New Open-World Game on Steam Is Like Pacific Drive Meets Raft, And It Already Has Over 1 Million Wishlists

Finding a good open-world crafting game on Steam isn’t hard at all these days, but every once in a while, a new title emerges with a hook that gives it just enough pizzazz to make it stand out. That seems to be the case with Outbound, an upcoming open-world exploration game from Square Glade Games that takes traditional static base building on the road. Instead of settling down in one location, players begin with a modest camper van and gradually transform it into a fully functional home on wheels while exploring its vibrant world in search of materials they can use to keep their mobile base growing.

It might sound like an unusual premise for a base-building game, but it has apparently struck a chord with players. Ahead of its April 23, 2026 release date, Outbound has already surpassed 1 million wishlists on Steam, putting it among the platform’s most anticipated indie games. Much of that excitement likely comes from how it seems to be a crossover between the vehicle-focused exploration of Pacific Drive and the mobile base crafting gameplay of Raft, but it also helps that it is seemingly drawing inspiration from the “van life” trend that has become increasingly popular in the last decade.

Outbound Puts Raft’s Mobile Base Gameplay Under a Cozy, Pacific Drive-Shaped Blanket

Survival-crafting games seem to be as numerous as the grains of sand on a beach now, as it seems like a new entry surfaces just about every other day. That’s what arguably makes Outbound worth a second glance more than the rest, though, because it largely takes the survival out and replaces it with cozy vibes for a relaxing open-world experience that is less demanding than survival games like Enshrouded or Raft. Rather than forcing players to navigate deep survival systems or progress for the purpose of fighting more difficult enemies, Outbound offers them an empty van and a wide-open road where opportunity and discovery await them.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Outbound’s Core Features

MOBILE BASE BUILDING – Turn a simple camper van into a fully customizable home on wheels using modular structures, furniture, and decorations.
OPEN-WORLD ROAD TRIPS – Explore a colorful world filled with different biomes, resources, landmarks, and secrets scattered across the map.
OFF-GRID ENERGY SYSTEMS – Power your van using renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, and water power.
CRAFTING AND TECHNOLOGY – Gather natural resources, craft tools and workstations, and research advanced technologies to upgrade your mobile base.
FARMING AND COOKING – Grow crops, forage for plants and mushrooms, and cook meals to sustain yourself while traveling.
CO-OP ROAD TRIP PLAY – Play solo or explore the world cooperatively with up to four players building and traveling together.
COZY SURVIVAL LOOP – Blend survival mechanics like gathering and crafting with a relaxing experience focused on creativity and exploration.

In Outbound, progression is all about building a base and investing in exploration. While players begin with an empty electric camper van, they can eventually build their base on top of the van itself and take it with them as they journey even further into the game’s open world. As they explore, players will “discover iconic landmarks across diverse biomes,” making the world just as much a sight to see as it is something to interact with. Their van requires power to operate, however, which can be sourced from the sun, wind, or water to suit their needs.

Ultimately, that makes Outbound‘s camper van the entire experience in the same way Pacific Drive‘s vehicle is, and it effectively replaces traditional survival game base building with something more flexible that makes the comparisons to Raft feel dead-on. In that game, players begin on a tiny floating platform and gradually expand it into a massive drifting base while collecting resources from the ocean. Similarly, in Outbound, instead of spending hours constructing a home in one location and then venturing outward from there, players can take their home with them wherever the road leads. Then, as they explore the game’s forests, mountains, and winding roads, they will come across materials that can be used to expand their base, craft furniture and decorations, or paint it all a different color.

Stardew Valley Fans Might Find Something to Love With Outbound’s Farming

Outbound might also appeal to fans of Stardew Valley for its farming gameplay. Aboard their mobile home, players can create gardens where they can “grow a variety of plants and mushrooms.” That food can then be eaten fresh or cooked, and by the looks of things, it should contribute towards the player’s health and hunger. However, players can also apparently feed that food to animals to befriend them, and speaking of animals, they can even adopt a pet who can assist them on their journey.

Finally, players don’t have to go on this beautiful road trip alone either, as Outbound allows for cooperative play with up to 4 players online. Currently, the game will be launching on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store—as well as PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch and Switch 2—but the developer has confirmed that Outbound will not feature crossplay that would allow friends to play with one another across platforms. That feature could possibly be added at a later date, but it won’t be available at launch nonetheless.

Outbound Already Has Over 1 Million Wishlists on Steam

There is plenty of excitement already surrounding Outbound, even over a month ahead of its launch. In a recent post on X, Square Glade Games co-founder Tobi Schnackenberg revealed that the game has now surpassed 1.3 million wishlists on Steam, which is an impressive milestone for an indie game—especially when it feels like new survival-crafting games appear on Steam almost weekly now. It does help that there is a playable demo available for Outbound on Steam as well, giving players a chance to give the game a try and build hype for it by sharing their impressions across social media.

Of course, wishlist numbers don’t automatically mean long-term success, but they are often a strong indicator that a game is doing something recognizable. With its cozy, relaxing pace, mobile base-building mechanics, and clear inspirations from games like Pacific Drive and Raft, Outbound seems to have found a concept that is just different enough to get attention. With more than 1.3 million players already keeping an eye on it ahead of release, Square Glade Games may have a breakout indie on its hands once players finally get the chance to take that camper van out on the open road.