The Outer Worlds 2 Review

The Outer Worlds 2 marks the highly anticipated return of Obsidian Entertainment’s acclaimed sci-fi RPG, now published under Xbox Studios. Set in a distant colony within a fictional civilization, players assume the role of the Commander of the Earth Directive — a neutral force tasked with maintaining peace across fractured worlds.

During a routine mission to investigate the space colony New Horizon, now under the control of the feared faction known as the Prolectorate, the Commander discovers a shocking betrayal. Augustine de Vries, a trusted ally, has gone rogue and triggered a dimensional rift in an attempt to neutralize a prophesied threat. What follows is a chain reaction that threatens the very fabric of the known universe.

Trapped within the singularity, the Commander awakens from suspended animation a decade later. With the galaxy on the brink of collapse, your mission is clear: track down Augustine de Vries and rally any willing allies to restore balance before it’s too late.

New and Improved!

If you’ve played Fallout: New Vegas or the original The Outer Worlds, the sequel will feel instantly familiar, but with notable refinements. One of the most immediate improvements in The Outer Worlds 2 is its fluidity of movement. Where previous titles felt slightly rigid, this new installment introduces a sense of agility and responsiveness that enhances exploration and combat.

Maintaining its first-person action-RPG format, The Outer Worlds 2 plays smoothly on the PS5. Navigation is intuitive, with responsive controls for running, jumping, and crouching for stealth. While melee combat still feels a bit clunky, ranged combat is where the game truly shines.

Firearms are satisfying to use, with each weapon type, from pistols and rifles to shotguns and rocket launchers, offering distinct physics and feedback. Elemental weapons like plasma, shock, and corrosive variants add further depth, each delivering unique effects that make gunplay a standout feature.

Character customization remains central to gameplay. Players allocate skill points across two primary categories, which in turn influence their interactions with the world. Investing in skills like Guns and Lockpicking unlocks tougher doors and improves combat efficiency, while neglecting areas like Speech, Science, or Engineering may limit access to certain quests or dialogue options.

Leveling up grants two skill points and a Perk, each offering strategic advantages. Perks such as Bulletproof boost defense and health, while Intimidate enables forceful dialogue choices. Other perks enhance stealth, lockpicking, and weapon proficiency, allowing for a variety of playstyles.

A new mechanic, Flaws, adds an intriguing layer to character progression. Flaws are context-sensitive traits that offer conditional benefits, accompanied by drawbacks. For example, frequent reloading may trigger the Overprepared Flaw, increasing magazine size but reducing damage when ammo runs out. Weak Knees slows movement while standing but boosts crouched speed. Players can choose to accept or reject Flaws, tailoring their experience based on play habits.

The Outer Worlds 2 also streamlines many systems that previously felt like busywork. Crafting, lockpicking, and interactions are simplified through a point-and-click interface, ensuring that skill requirements directly yield results. Inventory management is more efficient, with the removal of encumbrance and a redesigned UI that separates items into clear categories such as explosives, weapons, healing buffs, food, mods, and junk.

Gadgets introduce new tactical options. Players can manipulate time with the Time Dilation device, detect hidden enemies using the N-Ray Scanner, and exploit rift anomalies for strategic advantages. Each gadget operates on a depletion meter, encouraging thoughtful use during exploration.

With these quality-of-life improvements, The Outer Worlds 2 allows players to focus on what truly matters: character development, quest progression, and immersive storytelling. By minimizing unnecessary mechanics, the game maintains momentum and keeps players engaged in its richly crafted universe.

The Choice Is Yours!

Character development is a clear focal point in The Outer Worlds 2, with the developers emphasizing player choice and its long-term impact. From the outset, your selected background, traits, and initial skill allocations shape not only your gameplay experience but also your success in navigating the world. While your character’s backstory remains fixed, these parameters influence dialogue outcomes, quest accessibility, and how NPCs respond to you.

For example, choosing the Lawbringer background paired with the Brawny trait allowed me to confront hostile characters with confidence and bypass jammed doors with ease. Alternatively, a Renegade background combined with a Witty trait might offer better results in speech checks and stealth-driven scenarios. The combinations are vast, and while skills play a significant role, they’re not the sole factor in determining narrative outcomes.

Certain side missions in The Outer Worlds 2 may be gated behind specific skill thresholds, encouraging replayability for completionists. However, players focused solely on the main storyline will find it manageable without extensive specialization. The core campaign remains relatively brief, lasting around 8–12 hours, depending on the difficulty level. Additional content, including companion quests and side missions, adds depth and can significantly extend playtime.

Companions play a meaningful role in The Outer Worlds 2, each bringing unique backgrounds and story arcs. Among the six available, Marisol, a hardened triple agent of the Order, stands out for her layered narrative. VALERIE, your robotic ally, also offers memorable interactions. While not all companions are equally compelling, their presence can unlock new dialogue options and influence mission outcomes, echoing the dynamic seen in the original game.

One persistent issue from the first installment remains: the Speech skill is still disproportionately powerful. Despite efforts to balance it by introducing intel-based dialogue unlocks and item-triggered options, persuasive dialogue often trumps other mechanics, making it a dominant strategy.

From a gameplay perspective, The Outer Worlds 2 introduces several quality-of-life improvements that enhance immersion and streamline progression. However, it falls short in delivering a truly fresh experience. While the expanded themes and world-building are appreciated, the game feels more like a refined continuation than a bold reinvention, falling short of being the spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas that some may have hoped for.

Visual upgrades are evident, but level design occasionally lacks variety. Interior environments, particularly spaceship layouts, can feel repetitive and disorienting. Planetary exploration is broad, yet terrain across different worlds tends to blend together, limiting the sense of discovery.

Despite these shortcomings, The Outer Worlds 2 retains its charm. The narrative gains momentum midway through and concludes with a satisfying payoff. The inclusion of faction-themed wireless radio stations adds flavor, even if the playlists become repetitive. The game’s signature dark humor remains intact, toned down just enough to balance satire and sincerity.

Verdict: Buy It!

The Outer Worlds 2 is a title well worth exploring, offering accessible gameplay and thoughtful quality-of-life enhancements that cater to both newcomers and returning fans. While it doesn’t radically reinvent the formula, it delivers a satisfying action RPG experience that scratches the adventure itch and rewards players who engage with its missions in full.

Though the main campaign is relatively brief, your character choices carry meaningful weight, influencing outcomes and adding layers of replayability. The narrative remains engaging throughout, and the evolving story of Arcadia provides a compelling backdrop that draws players deeper into its universe. For those seeking a blend of streamlined mechanics and rich storytelling, The Outer Worlds 2 delivers a journey worth taking.

*The Outer Worlds 2 has been reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.