Story and Gameplay
The Outer Worlds 2 takes everything that worked in the first game and just… makes it better. Sharper writing, tighter quest pacing, smarter choice outcomes, more interesting companions. This is Obsidian showing they are still one of those rare studios that gets better with every iteration instead of weaker.
The satire is punchier, the worldbuilding is richer, and the decision-making feels even more impactful. This is very much the same flavor as the first game but refined, upgraded, sanded, re-balanced, and pushed further. And yes, once again you will make at least one decision that haunts you for hours, because Obsidian remains undefeated in “choices that make you groan out loud.” It’s worth noting that the first game is still worth your time and even though you don’t NEED to play the first entry, it is better for more context and lore in the universe as a whole.
Graphics and Sound
Voice acting continues to be the crown jewel of the franchise, every companion, every quest giver, every corporate lunatic sounds like they were cast from a prestige drama and told to dial it up by 25%. The soundtrack is equally stellar and with big sci-fi themes, moody exploration ambience, and punchy fight tracks that hit at just the right moment. I absolutely love it!
Graphically, Unreal Engine 5 brings a lot to the table, lighting, surfaces, and especially character models look significantly better. But yes, the cost is real: this thing asks for high hardware horsepower. Unreal Engine 5 is the biggest blessing and curse in gaming dev today and I’m getting a bit tired of it being such a hog in general. The system requirements are no joke, and it’s a shame this upgrade locked out more mid-tier machines.
Feedback and Verdict
For all the improvements, Outer Worlds 2 still isn’t quite on the scale of New Vegas, Baldur’s Gate 3, Witcher 3, Elden Ring, etc.—it’s not that “massive, culture moment” open world many wish it could be. It’s still a more segmented, curated Obsidian RPG sandbox—but within that shape, it absolutely excels. And honestly? For the writing quality alone—it’s worth every penny. Not perfect—not gigantic—but sharp, smart, funny, intentionally crafted, and confident. A very solid sequel, and one of the best narrative-forward RPGs of this generation so far.
Liked the first one? You’ll love this entry. Never played either one? Snatch the first one up for cheap and then dive into this much improved sequel. You’re welcome.
