The Outer Worlds 2

The Outer Worlds 2 is an almost perfect sequel, building on the brilliance of its predecessor and addressing all the issues fans had with the original. The scope and scale of this sequel is the biggest win for fans, as there's oodles of content. But above all, the game delivers on the promise of a more emergent, nuanced RPG experience, complete with all the charm, deep worldbuilding, and sublime writing the series is known for. The downside is that combat, stealth, and various other action-focused pillars of gameplay don't deliver as they should. But, if you can get past this, you'll come to find that The Outer Worlds 2 is a contender for best space-based RPG of all time.

The Outer Worlds 2 is that rare sequel that manages to improve on nearly everything the first game did right—without losing its signature charm and sarcastic wit. It’s bigger, prettier, and mechanically tighter, though at times a bit too text-heavy for its own good.

Despite a few qualms here and there, The Other Worlds 2 provides another solid sci-fi RPG experience from Obsidian Entertainment. It probably won’t win over folks who are tired of its corporate comedy act, but those who enjoyed the first will find that most of what they liked is improved in the second. The factional tug-of-war in The Outer Worlds 2 is fun to explore, and the companions you bring with you on the way make the adventure that much more engaging. More than that, this is an exciting adventure you can’t possible explore all of in one go, and whether you make the first one count or go back for another run down an untaken path, The Outer Worlds 2 will provide you with plenty of rewarding experiences for your trouble.

The Outer Worlds 2 feels like it improves upon everything from the first game. The writing is much better, the gameplay feels tighter, and the whole game feels like a reminder of why Obsidian is loved.

The Outer Worlds 2 expands on everything that made the first game shine — sharper writing, bigger worlds, and richer choices — all wrapped in Obsidian’s signature corporate satire. It’s funnier, deeper, and far more polished, though the no-respec rule might test your patience. Still, it’s a clever, confident sequel that proves refinement can be just as satisfying as reinvention.

The Outer Worlds 2 is bigger and better than the first game in every respect, with deep, rich role-playing and plenty of freedom to tailor your experience. Every world feels curated, and exploration is always purposeful and rewarding. Topped off with a vast range of weapons, brilliant writing, and a story and character that's yours to shape, this is Obsidian doing what it does best to deliver an engrossing RPG you'll want to replay again and again.

The Outer Worlds 2 excels on almost all fronts, presenting you with an open RPG that lets you choose how you progress while still keeping you on a clear path. The in-game systems allow you to customize how you play and give you versatility in the choices you make along the way. Combine that with great writing, and you have a recipe for success. Equipment menus are a bit clunky, enemy encounters can be manipulated, and the act of looting takes some getting used to. Still, none of these issues will keep you from enjoying the game. The Outers Worlds 2 is worth every penny of the $70 it asks for.

Though its main narrative is anti-climactic, I’m left amazed by how much Obsidian was able to cram into this 30-hour odyssey, with side content that weaves seamlessly in and out of the golden path and a level of reflexivity other RPGs often try and fail to achieve.

If you craved a sprawling space opera with weighty choices and layered systems, The Outer Worlds 2 achieves that vision. Obsidian succeeds in expanding the scope, immaculate vibes, and mechanical depth of the first game whilst keeping the sharp writing and player choice they’re known for.

The Outer Worlds 2 is more of everything I liked before in The Outer Worlds, but dialled up to 110% - just like a new and improved offering from Auntie’s Choice!

The Outer Worlds 2 takes us into a world filled with freedom and complex moral choices, where your personal decisions shape the story and interact with diverse factions and companions in a way that makes each experience unique. Combat is deeper and more varied, and weapons and abilities are customizable to suit your playstyle, while a unique visual approach and blend of space and retro futurism give the game a futuristic and elegant feel. Despite some flaws, the game remains an excellent, cohesive RPG experience that surpasses the first game in most aspects

The Outer Worlds 2 is an improved, more refined version of The Outer Worlds and is an all-around better game than its predecessor, with a well-executed Flaw system to keep gameplay interesting, improved gunplay, stunning visuals, and excellent character writing, voice acting and animations. It's held back by a lacking plot that fizzles well before the end, progression pacing that's all over the place, and an abysmal menu system, but those elements don't make it a game you should skip, whether you were a fan of the first game or not.

The Outer Worlds 2 reaffirms Obsidian's narrative talent, learning from its past mistakes and leaving us with a complete, accessible, and coherent RPG.

The Outer Worlds 2 showcases Obsidian's RPG mastery through meaningful choices and dynamic character building, though the world lacks the vibrancy of modern open-world games.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a vibrant and distinctive adventure that evokes memories of Obsidian Entertainment's former glory.

