The Outer Worlds 2 Reviews

By building on the original’s foundations with more impactful decision-making and gameplay refinements, The Outer Worlds 2 feels like the Obsidian game that Fallout: New Vegas fans have craved for over a decade.

In almost every aspect The Outer Worlds 2 is an improvement over its predecessor. However, been the rather bland and dare I say boring main quest, combined with the fact this game offers very little new to the genre by way of mechanics. It would be hard to say that The Outer Worlds 2 is anything more than a good, yet uninspired RPG. One that is harder to recommend given the stiff competition in the RPG genre and sub-genres here in 2025.

The Outer Worlds 2 asks the daring question: what if the true bad guys weren't the corporations, but the people who continued accepting their lies?

"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."

Obsidian Entertainment has built a mood with The Other Worlds series. It’s one that positions corporations, executive manipulation, and rampant consumerism as a plague that haunts humanity well into our future in space, but in dark comedic fashion. The vibe continues into The Outer Worlds 2 where those nasty old mega companies are at it again, but I’ll claim that even if you’re over the joke, The Outer Worlds 2 does a lot more than just keep telling it. It also offers a rewarding and varied space adventure that sits nicely on an upgraded foundation of solid gunplay, enjoyable characters, and unique opportunities between playstyles.

The Outer Worlds 2 refines the overall Outer Worlds universe, pulling back on ridiculous and expanding into more human territory, while still keeping its satirical tongue firmly in cheek. Every system in the game has been refined, from greater control over character development to slicker and more impactful combat. This is a great RPG that firmly cements the franchise as a genre leader.

The Outer Worlds 2’s collection of medium-sized immersive sim-like sandboxes are brimming with detail and avenues for creative exploration. There are some minor missteps, however, namely in moments where the pacing slows down to a trudge, making for uneven momentum in how the adventure plays out. Like Obsidian’s finest games, its latest offering teems with brilliant, witty dialog, strong anti-capitalist themes, and a plot where your decision-making can lead you down truly unpredictable paths.

Back in 2019, Obsidian Entertainment did the unthinkable and gave us The Outer Worlds, a brand-new, narrative-driven RPG among the stars – a realisation of the “Fallout in space” dreams that have circled on message boards for over a decade. Set in a galaxy driven by capitalism and greed, you took an the role of a stranger in a colony beset by corporatist ideals that had become second nature to its people.

Meanwhile, if you float into Arcadia expecting something as deeply crafted and eminently memorable as New Vegas, or even Obsidian’s medieval murder mystery Pentiment, I’d say the experience falls short of those very lofty marks. Or, as The Outer Worlds 2 seems to think my advertising-addled brain would put it: me like Other Words too, but no new New Vargas.

The Outer Worlds was a pretty big deal for me when it was released six years ago, effectively taking the same gameplay style of Fallout: New Vegas and transplanting it into a spacefaring adventure in a distant colony among the stars called Halcyon. That was all I needed; something a bit fresher, newer, with a sense of humour. The Outer Worlds 2 takes us to another colony, Arcadia, and aims to do the same again. Arguably with too much success.

The Outer Worlds 2 is one of my favorite RPGs released this year, and it's so close to greatness. It has practically everything I wanted in a game (enough that I could have considered it even better than Mass Effect), but Obsidian just missed the mark with its tone. Who knows, maybe the company will figure it out with the third game in the series.

It has its frustrations, mostly the result of its old-fashioned nature, but Tormented Souls 2 is another solid survival horror.

It shines with Obsidian’s sense of direction through in-depth dialogue options and interactions. The number of different runs I want to do is impressive, given the staggering customization options for your character. The blank slate of it all perfectly captures the imagination of any player and should be considered as one of the best sci-fi RPGS in recent memory. Even if gamers haven’t played the first game, they need to give The Outer Worlds 2 a shot.

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 a more expansive, more choice-heavy, and more satisfying western RPG that stands above most of its recent peers.

The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian firing on all cylinders, and its refined combat, storytelling, and builds will lead to multiple playthroughs.

The Outer Worlds 2 comes together to deliver a fantastic journey. Despite some narrative hiccups, the worlds, organizations and individual players encounter, and sometimes kill, are always engaging and frequently fun.

I was in basically from the intro onward. The tutorial sequence is simple but satisfying, as it showcases the multiple ways you can approach nearly every conflict. If you want to sneak by and try a pacifist run, you can do that for the most part. You can also go in guns blazing, or sneak around like a space assassin. Or, you can simply use your wits and talk to people, using words as weapons. It's classic FPS RPG gameplay, and I'm glad that studios are keeping this tradition alive in the first-person space.

