The Outer Worlds 2 Early Access Impressions – Bigger, Bolder, and Closer to New Vegas Than Ever

After a long wait, fans are flocking to The Outer Worlds 2 in Early Access—here’s everything we know so far. Although the full game continues to have an October 29, 2025 due date, people are already comparing the pre-release build to Fallout: New Vegas and saying that it’s Obsidian’s “best RPG in years.”

That this sequel has made a strong first impression is obvious, since 88 percent of the early reviews (321 in total) have been positive. But like most early access games, it isn’t polished. Heres what players are saying so far.

Checkout the official Early Access trailer here .

Also check article" "The Outer Worlds 2: Will Obsidian Change the RPG Game Again?"

A Strong Start That Feels Like Classic Obsidian

In review after review, players are unanimous on one count: The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t re-invent the wheel — it refines it. As one reviewer put it best:

“The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t try to reinvent anything, and that’s exactly why it works.”

The feeling resounds through dozens of impressions. Its fans express relief that the sequel is a natural evolution of the original — smarter, sharper and filled with choices that really matter. The writing is tighter, the worlds richer, and roleplaying more rewarding.

Even early in the game, players are reporting being impressed about how dialogue choices and skill levels color interactions. Whether it’s prying open a locked door with brute force, or a bit of well-placed charisma to bend conversation trees to your whim, The Outer Worlds 2 triggers fond memories for fans of Obsidian’s classic RPG design.

Fighting and Playing: Tigher, More Difficult, More Fun

Almost every player said they noticed improvements in the combat. Gunplay now “feels very snappy,” animations are “massively improved,” and sound design — specifically, the bullet effects — was labeled as “pure serotonin.”

Some reviewers advise immediately stepping up to Hard Mode, as Normal is said to be pretty easy for veterans. On higher difficulty levels, though, the game rewards thoughtful strategy. One player raved about a memorable boss fight in which they “had to trap the boss using terrain and grenades,” making the battlefield itself into a weapon.

Obsidian also appears to have absolutely nailed weapon feedback. Guns are more meaty, melee builds have some impact and stealth is infinitely more viable this time. One player who played it like full stealth-melee wrote that he was rewarded for doing so by “lethal sneak crits and meaningful quest variation based on choices.”

Even people who played on handheld hardware like the Steam Deck OLED praised how silky smooth combat felt and also exclaimed that it was “one of the best handheld RPGs this year.”

Choices That Actually Matter

Choice-driven design is what makes a great RPG great, and The Outer Worlds 2 looks to double down on that. Players emphasize that backgrounds, traits and skills often inform the way dialogue, exploration, and quest results play out — even in minor instances.

An early mission, in which there was a stuck cabin door aboard the player’s ship, allegedly had three solutions — a very minor but indicative of the flexible design.

Reviewers also found the way in which the game locks some of your choices depending on your build to be a nice touch, meaning there’s real value in successive playthroughs. “I have personally locked myself out of several options due to build, with no means of respec,” wrote one player, who called it “a net positive design choice that promote second playthroughs.”

Fallout: New Vegas fans will be in familiar territory. Many have characterized The Outer Worlds 2 as “New Vegas in space”—a title that freelancing and moral ambiguity pays off without a hand to hold you.

Companion and Writing: The Word of Obsidian’s Past Foil

Companions are frequently the lifeblood of any Obsidian RPG and fans say that the studio hasn’t skipped a beat. First impressions single out crewmates including Aza, who is described as “sarcastic, deadly and hilarious.” There are unique tactical advantages to each companion, which incentivises you to switch between them depending on enemy resistances or support work requirements.

Players report feeling that the dialogue is darker, sharper and funnier than before, with a combination of absurd humor and some serious undertones. One long-form reviewer even referred it as “Obsidian’s best writing since New Vegas.”

And even the side quests appear to sparkle. Oddball missions, wry corporate satire and odd-goofy factional conflicts keep the universe feeling kooky and unknowable. The writing is a fine line between tragedy and absurdity the likes of which only Obsidian can manage.

Visuals, Performance, and Art Direction

In terms of looks, The Outer Worlds 2 is a step up from its predecessor without abandoning its pulp-sci-fi feel. Players rave about the improved lighting, smoother animations and gorgeously well rendered cutscenes in their first few hours.

