The Outer Worlds

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,963 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Outer Worlds Game Cover
Starting at $12.56Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store Get on Epic Games Store Get on PS Store

In "The Outer Worlds," explore a darkly humorous corporate-controlled galaxy, where mega-corporations have taken over. As a colonist stranded on the edge of space, make decisions that impact your character's skills, abilities, and playstyle. Shape your story through branching quests and recruit companions to help you survive and uncover the truth behind the colony's sinister dealings.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,963 reviews
story2,736 positive mentions
optimization82 negative mentions
  • story8,258 mentions

    The story of "The Outer Worlds" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its humor and character-driven narrative, while others criticize its brevity and linearity. The main storyline is often described as short, typically taking around 10-20 hours to complete, with side quests that can feel repetitive or like mere fetch quests. However, the game is praised for its engaging dialogue, well-developed companions, and the meaningful choices that impact the story's outcome, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

    • “The story and dialogue are quite well written, the voice acting is very good, the aesthetics are nice, the sound design is good, the graphics are good, the in-game systems are logical and almost entirely intuitive.”
    • “The story is engaging, yet it always leaves you breathing room with the pacing so that you feel like you have time for side quests.”
    • “The story is much more linear, and sometimes repetitive, but the characters and quests make it worth it.”
    • “The main story is incredibly short, and I could probably beat it in 2 or 3 hours if I tried.”
    • “The story feels like it wants to make a statement, but it's too cowardly to say it and turns everything into a caricature that further weakens its own point.”
    • “The main story is shallow and did not hold my interest at all.”
  • gameplay2,203 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Outer Worlds" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its similarities to the Fallout series, particularly in its RPG mechanics and first-person shooter elements. While some appreciate the solid combat mechanics and engaging story, others criticize the gameplay for being repetitive, simplistic, and lacking depth, with a reliance on fetch quests and limited enemy variety. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for its humor and narrative, but it may not satisfy those seeking innovative gameplay or significant challenge.

    • “You spend over 4 hours playing the game because the story, combat, and overall gameplay is amazing.”
    • “Great gameplay, perfect graphics, awesome optimization, rare game that has 'soul'.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics in The Outer Worlds strike a perfect balance between action and role-playing elements.”
    • “The gameplay of the mission is talking to your companion, walking to the opposite side of the map, talking to an engineer, walk back to the other side of the map to talk to your companion, walk to a bar and have a 10 minute conversation with your companion, walk back to your ship and talk to your companion again, and the mission ends.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly fetching and combat, but the combat was satisfying.”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive, there's no real diversity with boss fights and enemy and you will soon realize all the fights are made up the same way, a ranged enemy + a melee enemy and some kind of animal or bot.... that's it.”
  • graphics1,568 mentions

    The graphics of "The Outer Worlds" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and colorful environments that evoke a retro-futuristic aesthetic reminiscent of classic sci-fi. While some players find the visuals stunning and well-optimized, others criticize them as dated or overly cartoonish, leading to a polarized reception. Overall, the game's graphics are generally considered good, though not groundbreaking, with some technical issues reported on various platforms.

    • “The graphics are wonderful, and the art direction is top-tier.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning, the character options are on par with many of the other AAA role-playing games that I've come to love, and the story is very interesting thus far.”
    • “The graphics are great, the combat is great, the story is great, the game is reasonably bug-free, and the whole presentation is engaging.”
    • “I genuinely hate how this game looks aesthetically too.”
    • “The limitations of the graphic engine are glaringly apparent, and the gameplay boils down to running errands while engaging in simplistic combat.”
    • “The graphics are desperate, I don’t think it has progressed since the graphics used for New Vegas.”
  • humor1,197 mentions

    The humor in "The Outer Worlds" is a defining feature, characterized by its dark, satirical take on corporate culture and absurdity, reminiscent of the Fallout series. While many players appreciate the witty dialogue and clever character interactions, some find the humor can feel forced or repetitive over time. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging storytelling, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and originality.

