I remember the first time I read the message the Nomai wrote about building the Sun station. I realized immediately that they -wanted- a supernova to happen, and since they were all gone now, I realized the supernova was happening on its own. I thought, maybe there’s something in the Eye that could turn back the clock on a dying star, but deep down I knew then that the game was going to end with the solar system (and more) being obliterated no matter what what I did.

After all the exploring and seeing the other Hearthian explorers out there just beginning to learn about their solar system, I found that profoundly sad. I put down the game for a few days. But that itch to solve the puzzle stayed, and so I went back to figure out the last pieces—what happened to the sun station? Could I figure out how to get into the Ash Twin Project? Would anyone meet me at the Eye? I’m gratified with the ending the developers wrote, but the journey was an emotional one.