The Outer Worlds 2 review: A disappointing sequel

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I first got into role-playing games with The Outer Worlds. While I liked its dark, futuristic setting, what really drew me in was how relaxed and charming the story was. It felt easier to get into than something huge like Fallout.

Many players, including me, were captivated by the first Outer Worlds game with its quirky weapons, humorous story, and distinctive setting – a space station covered in advertisements. It truly felt like a different world. Now, six years later, excitement is building for The Outer Worlds 2, and thankfully, it still captures the same unique feel that made the original so popular.

Despite its potential, the game is ultimately let down by a slow start and a critical weakness.

The Outer Worlds 2 screenshots

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What is The Outer Worlds 2 about?

The game takes place in the Arcadia star system. You are a Commander with the Earth Directorate, essentially space law enforcement, responsible for maintaining peace between powerful corporations. After a failed mission, you enter a cryosleep pod and awaken years later, still in Arcadia.

Now, a known enemy has returned, creating dangerous tears in reality as part of a massive scheme. It’s your job to track them down, get your revenge, and completely dismantle their plan.

Full of The Outer Worlds charm

The Outer Worlds 2 feels very similar to the first game, and that’s actually a good thing! It features the same satisfying, tactical combat – reminiscent of Fallout, where aiming carefully and staying hidden are important – along with the same quirky planets and lighthearted story.

Honestly, what really makes this sequel great is the story, the world they built, and how well it balances being totally goofy with genuinely serious stakes. The quests are often ridiculous, but failing one can actually kill you, which is a cool contrast. It doesn’t try to be some super-serious epic, and that’s good because the underlying story is pretty complex – especially when you get into The Order faction and their super-technical jargon. It’s just packed with these amazingly weird moments, like I was literally just wailing on a massive robot with my lightning hammer while a jingle about purple tequila for breakfast played. It’s a wild ride!

The world of The Outer Worlds 2 feels incredibly dynamic. The corporations that control the star system have combined, and are now battling for power on each planet, creating a sense of constant activity beyond just quirky advertising. While the ads are still present, the game now features more frequent combat, with every planet hosting its own conflict between two competing factions vying for control of key locations.

This game is a noticeable step up from the original. The world of Arcadia feels much more alive, filled with political intrigue, shifting alliances, and plenty of advertising. These developments are showcased through impressive cinematic cutscenes, making it a significant improvement over the already visually appealing environments of the first game.

The combat in The Outer Worlds 2, similar to Fallout, isn’t fast-paced. This allows you to fight however you like – whether you prefer getting up close, using ranged weapons, or a combination of both. With over 20 effective weapons to choose from, and each enemy requiring a unique approach, the slower, more strategic, and forgiving combat system is a real plus.

Frustrating features

While the initial idea is great, the sequel falls short due to some disappointing elements and a frustrating main story – one so tedious it might drive someone to destroy an entire planet just to avoid continuing the search.

The game’s quests and main storyline don’t quite feel connected – it’s like different teams worked on them. The beginning of the game has a lot of repetitive and annoying quests that often require you to get a specific skill or item just to move forward.

I remember early in the game being faced with a decision: fight my way through a building, pick a side in a conflict between two groups, or try to talk to a character and get past them. The fighting option needed me to be really skilled, the faction choice needed a super rare item I hadn’t even found yet, and talking meant basically going on a killing spree. Honestly, it felt like a fake choice, and it made the first part of the story pretty predictable and annoying.

The game really improves in the second half. The stakes become much higher as Arcadia faces greater danger, and you have more meaningful choices to make. These choices have real consequences, even affecting key characters – you might have to decide whether to spare or eliminate them. It’s a captivating experience that successfully builds on what made the first game so good, and makes you wish the entire game played this way.

Flaws are back from the first game, and they work a little differently now. They still give your character a small benefit, but also a negative effect. Unlike before, you no longer get an extra perk just for taking a Flaw. Now, each Flaw comes with both a positive and a negative side. For instance, you might sacrifice the ability to revive a companion, but in return, you’ll unlock a full extra skill bar when another companion falls.

Despite being a good concept, the chosen flaws ultimately detracted from the game’s enjoyment. They were so punishing that they weren’t worth using, and ended up being more trouble than they were worth – a disappointing result considering Obsidian’s promotion of this feature.

Verdict

It’s been six years since the first game, so expectations were high for the sequel to The Outer Worlds. Unfortunately, while the game shows a lot of potential, it gets off to a slow start and is held back by some annoying issues.

Despite its flaws, the game is enjoyable thanks to its quirky appeal, interesting depiction of a broken future, and gameplay style reminiscent of the beloved Fallout: New Vegas – a design Obsidian Entertainment excels at.

If the game had started strong and maintained that quality throughout, it could have been a true masterpiece. As it stands, it’s likely enjoyable for those who loved the first game, but expect a mix of fun and frustration while playing.

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2025-10-23 16:20