Steam's new open-world game is like Pacific Drive meets Raft and already has over 1 million wishlists.

Finding a Good Open World Creation Game steam These days, it's not difficult at all, but every now and then a new title comes along that has enough flair to make it stand out. I think that's the case too overboardSquare Glade Games' upcoming open world exploration game takes traditional static base building on the road. Instead of settling in one location, players explore a vibrant world in search of materials they can use to continue growing their mobile base, starting with a humble camper and gradually transforming it into a fully functional home on wheels.

This might sound like an unusual premise for a base-building game, but it certainly captured the hearts of players. Ahead of the release date of April 23, 2026, overboard It's already surpassed 1 million Steam wishlists, making it one of the most anticipated indie games on the platform. Much of that excitement will come from the way it looks like a cross between vehicle-centric exploration. pacific drive And the mobile base creation gameplay is raftBut it also helps that it looks inspired by the 'van life' trend that has become increasingly popular over the past decade.

Outbound puts Raft's mobile-based gameplay under a cozy Pacific Drive-shaped blanket.

Survival crafting games now seem to be as numerous as grains of sand on a beach, with a new entry surface seemingly popping up every other day. That's what makes it unmistakable overboard But it's worth a second look over the others. That's because it drastically reduces survival and replaces it with a cozy atmosphere, creating a relaxing open-world experience that's less demanding than survival games like covered or raft. Rather than forcing players to explore or progress through a deep survival system to fight more difficult enemies. overboard Give them empty vans and wide open roads where opportunities and discoveries await.

Who is that character?

Check out the silhouette before time runs out.

Who is that character?

Check out the silhouette before time runs out.

Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Eternal Death (2.5 seconds)

Core features of outbound

mobile base building – Transform a simple campervan into a fully customizable home on wheels using modular structures, furniture and decorations.
Open world road trip – Explore a colorful world filled with different biomes, resources, landmarks, and secrets scattered across the map.
stand-alone energy system – Power your van using renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines and hydropower.
Production and Technology – Upgrade your mobile base by gathering natural resources, crafting tools and workbenches, and researching advanced technologies.
Farming and Cooking – Grow crops, gather plants and mushrooms, and cook meals to sustain yourself throughout your travels.
Co-op road trip play – Play alone or explore the world cooperatively as you build and travel with up to 4 players.
cozy survival loop – Combine a relaxing experience focused on creativity and exploration with survival mechanisms like gathering and crafting.

in overboardProgress involves building bases and investing in exploration. Players start with an empty electric camper, but can eventually build a base on top of the van itself and take it with them as they travel further into the game's open world. As they explore, players will “discover iconic landmarks across a variety of biomes,” making the world as much a sight to see as something to interact with. However, the van requires power to operate, but can get power from the sun, wind or water depending on your needs.

In the end, what makes it so overboardExperience the entire campervan the same way pacific drive's vehicles effectively replace traditional survival game based building with something more flexible that can be compared to: raft I feel like I'm going to die. In the game, players start off on a small floating platform and gradually expand into a massive floating base as they gather resources from the sea. likewise, overboardInstead of spending time building a home in one location and venturing outward from there, players can take their home wherever the road leads. Then, as you explore the game's forests, mountains, and winding paths, you'll discover materials you can use to expand your base, craft furniture and decorations, or paint them all different colors.

Stardew Valley fans will find something to love with farming in Outbound

overboard It might grab your fans' attention. Stardew Valley For farming gameplay. Aboard the mobile home, players can create a garden where they can “grow a variety of plants and mushrooms.” The food can be eaten fresh or cooked, and will seemingly benefit the player's health and hunger. However, players can obviously feed animals to befriend them, and speaking of animals, they can also adopt pets that can help them on their journey.

Lastly, players don't have to go on this beautiful road trip alone. overboard Cooperative play is possible with up to 4 online players. The game is currently scheduled to release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2 via Steam and the Epic Games Store, but the developer has confirmed that overboard There is no crossplay feature that allows friends to play with each other across platforms. This feature may be added later, but will not be available at launch.

Outbound already has over 1 million wishlists on Steam.

There's already a lot of excitement around overboardWe're more than a month away from launch. Square Glade Games co-founder Tobi Schnackenberg revealed in a recent post about X that the game currently has over 1.3 million wishlists on Steam. This is an impressive milestone for an indie game. Especially when it feels like a new survival craft game appears on Steam almost every week now. It helps to have a playable demo. overboard Steam also gives players the opportunity to build interest in your games by trying them out and sharing their impressions via social media.

Of course, wishlist numbers don't automatically mean long-term success, but they're often a strong indicator that a game is performing significantly. It has a cozy, leisurely pace, mobile base-building mechanics, and clear inspiration from games like pacific drive and raft, overboard I think I found a concept that was unique enough to attract attention. With over 1.3 million players already tuning in to the game ahead of release, Square Glade Games may have a groundbreaking indie game on their hands when players finally get the chance to hit the road in their camper van.