The Outer Worlds 2 is here! It takes the fantastic foundation that the first game laid out, expands, and improves on nearly every facet. If you are looking for a good old fashioned single player RPG loaded with choices, expansive dialogue, and player freedom, then this is the game for you.
The first game, 2019’s The Outer Worlds, was sort of a spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas, since Obsidian did not have the license to the Fallout series. The sequel follows this blueprint, but brings together ideas much better than the first thanks to a proper AAA budget.
Before you head out on your corporate mandated adventure, here’s everything you will need to know. Lets take a look at gameplay details, PC specs, and the best gaming PCs to experience all The Outer Worlds 2 has to offer.
The Outer Worlds 2 : Gameplay & Story
The Outer Worlds 2 returns to the same corporate satire, retro-future setting. While there is still plenty of clever humor on display here, the sequel takes a more grounded approach by focusing on a conflict between different factions, whom you will need to decide which to side with.
The first game had passable shooting, but the sequel ramps combat up with significant improvements. Gunplay is snappier, you can move more smoothly with sliding and double jumping, and of course TTD (Tactical Time dilation) – the game’s slo-motion take on VATS from Fallout, makes its return. Chucking a grenade, sliding into combat, and shooting it out of the air in slow motion is just sick!
In addition to vastly improved combat, the arsenal of weapons available at your disposal sees similar upgrades. There is tons of unique weapons with interesting effects that switch up how you approach combat. For example, silenced weapons that can melt their targets, there-by making sure there is no body to discover, making stealth playthroughs far more interesting. There is also a new weapon modding system that is surprisingly expansive, allowing you to improve your favorite weapons in a variety of ways.
In terms of RPG elements, the game offers complete flexibility in how you build out your character. The game encourages you to specialize your character in just a few skills, doling out just 2 skill points per level to spend across 12 different skills. Besides the skill system is a perk that opens up additional abilities for your character, such as a perk that allows you to the harvest the heart of some fallen enemies for a permanent boost to your health. Perks are tied to prerequisite skill levels, so you each decision at the level up screen will be important. Balancing out the skills and perks is the flaw system. The things you do in game can unlock various flaws that provide additional benefits to your character, at the cost of some sort of detriment. For example, if you steal a bunch of items, you will be offered the Kleptomania flaw, which will cause you to occasionally steal items just by looking at them (even if you don’t press the interact button). However, you will be able to sell all stolen items to vendors at 100% of their normal buying price. It’s a really interesting system that more RPGs should take inspiration from. Taking flaws is completely optional, you’ll have to decide if their detriments are worth the enhancements that come with them.
Story wise, this is a game fans of Fallout: New Vegas will be right at home with, with a narrative that pits a bunch of warring political factions against each other. Each side of the conflict has compelling motivations, so you will likely find yourself genuinely torn with who to side with. There is no one “good side” and “bad side”, rather a cast of morally ambiguous groups that have their own reasoning behind their actions.
Just like the first game, along your journey you will meet companions who can join your travels, each with their own stories and personalities to experience.
The Outer Worlds 2 PC Specifications
The Outer Worlds 2 Recommended System Requirements
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel i5-8400
- GPU: AMD RX 5700 / NVIDIA GTX 1070 / Intel ARC A580
- RAM: 16GB
The Outer Worlds 2 Minimum System Requirements
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X / Intel Core i7-10700K
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / NVIDIA RTX 3080
- RAM: 16GB
Table of Contents
The Best Gaming PCs for The Outer Worlds 2
With those system specs in mind, here are some of our gaming PCs we recommend for The Outer Worlds 2
Minimum Spec PC
GeForce Mainstream Gaming PC
Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8700F
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
RAM: 16GB DDR5/6000Mhz
Storage: 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD
Recommended Spec PC
Gaming PC Master 9400
Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
RAM: 32GB DDR5/6000
Motherboard: B850 Motherboard
Storage: 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD
FAQs
Where can I Purchase The Outer Worlds 2?
The Outer Worlds 2 is available now on Steam and Windows Store / Gamepass for $69.99.
Do I need to play the first Outer Worlds before 2?
You do not need to have played the first Outer Worlds game before The Outer Worlds 2. The new game tells a standalone story.