But what pretty much everyone agrees on: turn off ray tracing. One reviewer bluntly wrote,

“TURN OFF RAY TRACING. That ♥♥♥♥ has minimal benefits graphically yet is so detrimental to performance.”

Most complaints are performance related. A few with high-end setups (RTX 4080 and 5080 GPUs) are reporting inconsistent frame rates in open-world zones, shader compilation issues, random stuttering. Others became stuck completely on the “compiling shaders” screen.

Even with these hiccups, many have pointed out that the game runs shockingly well on Steam Deck, especially the OLED variant. Players lauded its stability on Very High settings, one saying it was a “top tier handheld experience.”

Crafting, Character Creator, and Customization

If there’s one segment of a game that separates players, it is customization. Though skill builds and perks are widely well-received, the character creator has been labeled “very poor compared to almost every RPG out there.” The hairstyles in particular were called out for being behind the times, and lacking diversity.

Crafting also feels undercooked. Players can mod gear, but they cannot forge new weapons or armor. The small loot pool early on can be a problem for stealth or melee characters. “If you’re doing a sneak-melee build, there isn’t much in the way of variety in terms of different melee weapons to be found early on,” said one reviewer.

Even so, the perk system and progression loop is engaging enough to make you overlook these issues. Replay value seems to be high (some players are already planning second or third playthroughs).

The More Muted Mood and the Replay Value

Several reviews point to a darker tone than the original game, one that fans of Pentiment and Pillars of Eternity will surely relish. The humor is the same, but the stakes feel higher and moral decisions weigh down even heavier.

One player likened it to a grab bag with a bit of everything:

This game is so dishonored stealth bitch i am LIVIN for it Bioshock aesthetics + New Vegas choice?

Clearly that combination resonated. A number of the players call the game “addictive” and “literally impossible to put down.” One fan confessed to playing nine hours straight on day one and said it’s “a huge improvement in literally every single possible way.”

Not Everyone’s Sold Yet

With all that outpouring of awesomeness, however, not everyone is a fan. Some players thought the game soulless and filled with fetch quests, lamenting that it doesn’t have the emotional spark of the original. Also, some game users complained about the optimization problems in terms of server response, unnecessarily long shader compiles and stammering issues.

Even those who despised the game’s performance had to admit there was something amazing about its core. As one reviewer put it:

“Gameplay, story, humor, combat — 10/10. Performance — 2/10. Once they fix it, it’ll be amazing.”

Early Verdict: A Worthy Successor in the Making

And based on my time with the early access version of The Outer Worlds 2, it’s the sequel fans were hoping for — bigger, bolder and more sure of itself. It doubles down on choice-driven storytelling, polishes the combat mechanics, and is just as darkly funny as Obsidian games are known to be.

Sure, the optimization is lacking and the character creator could use a facelift. But under those problems lurks a highly replayable, player-driven RPG that already seems like a return to form for Obsidian Entertainment.

If the impression left by this pre-release slice is any indication, The Outer Worlds 2 could very well be the studio’s strongest game since New Vegas.

FAQs – The Outer Worlds 2

1: When does The Outer Worlds 2 come out?

The game is scheduled to fully launch on October 29, 2025 after its present Early Access period.

2: What are the system requirements?

Minimum specs haven’t been officially announced, but players are experiencing good performance on mid to high-end PCs (RTX 3060 and above recommended). Disabling ray tracing really boosts stability.

3: Is The Outer Worlds 2 on PS5?

Yes. The game will be available at full launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

4: What do early reviews have to say?

At time of writing, The Outer Worlds 2 enjoys a “Very Positive” review average on Steam, with 88% of its early reviews – of which there are currently over 321 – recommending it as well.

5: How much does it cost?

A price for the full release hasn’t been set, but Early Access versions are priced at $59.99 (in most regions).

6: Is there a trailer?

Yes, the official gameplay trailer reveals upgraded graphics, in-games conversations with your companions, and what can be expected as a darker story line.

7: Are companions returning?

Absolutely. Companions are a big part of that, whether it’s having smarter AI companions with distinct abilities and more dynamic interactions than ever before.

8: Romance in The Outer Worlds 2?

Obsidian hasn’t announced full romance arcs yet, but players have described deeper personal quests and emotional connections with companions.

9: How’s the overall gameplay of “The Outer Worlds 2”?

Players call it snappier, more tactical and more rewarding, thanks to meaningful build options and improved shooting mechanics.