Retro-futuristic in its art direction, The Outer Worlds 2 is more retro than futuristic in its approach to the RPG genre. While it boasts a host of accessibility options and incredibly responsive controls, this Microsoft-published title is primarily aimed at Obsidian fans who see certain aging RPG mechanics as a strength rather than a weakness. That said, the numerous improvements over the first installment, along with the choices that have real consequences, make it a shame to miss out on this excellent sci-fi epic with its unique tone, whether you're a fan of the young franchise or not.

With gorgeous graphics, solid visual aesthetics, and a script that fits the tone, The Outer Worlds 2 is a very solid addition to the sci-fi landscape. While it may not be perfect, it’s a very impressive showcase from Obsidian highlights how the developer continues to improve on the sandbox approach they’ve been refining for years. Fans of the first game, the Fallout series, and good comedy writing will find plenty to love about this adventure.

Obsidian’s brilliant use of their flaws system in The Outer Worlds 2 makes it stand out as one of the best examples of how to encourage roleplaying in video games. Playing through this game really felt like I was breaking out of the shell that most other RPGs put me in. The world, its various factions, and characters all enhance this by encouraging you to make your own choices about who to be and what to do. Ultimately, this makes the game well worth your time, but also flawed in its own way, with occasionally frustrating combat, and a serviceable story to follow.

An exciting world and high replay value sparkle once again in The Outer Worlds 2, even if the main story is not the strongest.

The Outer Worlds 2 is back with a healthy dose of humour and social commentary. The game doesn't really make waves in its visuals or gameplay, but the world is fun to explore and the companions fill the game with character. The new flaws also make it so every character build is different. Definitely worth the trip to Arcadia.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

The Outer Worlds 2 doubles down on witty dialogue, clever character building, and the offbeat humor that made Obsidian’s RPGs stand out. Its branching choices and quirky personality shine, but clumsy AI, overwhelming menus, and garish visuals hold it back. A solid yet uneven space adventure that entertains more for its charm than its polish.

The Outer Worlds 2 succeeds in being a bigger and better sequel, buoyed by an even greater emphasis on player choice and freedom. Its RPG mechanics are largely fantastic, and there are key improvements to both combat and exploration. However, despite Obsidian's clever writing, there's a underlying dreariness to the property that it just can't seem to escape. These dull characters and their one-note factions are difficult to truly care for.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a thoroughly enjoyable game, but as sequels go, it's largely more of the same. While the overarching story isn't terribly interesting, the world building around it and the colony of Arcadia is great to explore. What's disappointing is a lack of improvement in too many areas. It looks better and gunplay is better, but old snags and weaknesses from the first game remain and, more importantly, it's not as exciting and new as it was the first time round.

Western RPGs have come along way in recent years. And in a post-modern design world — one with Baulder’s Gate IIIand Expedition 33— I fear that Bethesda’s designs have gotten stale and bled into other studios. It feels basic at everything with subpar writing, a weird mission structure, and combat — while good, it isn’t anything new and different. Those looks for a by the numbers RPG with guns might still find the fun here, but it doesn’t really do anything to set itself apart from pack. It’s Borderlandswith a different skin and I expected more.

Play this if you love the setting and are prepared to sift through repetition for what looks like a diamond. But I’ll warn you now: when you finally dig it up, you’ll realize it’s just a rock. That’s the feeling this game leaves you with. The Outer Worlds 2 is not Obsidian at their best; it might be the worst Obsidian game I’ve ever played. For now, it is a sprawling failure of focus and pacing, a game that is often interesting by accident rather than by design.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a textbook example of a sequel that loses what once made the original compelling. Obsidian drowns in its own satire, trading sharp wit for an endless barrage of shallow quips about evil capitalism and bad fascism. The story feels dull, the world lifeless, and the technical side lags behind by at least two generations. What remains enjoyable is the brisk action, satisfying gunplay, solid soundtrack, and creative character progression.

Even if The Outer Worlds 2 rarely blows my mind, and suffers from direct comparisons to Avowed, the smaller scope of which resulted in a tighter experience overall, there is inherent value in a role-playing game that so effectively sucks you in for hours upon hours. It’s not breaking the mould, but improving its structure: offering you something satisfying and solid that rarely surprises, but still manages to regularly delight.

The Outer Worlds 2 lags far behind other games in the genre. I don’t doubt that some players will enjoy it - much like you can enjoy a decent action movie you forget about the next day. Still, from a big-budget game set in such an interesting universe and made by such a respected studio, I expected more. Here’s hoping Microsoft gives Obsidian another - and hopefully not the last - chance to truly surprise us in the future.