While there's little wrong with The Outer Worlds 2, it doesn't have a pull that will keep players wanting to devote hours to it.

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.

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.

Despite admirable design choices and a wider, more impressive scope, The Outer Worlds 2 crash lands into a burning mess. Unfortunately, bugs and glitches weigh down the game's ambition and central elements.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a superb sci-fi RPG full of meaningful choices, perks, and skills that will drastically change how you experience the world. Fallout New Vegas has finally been eclipsed.

The Outer Worlds 2 imbues Obsidian's spacefaring RPG series with its own identity, letting you bumble your way through corporate and cultish intrigue in space.

After the much beloved Fallout New Vegas, people have been clamoring for another big open-world RPG from Obsidian. So when the original The Outer Worlds was announced, many saw it as the next big thing. Finally, someone is going to do a massive Bethesda-style RPG and beat them at their own game. It came out, and it was fine. The setting and bones are great for a potential sequel to really work with. Well, The Outer Worlds 2 is here. Is it the game everyone was hoping for?

The Outer Worlds 2 arrives six years after Obsidian Entertainment launched The Outer Worlds on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. At the time, I was excited to play it and to see what the studio was building in this space-faring adventure. I picked up my copy right at launch, and thought, like many others, that it got off to a great start. It was funny, the world felt interesting, and I liked the game's premise.

There are a few ways in which The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t improve on the first game. It’s bigger, deeper, and more complex. The story and characters are more satisfying. Combat has been refined. It takes its time and demands players be patient and engage in all its systems, and overlook some technical issues that pop up somewhat frequently. I can’t imagine a world — Outer or not — in which fans of the original won’t enjoy this new experience.

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 improves on the original in every way and is Obsidian's most reactive RPG yet - but I wish it took itself more seriously.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a fantastic modern RPG. The emphasis on player choice and customization, the great dialogue and characters, exceptional worldbuilding, and fun gameplay mechanics make it one of Obsidian's best games in years. However, that excitement is hindered by frustrating navigation mechanics, constant glitches, and characters that lack depth due to the absence of romances and natural speech options. While this is a great return to form for the genre, you may be better off waiting f...

The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t drastically change the already great formula developer Obsidian Entertainment created with The Outer Worlds more than half a decade ago. Instead, this expansive sequel follows in the footsteps of many other great RPG follow-ups, with more places to explore, more loot to find, and crucially, plenty of new ways to directly influence and shape your own adventure in space. Though its main narrative is anti-climactic, I’m left amazed by how much Obsidian was able to ...

The Outer Worlds 2 is a deceptively smart Looter-shooter RPG with colourful worlds and entertaining characters, and some really satisfying, malleable combat.

The Outer Worlds was this writer’s gateway into RPGs. Its dystopian world was appealing, but the slower pace and whimsical nature of the story made Obsidian’s 2019 adventure feel more accessible than the vast world of Fallout.

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 is for better and worse still fluffy gaming comfort food, but it is significantly improved and better than its predecessor in almost every way.

Once you get past a weak first act, The Outer Worlds 2 sharpens Obsidian’s RPG formula with smarter writing and better combat.

The Outer Worlds 2 boasts better-crafted, more deliberate storytelling alongside a wide scope for meaningful player choice. While there are undoubtedly problems with polish, and the combat system still needs some work, The Outer Worlds 2’s writing and commitment to world-building are enough all on their own. The depth of customisability will draw you back in, asking you how you might save the day next time around.

The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian trying to rediscover the role-playing magic that once defined it as a juggernaut within the genre.

The Outer Worlds 2 is one step forward, one step back, and sometimes one step to the side in an enjoyable RPG whose commentary on consumerism bleeds into the game's own position.

The citizens of Arcadia are once again in peril! Deadly space rifts are appearing, vexing the greatest scientific minds of our era. The Order, Auntie’s Choice, and The Protectorate are vying for power in an epic struggle that threatens reality itself. Coming to the rescue, why it’s a Commander of the Earth Directorate! Will he save these Outer Worlds? Find out in a thrilling 25-hour adventure, with twists, turns, important choices, and daring action!

RPGs and portable gaming devices are a match made in heaven. The Switch is already filled to the brim with RPGs, but the vast majority of them are the ones made in Japan, such as Digimon Story, Pokémon, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and so on. With the exception of The Witcher 3, Skyrim, Divinity, and maybe one or two titles I may be missing, we haven’t had a lot of western RPGs released for the system. I was expecting for Bethesda to release one of their more modern Fallout titles after th...