Outbound Preview

If you live in a bustling city, odds are you’ve considered packing up and running away to the countryside at least once, if not multiple times. It is this feeling that Square Glade Games’ upcoming title, Outbound, aims to emulate, as you drive off into the sunset!

The narrative of the game is pretty minimal: you play as Custom Outdoorsy Character, Esq., who has decided to leave behind the bustle of the city and set off for some quality time in nature with their electric camper van. Arriving at a picturesque campsite, we are set free to explore and cruise around as we see fit.

The core gameplay is a mix of exploration and light survival elements: the player has a hunger meter and a stamina bar, which they must maintain by eating and drinking regularly. Though sleeping is not a must, at least in the demo, it is a great way to recharge! At the beginning, one must rely on foraged berries and mushrooms or the occasional supply box for nourishment, with crafting unlocking more advanced and sustainable options in the future.

Now, it should be stated that the survival elements are very forgiving, with resources being abundant. The game is aiming for a calm and cosy feel, so the player seldom has to worry about when they’ll be able to eat next.

As the area open to exploration is a camping site, there are multiple locations to discover, such as small cottages, firepits, and landmarks, with resources strewn all around. The player can roam around on foot, or they can use their home on wheels to get around with a bit more speed!

The camper van itself is a marvel, featuring a lot more than a pair of fuzzy dice. In addition to offering transportation and a bed, you can also add crafted items, such as a food processor or wood splitter, to the living space. Additionally, your vehicle is equipped with a workbench for building and an electric motor, complete with a biofuel generator! So, if you run out of juice, you can turn a few logs into a fair bit of charge.

While the game does offer you some minor goals to work towards, such as reaching a specific landmark, it is mostly hands-off with what the player ends up doing. Exploration is rewarded with collectibles, resources, and beautiful views. Additionally, the player can find special radio towers dotted around the map, which can be used to gain new crafting recipes. The game has a cute system where the player can collect litter and recycle it into tickets used to purchase said recipes!

The visual design of the game is great, with a lot of vibrant colours and an almost pastel feel, especially when the day-night cycle starts nearing the darker hours. The campgrounds are nicely varied with hills, streams, small forests, and a field or two. Exploration is also a treat, as the player often comes across hidden nooks and quiet little docks to hang out in. You can even make friends with the local fauna! They’ll eat berries right out of your hands.

I think my only major complaint for this early build was that both driving the van and walking about were a bit on the slow side, with the former feeling especially slow, considering the speedometer said I was going about 40 (no idea on the unit of measurement). Not a deal breaker by any means, but I’d have liked the option to go a bit faster if I so wished.

The build I had access to also had a somewhat limited amount of recipes to play with, so I couldn’t really get a proper grip on the crafting system. However, the game has planned to enable players to add all kinds of interesting modules to the van, like solar panels or a little cottage on top! The game also features co-op play for up to four explorers, though I didn’t get the chance to try that out.

I enjoyed my time with Outbound. The chilled-out feel of exploring at my leisure was great, and seeking out the little collectibles was always fun, even though I ended up overencumbering myself more often than I care to admit. If you’re looking for a stint in nature while driving around in your environmentally friendly camper van, this is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Outbound is being developed and published by Square Glade Games. It is set to be released on the 23rd of April, 2026.