The outer worlds launched in 2019 and was a surprise hit for fans who missed Obsidian Entertainment's old games. Especially, Fallout: New Vegasas there are many comparisons between the two games that players can make. Comparisons aside, it made sense for the developer to make a sequel, and now here it is, The Outer Worlds 2in all its weird space glory.
There are many things that make it better as a game for both new players and older ones. The Outer Worlds 2 may not do anything so wild that it subverts the genre, but it's another solid entry in what will hopefully be a giant franchise for Obsidian Entertainment.
The graphics
A decade and a new console improves a lot
Right from the start it should be obvious that this is an upgrade from the first game. For anyone going back to the base version now, like on Xbox One, The outer worlds will look blurry, like something is out of focus. A newer version was released, which does look better, but not at the same level as the sequel.
As a project, Obsidian Entertainment started without Microsoft funding nearly a decade ago, and now that they have a seemingly bigger budget, it shows on screen. It's not the prettiest game on any system, though The Outer Worlds 2 definitely looks better than the first game.
The user interface
Beyond the graphics, the interface and menu system are all the more inviting. The menu is easy to navigate through in the first game, and the text prompts do the job when making typical RPG dialogue options.
As said, The Outer Worlds 2 has brighter colors, things flow more easily and it doesn't look like the first draft, unlike The outer worlds. It's not a perfect system because menus don't pop up like in Persona 5and the player character is small in the inventory menu and constantly looks bored, but it's an upgrade to be sure.
Beginning
Things start off more action-packed
The beginning of the sequel is also more exciting than the original. IN The outer worldsplayers are with a scientist before being thrown to an alien planet, and have to deal with some bandits and then a local dispute. IN The Outer Worlds 2players will start with companions on an exciting quest, and then the location after that is more exotic.
It makes more sense to start more bombastically in the sequel, given what the player is: basically a soldier out to protect the universe. The sequel gives players a better character to start with, regardless of their chosen background, than a glorified science aid in the original game.
First AND Third Person
A new perspective
One of the biggest new features in the sequel is being able to switch between first and third person perspectives, which was not present in the original game. The Outer Worlds 2 is still best experienced as a first-person game, as enemies are easier to shoot and items can be picked up quickly. That said, for players who prefer third-person RPGs, there is the option to tinker with.
There are times when third person works better, like climbing scaffolding or trying to get around weird platforming sections in general. There's a third-person close-up and far-out version, and players can even switch axis perspectives, which is common in most games.
More customization items
Become a full cyborg
The biggest thing any RPG developer can do to get players hooked is to give them more customization options. Creating a character in an RPG is half the fun, and The Outer Worlds 2 has more options than its predecessor, like adding more cool cyborg parts.
In addition to body makeup, players can go into more finite details about their character. They can choose a background, choose some traits, and then some skills to finish it all off. As players level up, they can also earn perks. Thanks to the better menu system, everything is easier to understand as players progress with their characters.
Multiple paths through the same problem
Fix a door or destroy it?
Leveling up in an RPG is great, but it's not always a good idea to immediately spend things like Skill Points in something that The Outer Worlds 2. This is because players don't know what trials they might encounter, which is why players held back from spending skill points in The outer worlds.
They may have encountered a door that needed to be unlocked or a computer that needed to be hacked. Usually there was only one solution to a problem, but i The Outer Worlds 2there are more ways. For example, certain doors can be locked or exploded, opening up more doors, metaphorically, without players having to worry about specific character builds.
Workbench upgrades
Degraded weapons
Workbenches are coming back in The Outer Worlds 2 with better options than the original game. Players can craft things like ammo, modify their weapons or armor with specific parts, break down gear to get parts, or tinker with upgrading companions in certain areas.
Modding and degradation of equipment was in The outer worldsbut a big reason for finding a Workbench was to repair equipment as they deteriorated with use. Thankfully, it's not really a problem in the sequel, and the game is better for it. Players can stab fools, blow up robots, and shoot enemies without worrying about finding the next Workbench station.
- Released
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29 October 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense violence, blood and gore, strong language
- Publisher
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Xbox Game Studios
