The Outer Worlds 2 Review: A Great Sequel That Grows the Universe

The Outer Worlds 2 from Obsidian Entertainment officially came out on October 29, 2025. It is a big step up from the first game. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It has better gameplay mechanics, a deeper story, and more choices for players, all while keeping the series’ trademark humor and satire.

A More Interesting Story and Better Role-Playing

The Outer Worlds 2 picks up where the Earth Directorate Agent left off. It takes place in the Arcadia star system. The game goes deeper into the conflicts between factions, the intrigue in the business world, and the personal stakes of its main character.

The story is bigger, with many branching paths that are affected by the choices the player makes, which leads to different endings and the ability to play again.

The dialogue system has been completely changed to allow for more complex interactions. Players can now choose from a wider range of responses, which are influenced by their character’s traits and background. This makes conversations feel more dynamic and important.

More ways to play and fight

The combat system is one of the most important things that has gotten better. The game adds a third-person view, which gives players more options in battle. The arsenal now has a wider range of weapons, such as the one-of-a-kind Spectrum Dance Saber, which uses rhythm-based mechanics in battle.

The companion system has also been improved. Companions now have more unique personalities and can be changed by what the player does and decides. But if you push them too far, they might fight with you, even if they were once your friends, GamesRadar+.

Improvements in technology and performance

The Outer Worlds 2 looks great thanks to Unreal Engine 5. The environments are very detailed, and the lighting effects are very realistic. The game works with ray tracing and different upscaling methods, so it runs smoothly and immersively on high-end hardware.

Performance tests show that the game runs well on both consoles and PCs, with settings that work best for different types of hardware.

Adding features like hardware ray tracing and upscaling makes sure that players with good systems can enjoy better graphics without slowing down the game.

Reception and Praise from Critics

Most of the early reviews have been very good. The game has an 85 on Metacritic, which puts it in the same league as the original The Outer Worlds and makes it one of Obsidian’s best games, according to GamesRadar+. Critics have praised the game’s huge world-building, fun combat, and the many choices it gives players in its story.

Some reviews, on the other hand, say that the game is great in a lot of ways, but it sometimes seems like it plays it safe and doesn’t make as many big changes as they thought it would. Even so, most people agree that The Outer Worlds 2 is a good follow-up that improves on what made the first game great.

Final Thoughts

The Outer Worlds 2 builds on what the first game did well. It has a more interesting story, better gameplay mechanics, and better technology, making it a fun experience for both new and returning players. Obsidian Entertainment has once again shown that it knows how to make RPGs that are fun, deep, and give players a lot of freedom.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a journey worth taking for people who want a universe with a lot of detail, moral dilemmas, fun combat, and a little bit of satirical humor.