Co-op Road Trip Crafting Game Races Up Steam With 1 Million Wishlists, Poised To Be a Launch-Day Juggernaut
Outbound is primed for a breakout, with momentum building and the groundwork laid for a fast-moving next chapter.
Every so often a game pops up that makes me go: oh, that is a great hook. Outbound just hit one million wishlists on Steam, and the pitch is exactly the sort of oddball idea that spreads fast: your base isn’t a base. It’s a camper van you drive, then unfold into a full-on home.
What this thing is
Outbound is an open-world crafting/exploration game set in a bright, utopian near future. You start with an empty camper and slowly transform it into a rolling house, either solo or with up to three friends in co-op. The vibe leans cozy, but the systems look legit: the whole home literally expands out of the roof like some sci-fi tiny-house transformer.
What you actually do
- Head out on road trips to scavenge resources and forage, then haul everything back to your vehicle
- Build in and on top of the van with modular parts, turning it into a custom home
- Garden, cook, and decorate because of course you do — it is a cozy game at heart
- Upgrade your tech and manage power efficiently to keep your house-on-wheels running
- Wander at your own pace, solo or with friends (up to four players)
- Adapt your playstyle as the terrain and environmental conditions change
Why it is catching on
Survival-crafting games are everywhere, but tying all the base-building to a moving caravan — and making the home literally blossom out of the van’s roof — gives Outbound a clear identity. It is a clever blend of road trip, resource loop, and cozy-home tinkering. The 'bonkers but it might work' concept is doing exactly what it should: getting attention.
The milestone
Developer Square Glade Games announced the big number this week:
"Outbound has officially reached 1 million wishlists"
"WOW. I mean. WOW... Thank you to every single one of you for being a part of this game. We are still speechless. Literally. We cannot wait for you to hit the road."
No release date yet, but if you are tracking indies for 2025 and beyond, pencil this one in. It looks like the rare crafting game where the commute is the point — and honestly, that’s fun television in its own way.