Obsidian Entertainment has firmly established itself as one of Xbox’s most consistent studios, delivering high-quality games with admirable regularity. This year, following the release of Avowed, a fantasy RPG, the studio returns with The Outer Worlds 2 a sequel that significantly improves upon the original in nearly every aspect.
The story takes place several years after the events of the first game, but in an entirely new star system with no direct connection to the previous one. The narrative unfolds in Arcadia, a cluster of worlds where three factions are locked in a war that threatens to destabilize the entire region. Your protagonist fully created by the player is sent to investigate how to prevent a spatial rift from consuming the system while also trying to resolve the ongoing conflict.
From the very beginning, the game provides a clear objective, but how you achieve it is entirely up to you. You can side with one faction, work for both, or simply carve your own path. Conversations with NPCs are one of the game’s biggest highlights filled with humor, wit, and personality. Every decision you make, whether in dialogue or in action, carries consequences that your companions won’t hesitate to remind you of either criticizing or praising you creating a world that feels reactive and alive.
Companions are not only entertaining but also useful, providing abilities that complement your own in combat and puzzle-solving. Compared to Starfield, which relied on procedurally generated planets, The Outer Worlds 2 features four handcrafted worlds full of detailed flora, fauna, and stunning visual artistry. While the character models still look a bit outdated, the environments, lighting, and reflections especially in water are gorgeous. The retro-futuristic art direction remains one of the franchise’s most distinctive strengths.
The soundtrack perfectly matches every situation, dynamically adapting to combat or dialogue to maintain immersion. In terms of gameplay, the title retains the first- and third-person shooting system of the original but feels much more refined and realistic.
The RPG mechanics have been streamlined without losing depth. Each level-up allows you to improve stats and unlock Perks permanent bonuses or abilities while Traits introduce both positive and negative modifiers that personalize your playstyle. This system strikes an excellent balance, removing the frustration of making “wrong” choices since nothing drastically affects your ammo or health levels.
Though not a fully open world, The Outer Worlds 2 offers four large interconnected zones filled with well-written main and side quests. The optional missions are just as engaging as the main campaign and can be discovered through exploration, companion interactions, or simply stumbling upon new areas.
One of the game’s best qualities is its concise length around 30 hours. This design choice respects the player’s time and makes replaying with different decisions feel rewarding rather than repetitive.
Of course, it’s not without flaws. Minor bugs, like NPCs getting stuck in walls or briefly disappearing, are still present, and the facial animations feel dated. However, these small issues never break the experience in fact, they often add a bit of unintentional charm that fits the game’s comedic tone.
In conclusion, The Outer Worlds 2 is an excellent RPG that improves upon everything its predecessor did well. Obsidian refines the formula while preserving the humor, meaningful choices, and striking art direction that define the series. Despite minor technical hiccups, this is one of the strongest and most enjoyable RPGs of the year.
Final Score: 5/5
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