OUTRIDERS

Outriders Review – Chaos That Surprises In The Best Way

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Buy Outriders on PlayStation Store. Embark on a co-op-focused, sci-fi shooter experience from People Can Fly, the developer behind Bulletstorm.

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Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 30,027 reviews

story3,897 positive mentions

stability1,507 negative mentions

story
10,787 mentions
36 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story of "Outriders" has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-crafted, while others criticize it for being predictable and filled with clichés. Many appreciate the game's dark themes and character development, but note that the narrative can feel disjointed and rushed, particularly towards the end. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it provides a solid backdrop for the gameplay, which is often highlighted as the game's strong point.
- “The story is captivating, more like a film than a cutscene, and you always want to know more.”
- “If you pay attention to the story, listen, and read the lore, you will see that the developers did an excellent job.”
- “The story is interesting and engaging, with well-developed characters and a complex plot that keeps players invested throughout the game.”
- “Unfortunately, I just could not stay invested in the storyline.”
- “The story is just crazy action too.”
- “The story is garbage and the developers did everything they could to make the game worse with every patch.”
gameplay
4,638 mentions
43 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Outriders is generally praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, combining elements from various genres, including looter shooters and action RPGs. Players appreciate the fast-paced combat, unique class abilities, and the satisfying loot system, although many note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, especially in the endgame where enemy health scaling leads to bullet sponge mechanics. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable, technical issues such as server instability and bugs have marred the experience for some, leading to frustration during multiplayer sessions. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a strong point of the game, but it is hindered by various technical shortcomings and a lack of variety in enemy encounters.
- “The gameplay is immensely satisfying, the gunplay/class trick balance is well-rounded and the worldbuilding is, whilst linear and not incredible, still satisfying and immersive.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced, action non-stop and the modding and crafting system of the weapons and gear is super creative.”
- “The gameplay loop is really fun, especially with friends, the level design is varied and the sets are really nice looking.”
- “The gameplay gets repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- “The cover mechanic is clunky and often feels more like a hindrance than a help, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
- “The actual gameplay execution is just awful, with many mechanics feeling disconnected and unresponsive.”
graphics
1,673 mentions
53 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals and detailed environments, while others have noted issues such as graphical glitches, stuttering, and performance problems, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the game is described as visually appealing, with some calling it beautiful, but it also suffers from optimization issues that can detract from the experience. Despite these concerns, many players find the graphics to be a strong point of the game, contributing to its immersive atmosphere.
- “The graphics are breathtaking, with vibrant and varied environments that are a treat to explore.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the sounds are awesome, and the gameplay is some of the best you can find.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the game is very well optimized, I run it at a smooth 120-144fps on high/ultra!”
- “There are a variety of glitches, a surprisingly low frame-rate considering the graphics look like I'm on the Xbox 360, overall clunky feeling movement and controls, combined with some of the most soulless gameplay I have ever seen.”
- “Cutscenes were sometimes laggy, mouth and voice would not match each other (rarely, but again, I have 4 hours of experience), even on the highest graphics the fog looked as if it was a cloud from Minecraft, I mean pixelated af.”
- “The graphics are terrible. For being a full price $59.99 game in 2021, the graphics are subpar early 2010 visual graphics.”
stability
1,571 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and server issues since its launch. While some users have noted improvements over time, the game remains plagued by connectivity problems, crashes, and gameplay-affecting glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state is described as a "buggy mess," leading many to recommend waiting for further patches before fully engaging with it.
- “I have only been playing for just over 7 hours and so far I've experienced no bugs and no glitches. The game runs smooth on the highest settings with no lag or frame rate drop.”
- “Runs great on my mid-tier laptop.”
- “Game runs great, smooth frame-rate with little to no stuttering and is a heap of fun if you're into looter shooters.”
- “The problem with recommending this is that since launch the game has been on inconsistent servers (since it's always online), it doesn't scale well at the higher difficulties, and it's just... buggy for a full price AAA game.”
