Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds was a good game, but fans of the studio’s previous work tend to agree that the RPG mechanics were fairly shallow. The world didn’t feel like it was really reacting to your choices in a meaningful way, the skill tree was lacklustre, and the leveling system disincentivised deep specialisation. It felt made for more casual players, rather than the kind of person that wants crunchy, ridiculously complex roleplaying mechanics – which was more in keeping with the trends of the time.

The Gamers Yearn For Roleplaying

Now, though, things are different. As The Outer Worlds 2 creative director Leonard Boyarsky told GamesRadar+, “Now, with things like Baldur’s Gate 3, Outer Worlds having come out, I think people are a lot more open to [deeper RPG mechanics] again.”

Game director Brandon Adler added, “I love seeing it, but again, Baldur’s Gate 3, seeing its success, it gives us heart that people really, actually want these kinds of games, and we’re on the right track, and it’s good to bring that stuff to the forefront again.”

It’s certainly true that Baldur’s Gate 3’s success changed the industry’s perception of what a successful game could look like. Among a sea of impossibly big open world action-adventure games and free-to-play shooters that cater to more casual players, BG3 stood as a testament that games which prioritise player agency and deep RPG mechanics can be just as commercially and critically successful as, say, a Red Dead Redemption 2.

The Outer Worlds 2 Is Prioritising Reactivity

via Obsidian

From the previews I’ve read, it seems that The Outer Worlds 2 is taking this opportunity to lean deeper into what Obsidian is known for: excellently written RPGs.

The character creator is more flexible, with a variety of interesting backgrounds and traits (both positive and negative) to choose from alongside perks that you can unlock during gameplay depending on your playstyle, though attributes are gone. Ranking up skills will give the player more gameplay boosts and open up more dialogue and skills checks, of which there are plenty in both conversation and environments.

There’s a trait called Dumb that permanently locks nearly half of the game’s skills, which is quite funny.

There seem to be more immersive sim elements, allowing for different kinds of playstyles. Want to shoot everything up? Sure. Want to stealth? That’s a viable option! The demo also displays a lot of reactivity to your choices, delivering small consequences for actions you didn’t know would have consequences. For example, using a dialogue check to convince a guard to disable some security will make him distrust you when you meet him again, and he recognises your voice.

I’m not really a fan of RPGs watering down their mechanical depth to cater to more casual players, largely because that has consequences on the entire experience. I don’t particularly care about being able to create highly specialised characters, but I do want my skills to have a tangible impact on the game’s narrative. Reactivity is important to me, as is the narrative roleplaying experience.

While I enjoyed The Outer Worlds, I wasn’t entirely satisfied in that area, so it’s a relief to see that Obsidian seems to be building on the foundation it’s set and layering in the complexity that RPG fans so crave. Whether or not it maintains that reactivity through the whole game is yet to be seen, but if it does, we might have a really great game on our hands.

Like Follow Followed

The Outer Worlds 2

RPG Shooter Adventure Systems Released October 29, 2025 ESRB Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language Developer(s) Obsidian Entertainment Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Engine Unreal Engine 5 Prequel(s) The Outer Worlds Franchise The Outer Worlds Number of Players Single-player
Where to play Close

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!

As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions—your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.

EXPLORE A NEW FRONTIER
The Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink!

YOUR COMMANDER, YOUR WAY
Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own—whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb!

ENLIST YOUR COMPANIONS
Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together.

Powered by Expand Collapse