**The Outer Worlds 2 Review: A Rewarding Space Adventure with a Darkly Comic Edge**
Obsidian Entertainment has carved out a distinct mood with *The Outer Worlds* series, positioning corporations, executive manipulation, and rampant consumerism as a plague haunting humanity far into our future in space — but all through a dark comedic lens. This vibe continues seamlessly into *The Outer Worlds 2*, where those nasty old mega-corporations are at it again. However, even if you’re over the joke, *The Outer Worlds 2* does a lot more than just retell it. It offers a rewarding and varied space adventure built on an upgraded foundation of solid gunplay, enjoyable characters, and unique opportunities to experiment across different playstyles.
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### Adventures of an Earth Directorate Anybody
*The Outer Worlds 2* picks up in another corner of Obsidian’s sci-fi universe called Arcadia. This region is inhabited by the Protectorate faction, which controls most of the Skip Drives powering hyperspace travel across galaxies. Players assume the role of an Earth Directorate agent, representing Earth’s interests and justice—where applicable.
Earth doesn’t want the Protectorate to monopolize Skip Drive technology and sends a small team on a mission to steal its research. As you might expect, things go wrong. One of the agents goes rogue, opening a black hole–like rift that swallows the station being heisted, flings you into space in an escape pod, and sets Arcadia on a destructive countdown as the rift threatens to expand and consume the entire system.
The real quest begins 10 years later when your body is recovered and you’re sent on a new mission: track down and eliminate the rogue agent. Along the way, you discover that the corporations from the first game, Spacer’s Choice and Auntie Cleo’s, have merged. Auntie Cleo’s absorbed Spacer’s Choice and rebranded as Auntie’s Choice, gaining enough resources to invade Arcadia and start a war with the Protectorate over Skip Drive tech.
As you hunt the rogue agent threatening the system’s destruction, you must navigate this Protectorate-corporate war and other factions lurking on the periphery.
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### A New Narrative Tone: More Complex, More Engaging
I really like *The Outer Worlds 2*’s story. The first game’s overall tone was heavily satirical, lampooning capitalism and corporate greed. Several companies served as both backdrop and moral compass, despite all being fundamentally flawed. In this sequel, with Auntie’s Choice and the Protectorate at the center, the dynamic feels a bit different.
Both factions are undeniably bad and dismissive of individual rights, but Auntie’s Choice represents consumerism, while the Protectorate is a fascist oligarchy. Although these groups are easy targets for disdain, many individuals within them are portrayed with nuance—as people seemingly trapped by their circumstances, manipulated to climb their respective hierarchies while trying to survive.
The addition of extraneous factions also provides meaningful allies and causes to rally behind as you explore the story and quests. Even the major factions have their own radio stations, each curating different music and reacting to your actions throughout the game, enriching the immersive atmosphere.
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### A Diverse and Dynamic Cast of Companions
Few elements showcase the tension between opposing sides better than *The Outer Worlds 2*’s six companions. Each companion represents one of the major factions you’ll interact with, which might make you expect friction or annoyance. Yet, these characters possess significant depth, making it worthwhile to team them up just to see their reactions to your decisions—and to each other.
For example, I loved having Inez, an Auntie’s Choice soldier, and Tristan, a Protectorate Arbiter, in the same squad since they’d normally be enemies. Their interactions spark interesting moments both inside and outside active quests. On top of that, every companion and their faction take you to a wide variety of fascinating locations.
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### Bigger Worlds, More to Discover
*The Outer Worlds 2* improves over its predecessor by offering players much more space to explore and far more secrets within it. You journey through a variety of planets, stations, and other hotspots as the story evolves. Several worlds feature expansive maps that invite hours of exploration.
You start on Paradise Island as an introduction to the universe, but once you’ve unraveled its mysteries, the game throws an even larger map at you to explore as you progress through the story. These worlds are gorgeous and packed with side quests and hidden content, making the exploration genuinely enticing compared to the first game.
That said, *The Outer Worlds 2* does lean on a few ideas a little too heavily. If you found the corporate satire tiring in the first game, it remains just as strong here. Additionally, many planets feature a limited variety of enemies. While the overall threats are diverse, you typically encounter just one or two types of creatures repeatedly on a given planet, which can wear thin—the novelty of facing a Mantisaur for the 15th time, for instance, is diminished.
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### RPG Systems: Improved and Intriguing
The RPG mechanics from the original *The Outer Worlds* return intact and with enhancements. The game’s choices feel meaningful and multifaceted, making it nearly impossible to experience every option in a single playthrough.
At the start, you choose two specialty skills such as Guns, Lockpicking, Melee, Speech, or Hacking, but you can also invest in minor skills to round out your character. For example, my build included Observation, Lockpicking, Guns, and Sneaking, along with a Lucky trait that unlocked random skill checks, plus an Ex-Convict background granting additional dialogue options.
This mix made combat, stealth, and social interactions highly enjoyable. However, it also closed off some choices I was regularly teased with; lacking certain skills meant missing out on related dialogue or action options. Unlike some RPGs, you cannot utilize your companions to cover skill gaps, so some opportunities were simply unavailable until another playthrough.
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### Meaningful Consequences That Stick
The game does an impressive job of remembering your decisions—perhaps better than most RPGs. Whereas many games hinge on a few pivotal decisions that direct your path, *The Outer Worlds 2* weaves layered consequences throughout the experience.
It’s common for characters to mention earlier actions or choices in relevant conversations later on, reinforcing the weight of your decisions, both large and small. This persistent impact enriches the immersion and role-playing satisfaction.
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### Combat and Customization
Gunplay and weapon customization remain a highlight. Discovering new weapons and modding them to fit my playstyle was a regular joy. The game includes unique weapons with special perks, such as the Death Sentence rifle, which places a countdown on an enemy after a weak-point shot before delivering a heavy follow-up blow.
The Tactical Time Dilation (TTD) system from the first game also returns, allowing you to slow down time and pick out precise shots. New gadgets further enhance combat options, including temporary shields, enemy/electronic detection through walls, and the ability to melt corpses to avoid leaving evidence—which was particularly satisfying for my stealthy character.
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### Performance and Technical Warts
Despite its many improvements, *The Outer Worlds 2* still exhibits the occasional open-world jank common to many RPGs. Stealth, for instance, can be quirky with scripted events sometimes alerting all nearby enemies regardless of your hiding spot. Enemy alertness often feels overly broad, making stealth challenging.
The NPC AI can be silly at times, with combatants running erratically between cover or behaving oddly due to poor pathfinding. Even your companions occasionally fall victim to constant death traps or glitches.
I also encountered several minor bugs, like a dialogue marker stuck above a companion’s head that wouldn’t disappear. While these issues don’t break the game, they are frequent enough to remind players that *The Outer Worlds 2* is not without its flaws.
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### Come Fly With Me
Despite some minor qualms, *The Outer Worlds 2* delivers another solid sci-fi RPG experience from Obsidian Entertainment. It likely won’t win over players tired of the corporate satire, but fans of the original will find most of what they enjoyed has been refined and expanded.
The factional tug-of-war is engaging to explore, and the companions bring depth and personality to your journey. Above all, this is an exciting, expansive adventure you cannot fully experience in a single playthrough. Whether you’re making your first run count or returning to explore new paths, *The Outer Worlds 2* promises plenty of rewarding experiences.
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*This review is based on a PlayStation 5 digital copy supplied by the publisher. The Outer Worlds 2 releases on October 29, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.*
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146533/the-outer-worlds-2-review-score