- “The game is buggy and glitchy, has some serious issues with certain class abilities not working the way they are supposed to work.”
- “This game is a buggy mess that was fun while it lasted, maybe I can recommend it once they fix these game-breaking bugs but for now I'm gonna hold on it.”
optimization
1,196 mentions
13 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
46 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users with high-end rigs have managed to achieve smooth gameplay, others have struggled even on capable systems, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization and patches to address these persistent issues before it can be recommended for a wider audience.
- “This game has a fairly well written, motion captured, and voiced story with an interesting art style, amazing visuals, good performance, and exceptionally good horde shooting.”
- “Simply put, it's a fun experience, pretty well optimized, there is good solo content, and from what I've seen the multiplayer is quite fun too.”
- “The game is really well optimized, it runs at 120 fps at 4k, I am loving it, the environments are lovely, the story is not that cheesy, the game is dynamic, the skill/shooting aspect is fun, the quality of life improvement just lovely.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, and I had to lower settings to medium to enjoy the game without FPS drops.”
- “This game is riddled with bugs, poorly optimized, and, best of all for a multiplayer game... multiplayer is not working.”
- “The optimization is trash; garbage dumpster fire.”
grinding
1,038 mentions
0 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the endgame where farming for gear can feel like a chore. While some enjoy the grind as part of the looter-shooter experience, others criticize the low drop rates for legendaries and the lack of meaningful rewards, leading to frustration and burnout. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grinding for loot, but it may not be enjoyable for players seeking a more varied or rewarding experience.
- “Again, the gameplay loop is sufficiently satisfying to keep you grinding for gear, but it would be nice if there was an item rebalance sometime soon.”
- “Good story, good gameplay, not too grindy, just an all around good game.”
- “Lots of flavor with character builds and not very grindy when it comes to the crafting system.”
- “Game becomes very tedious and feels like a chore to make it through the game.”
- “Farming for the right affixes on your favorite gear or weapon can be tedious to say the least and the re-rolling for the in-game currency can be quite obnoxious as it's based on the ever so lovely RNG system.”
- “End-game content: repeatable, not as rewarding as it should be, grindy to the point of not wanting to play anymore, and being extremely bored.”
humor
351 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, often described as dark, cheesy, and reminiscent of B-movie dialogue, with players finding amusement in both intentional jokes and unintentional glitches. While some appreciate the witty one-liners and absurd situations, others criticize the humor as forced or cringe-worthy, leading to a range of reactions from laughter to frustration. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute to its charm, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its unique blend of humor amidst gameplay challenges.
- “Some quests have hilarious outcomes.”
- “The most fun experience you can have is laughing at stupid cutscenes or seeing some weird new glitch or broken experience to point at and shame.”
- “The voice acting is hilariously bad and it had me laughing more than I should have.”
- “It's not funny anymore.”
- “It's not funny to just randomly die.”
- “It feels like an April Fools' joke... though I paid €60 for this one... not funny!”
replayability
241 mentions
30 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the variety of classes and builds that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize the linearity and lack of engaging endgame content. Many highlight the potential for replayability through different character classes and skill trees, but some feel that the overall experience becomes repetitive after the main story. Overall, while there are elements that support replayability, such as expeditions and character customization, opinions vary widely on its long-term appeal.
- “The game has an engaging story and multiple class types and builds, ensuring some generous replayability without a seasonal model.”
- “The variety of mods, skills, and classes makes this game extremely replayable.”
- “There are four classes to choose from, which gives it great replayability and allows you to skip along the story if you've heard it already.”
- “But it's linear as hell and not replayable, and it's dead now.”
- “The campaign replay value is painfully low and is filled with game-breaking bugs.”
- “Replayability is gonna be very low, aside from the 4 separate classes you can choose from you will go through the exact same motions every time with very little variety.”
music
181 mentions
31 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive and epic qualities, while others find it generic and forgettable. Many appreciate the atmospheric sound design and voice acting, but there are complaints about the music being too loud or not fitting the gameplay context. Overall, while some enjoy the soundtrack, others feel it lacks memorability and diversity, suggesting it could benefit from improvement.
