{"product_id":"9781940535371","title":"Outer Wilds","description":"Maybe it's happened to you too. You're talking to a friend about your favorite games, and their voice suddenly drops to a whisper. \"Have you played... \u003ci\u003eOuter Wilds\u003c\/i\u003e?\" When you ask what makes the game so special, their only response is a smile and a promise: \"Go play it. You'll see.\" After enough of these cryptic conversations, you finally try the game—and suddenly you're the one praising \u003ci\u003eOuter Wilds\u003c\/i\u003e to anyone who will listen.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn this volume, novelist and escape room designer Tommy Wallach explains how a project that began as a USC student's master's thesis ended up winning \"Game of the Year\" from \u003ci\u003eGiant Bomb\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePolygon\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEurogamer\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e. Along the way, he'll discuss how \u003ci\u003eOuter Wilds\u003c\/i\u003e uses theme to reconcile the age-old battle between narrative and gameplay; how its unique form of knowledge-based gating spurs player curiosity; how it offers up true mystery without resorting to videogame-y puzzles; and how its spectacular DLC, E\u003ci\u003echoes of the Eye\u003c\/i\u003e, remains true to the spirit of the base game while transforming its tone completely.","brand":"Tommy Wallach","offers":[{"title":"Boss Fight Books |  Paperback \/ softback | Trade paperback (US) |  2025-11-04","offer_id":50629664440575,"sku":"9781940535371","price":21.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0329\/9075\/7001\/files\/BNCImageAPI_1995d7f8-6a5a-44b6-9b5e-d0251891ce8f.jpg?v=1791572535","url":"https:\/\/riverbookshop.com\/products\/9781940535371","provider":"River Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}