Satisfying is the best word to use when describing how you’ll feel when playing this game. The piecing together of the lore, the uncovering of new areas, and the unlocking of the great mystery required a level of perseverance I haven't needed in a long time, and the payoff when you finally overcame that stubborn goal and stepped forward towards the central mystery was huge and rewarding.

Some puzzles nearly drove me to the brink of insanity, and I battled a few times with the desire to get a hint from the internet. The damn Angler Fish were a nightmare for me. There were so many deaths trying to get past them. It also took me ages to figure out how to enter the core of the Ash Twin, and I did get frustrated with how repetitive and time-consuming certain steps would be, especially when waiting was required to move forward. Having to wait for 9 minutes for sand to shift so I could try something that inevitably would fail, only to then have to repeat that more times, made for a tedious experience.

I also think some challenges were a little obtuse in design, lacking significant clues, or suffering from the aforementioned flexibility that can land you in awkward places or timings. For me, getting to the North Pole of the Quantum Moon nearly drove me mad, and in the end, it was pure chance that I fell into the right sequence of actions needed to complete it. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find Reddit littered with players desperate for help on many of the game's challenges, but bring the right 'never give up' attitude, and you'll be rewarded with a deep, smug sense of glory when coming out the other side.

One reason I think this has struck a chord with so many people is the charm and personality built into so many aspects of the game. I already mentioned the nice low-poly aesthetics, which, despite a humble indie feel, had some spectacular and awe inspiring landscapes and moments. Walking underneath a black hole, drifting in foggy caverns, or activating ancient technology in hidden ruins was all superb and commendable, given how rudimentary the game style and graphics actually are. Honestly, I am surprised this was not ported to VR, as the strong of stomach would have found this a mind-blowing ride.

The story and dialog added to the game's endearing nature too, with friendly and likable characters who play small roles in bringing a smile to your face while infusing their love for science and discovery into backstories that mirror the game's overall celebration of physics and exploration. Refreshing in a gaming landscape that feels increasingly centered around conflict or violent content to some degree or nature.

The sound completes the package, with pleasing sound effects and a clever use of the soundtrack to subtly infer significant events, peaking with the nostalgic main theme (which i'm singing in my head as I write this), which crescendos alongside the biggest revelations, becoming an integral part of the mystery itself as the game reaches its conclusion.

My anticipation of how the game might end was a bit more grand than what actually unfolded, but after some initial disappointment and further reflection, feel it's a simple but thought-provoking and sentimental close-out, one which has led to many discussions online as to what it all means: creation, quantum reality, friendship, music, etc. Some wonderful interpretations can be found, and I love games that encourage this post-completion discourse.