- “The music, as far as I am concerned, is absolutely phenomenal, a truly epic soundtrack to accompany the player on a journey into the unknown.”
- “The music is great, and it's full of immersive little details, so that I feel almost a little disoriented when I stop playing.”
- “The story is very cool, the characters, and the music is really good!”
- “The music is horrible, bland, and uninspiring.”
- “The soundtrack is extremely forgettable.”
- “Music is sort of lackluster and unremarkable, and though it's generic it does come in on cue and do its job.”
monetization
171 mentions
5 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
63 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and predatory monetization strategies, which they find refreshing in today's gaming landscape. However, there are significant criticisms regarding the game's perceived cash grab nature, particularly concerning overpriced expansions and a lack of ongoing content updates, leading to feelings of disappointment among players who expected a more complete experience. Overall, while the lack of microtransactions is praised, the game's monetization practices and expansion strategies have left many feeling exploited.
- “A fun looter shooter with no microtransactions, no season passes, no bullshit live service crap.”
- “The developer People Can Fly is a relatively small dev house, communicates with their fans, refuses to put microtransactions into their game, and is genuinely trying to put out a good game.”
- “No microtransactions, no loot boxes, just pure game.”
- “And in one last hailmary cash grab, tried to sell an overpriced expansion that sunset the game in a state that the players, still loyal to the game, never wanted.”
- “They did exactly what I thought they would, which is to ignore all the glaring issues with the game, and then opt for a cash grab expansion.”
- “This game is nothing but a cash grab for the company.”
emotional
79 mentions
81 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the story to be boring and lacking depth, which diminishes emotional engagement. While some players noted moments of genuine emotional impact and strong character interactions, others criticized the narrative for being predictable and poorly executed, leading to frustration rather than connection. Overall, the game's attempts at emotional storytelling often fell flat, overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of compelling content.
- “Solid dialogue, unexpected plot twists, heart-wrenching moments.”
- “The story made me cry and was thrilling the entire time.”
- “It has been an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “At first, it was really fun to play, but as I progressed more and more, it became boring. This game is not good as I expected; the storyline is boring, the combat is ridiculous, and the NPCs are frustrating, making this game unplayable for me. Games like Mass Effect: Andromeda have a much better storyline and combat style. Other than that, this game is a mess.”
- “Legendary gear doesn't start to drop until Expedition 13, and it only goes to Expedition 15. The story is boring, with no twists or turns—just a hard pass.”
- “I want to like this game, but the repetitive, derivative gameplay is wrapped around a boring story that gives itself away with badly titled load screens. The endgame is just a lazy excuse to force you to play the same uninspiring levels over and over in search of 'better' gear.”
character development
71 mentions
41 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and integration into the story, while others criticize it as shallow and clichéd. Many appreciate the RPG elements that allow for skill and gear customization, but several reviewers note that the narrative lacks compelling character arcs and emotional engagement. Overall, while there are moments of strong character design and development, many feel it falls short of expectations, leaving players wanting more.
- “Greatly enjoyable, decent character development and story.”
- “I enjoyed the character development and story progression.”
- “The world of Outriders is rich with lore and character development, and skipping these interactions would mean missing out on a significant part of the experience.”
- “Character development is lacking, which leads to not caring if characters live or die.”
- “The story is weak, fast-paced, and easily forgotten with bad character designs.”
- “There's absolutely zilch in the way of character development.”
atmosphere
71 mentions
58 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, immersive environments, and compelling storytelling, effectively conveying a gritty and dystopian world. However, some players noted inconsistencies in sound design and voice acting that detract from the overall experience. While many appreciate the engaging ambiance and atmospheric details, others feel that the level design and quest variety could be improved to enhance immersion.
- “Beyond the story and combat, the main interest for many people is the brutal atmosphere present on Enoch.”
- “An interesting take on a dystopian future, fun and engaging combat, and a deep enough weapon and armor modding system all in a beautiful atmosphere makes for a winner for me.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is raw and, at times, terrifying (in a good storytelling way).”
- “It feels like they tried, but the voice acting and atmosphere just don't hit well enough.”
- “The time system for the expeditions generated a very toxic atmosphere with random teams.”
- “Games combat feels so lacking, like it's just so boring and easy to cheese out, plus for some reason the game has such a weird atmosphere, just doesn't sit right with me.”