. Float over to the warp pad, and return to your ship.

Install the warp core in the Vessel

Next, head to Dark Bramble. There’s no shortcut here (unless you have an incredible memory and can navigate in the thick fog), so we’ll be repeating the steps we took last time.

Remember that you have to move extremely slowly to avoid the anglerfish inside the planet’s core.

Tune your signalscope to distress beacons, and follow it to Escape Pod 3.

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Follow the path of lights to the Nomai Grave. Fire your scout into the seed (aim a little down and to the left if you’re firing it from your ship).

Follow your scout signal to the Vessel.

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Inside the Vessel, install the warp core. That will turn on the gravity inside, and power up the ship.

Enter the coordinates for the Eye of the Universe

There is a ball switch on the floor around the warp core. Move it to the window side (away from the door you entered through).

A triangular panel will appear. This is where you’ll enter the coordinates from the Probe Tracking Module. They’ll appear in the bottom left of your HUD to help you remember.

Approach the panel, and grab the blue ball. You’re going to trace the shapes of the coordinates by connecting the dots on the panel. You have to pause over each dot you want to connect. The shapes are in the gallery above.

When you’re done tracing each shape, move the ball to the bottom, and then to the right. The panel will rotate so you enter the next shape.

Once all three coordinates are entered, the triangular panel will lower. Use the switch to engage the ship’s warp.

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Not much will change when you arrive, but don’t panic. Move the switch in the floor around to the side closest to the door (near the glowing depression in the floor). This will create a black hole. Step into it.

Quantum Moon (again)

You’ll find yourself on the Quantum Moon (or at least something that looks like the Quantum Moon). Head south.

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At the south pole, there’s a crumbling dome. The walls act like gravity walls. Climb up the curved walls to the top, and jump/drop into the black hole above/below you.

Timber Hearth

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Next, you’ll find yourself in a version of the Observatory on Timber Hearth. Go upstairs to the solar system map. Observe it at the prompt.

Make a campfire

A quick note: things get weird from here on out. Some of the sentences below will sound bananas out of context, but they make sense in the game. Well, “sense.”

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

After some mind-bending zooming out, you’ll land in a forest full of lights that may or may not be stars and galaxies.

Wander around as all of the lights wink out.

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Once it’s dark, keep wandering until you get an unknown signal nearby notification. Use your signalscope to follow it until you reach a tree.

Spin around a few times until the tree becomes a campfire. Light it.

Spin around until a chair appears. Keep spinning until Esker shows up.

Find Riebeck

After you talk to Esker, pull out your signalscope, and follow it toward Reibeck. You’ll come to a Nomai tower with Reibeck’s banjo inside.

Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Spin around a few times until the tower crumbles enough to get inside. Gather the banjo.

Gather the others

Back at the campfire, Riebeck will tell you to gather everyone else. Pull out your signalscope again.

There are four more signals:

• Harmonica // Feldspar. Follow the sound of the harmonica. After a quick jump-scare, you’ll find it on a stump surrounded by tiny, floating jellyfish.
• Drums // Chert. Follow the sound of the drums until you see a telescope. Look in the direction the telescope is pointing with your signalscope. You’ll see Cherts’s drums orbiting a star. Zoom in with your signalcope to gather them.
• Flute // Gabbro. As you follow the sound of Gabbro’s flute, you’ll spot a signpost on a tree, and the signal location will change. Keep following the signs and the sound until you come to a sign pointing straight up. Jetpack up to find a hammock high in the trees. Gather the flute.
• Piano // Solanum. Follow the sound of a piano until you reach a stump surrounded by several Nomai skeletons. Spin around, and one of the skeletons will move to the stump. Keep spinning, and the skeletons will keep stacking up. Spin until a Nomai shuttle appears. Head to the controls, and move the switch to the left. After a quick trip, you’ll see a Nomai mask to gather.

Image: Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Return to the campfire, and ask each of your friends to start playing.

Jump into the orb that forms above the campfire to complete the game.