The Outer Worlds 2

A space-faring action RPG where you snipe corporate bounty targets, recruit misfit companions, and solve quests through witty dialogue.

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026

Released Oct 2025 Singleplayer / Space / First-Person

Obsidian writing is back at full peak — Outer Worlds 2 sharpens what the first game whispered, with companions and corporate satire that finally feel essential.

8.5 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

Fallout New Vegas remains your favorite RPG and you've been waiting for Obsidian to swing that hard again.
Companion writing as a load-bearing system — banter, quest reactivity, romance — is what you play these games for.
Light corporate-dystopia satire that doesn't take itself too seriously is your tonal sweet spot.

Not for you if

Tight FPS combat is non-negotiable — Outer Worlds 2's gunplay is a notch behind the dedicated shooters of 2025.
You wanted a Bethesda-scale open world — Outer Worlds 2 still uses zone-based maps, not seamless sandboxes.
First-person RPGs don't click for you regardless of writing — TOW2 won't convert you on that.

What critics say

8/10IGN
Once you get past a weak first act, The Outer Worlds 2 sharpens Obsidian's RPG formula with smarter writing and better combat.
Travis Northup Read review →
4/5Eurogamer
The Outer Worlds 2 is significantly improved and better than its predecessor in almost every way.
Alex Donaldson Read review →
83/100PC Gamer
An RPG with a great sense of fun and whimsy, as well as surprising depth to its character building.
Ted Litchfield Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

What's the best build for new Outer Worlds 2 players?

For a forgiving first playthrough, the Gunslinger build is the most versatile — invest early in Ranged Weapons (specifically Long Guns or Heavy Weapons depending on preference), Tactical Time Dilation perks, and a few points in Speech for dialogue checks. Stealth builds (sneak attacks + N-Ray for high damage) are powerful but unforgiving when detected. The Science build is fun thematically (energy weapons + tinkering) but slower-scaling. Save Determination skill points for Persuade and Lie checks — they unlock more dialogue options than combat ever does.

Source: HackTheMinotaur Builds

What difficulty should new Outer Worlds 2 players choose?

The Outer Worlds 2 has four difficulties: Story, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard. Normal is the intended baseline and the recommended starting point. Drop to Story Mode if you'd rather lean into dialogue, exploration, and faction politics with minimal combat friction; jump to Hard if you've cleared Fallout: New Vegas or the original Outer Worlds and want tighter resource management. Difficulty can be changed at any time from the settings menu, so you're never locked in.

Source: Game8 Difficulty Differences

Which side quests and companions are missable in The Outer Worlds 2?

Several companion recruitments are easy to miss. Aza requires you to actively help her during the N-Ray Range encounter; ignoring her cries permanently locks her out as a companion. During "On the Trail of the Traitor," attacking Marisol on first meeting also permanently removes her as a recruit option. Both companions have associated questlines and unique perks, so check the full missables list before any major story decision. Some faction reputation paths also gate side content based on your earlier choices.

Source: Game8 Missables List

Do I need to play the original Outer Worlds before Outer Worlds 2?

No. The Outer Worlds 2 features a new protagonist, a new solar system (Arcadia), and a fully self-contained story. The original game (2019) is set in a different system (Halcyon) — themes carry over (corporate dystopia, faction politics, weird sci-fi humor), but characters and plot don't. Playing the original adds context for Obsidian's writing style and the gameplay foundation, but newcomers miss nothing structurally. Outer Worlds 2 is a clean entry point.

Source: Wikipedia

Is there post-game content in The Outer Worlds 2?

Limited compared to other RPGs — once the main story credits roll, the game ends in the traditional sense, with multiple endings tied to your faction choices and major decisions. There's no New Game Plus at launch (Obsidian's pattern in past titles), but replay value comes from running different builds (Stealth/Science/Gunslinger), making opposing faction choices, and exploring missed companion questlines on a fresh save. Plan a single playthrough at 35-50 hours; full completionists with all four endings explored typically run 100+ hours.

Source: XboxAchievements Guide