    • “The dialogue is witty and character interactions between companions are as immersive as they are funny.”
    • “The success of the humor is how dry it is; everything is played straight, and you're the only one to point out the absurdity of some situations.”
    • “The humor throughout was great, especially when having sarcastic and cynical moments throughout the story and different possible endings.”
    • “I literally cannot reiterate enough how annoyingly unfunny this game is at times, especially with its insanely on-the-nose parody of corporations, annihilating the tone and ability to actually take any of the in-game factions seriously. It feels like each location belongs in a Rick and Morty fan-fiction or cutaway gag, and I mean that as the biggest insult possible.”
    • “A constant barrage of unfunny, sarcastic jokes and puns written by middle-aged men trying to pander to zoomers.”
    • “The dialogues are full of options (which is a plus), but for the most part just boring and not funny.”
  • music364 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and fit the "frontier adventure" theme, while others find it forgettable or lacking in variety. Highlights include strong soundtracks and effective voice acting, contributing to an immersive experience, though some players noted that the music can become repetitive or underwhelming over time. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a strong point, with some tracks standing out as particularly memorable.

    • “The music in this game is absolutely fantastic.”
    • “Bell did a marvelous job designing the background music; it sets the tone for the entire game, and you'll find yourself playing it again long after you've finished.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic and the art style is beautifully executed.”
    • “The music is very forgettable and minimalist, with barely any excitement and identity.”
    • “The soundtrack wasn't that great and contained a pretty small and repetitive number of songs that were used throughout the game.”
    • “Even the music sucks .. i have no idea how this game got so much praise and after playing Horizon Zero Dawn, I can confidently say that this game doesn't even remotely measure up.”
  • optimization330 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame rate drops, even on high-end systems. While some users praise the visuals and overall gameplay experience, the introduction of a paid performance patch has drawn criticism, with many feeling that optimization should not be locked behind a paywall. Overall, the game is seen as poorly optimized, with calls for further updates to address these technical shortcomings.

    • “Great gameplay, perfect graphics, awesome optimization, rare game that has 'soul'.”
    • “The performance, on the other hand, is rock solid.”
    • “In all seriousness this game is super optimized, of all the things that I loved about this game, the optimization is what caught my attention the most!”
    • “Love this game but it's poorly optimized.”
    • “The performance is the worst part of this game.”
    • “Charging $10 for a performance patch with reshade is peak shady developer behavior.”
  • replayability311 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while there are multiple paths, character builds, and endings to explore, it often feels limited compared to titles like Fallout or Skyrim. Some players appreciate the variety in choices and the impact of decisions on the story, while others find the linearity and shorter playtime diminish the incentive for multiple playthroughs. Overall, it offers decent replay value, particularly for those interested in experimenting with different play styles and character builds, but may not satisfy those seeking extensive replayability.

    • “The variety of potential character builds makes replayability huge in addition to the different choices that affect the outcome during the main quest line and missions/side quests.”
    • “The characters and quests continue to be interesting, and I can imagine some good replayability from choosing different crewmembers to come with you on various quests, choosing different specialties so your main character has different options open to them, solving the quests differently, and seeing what that causes down the line.”
    • “With multiple planets worth of side content and multiple paths and endings, there's replayability to be had.”
    • “The main story is short and the writing is mediocre at times, no real weight to your decisions and makes the game less replayable.”
    • “There really isn't enough replayability for me.”
    • “Not much, if any, replay value.”
  • atmosphere191 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, blending elements of retro-futurism, humor, and rich world-building reminiscent of titles like Fallout and Bioshock. Players appreciate the attention to detail in visuals and sound design, which enhance the overall experience, although some critiques mention inconsistencies and a lack of depth in certain areas. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, contributing significantly to player engagement and enjoyment.

    • “When you play Obsidian games, you can always count on the high-quality world-building and great atmosphere.”
    • “The attention to detail in character designs, weapon models, and the overall atmosphere is remarkable, adding an extra layer of depth to the game world.”
    • “The atmosphere and visual design combined with the sounds and music give you a perfect world to get lost in.”
    • “They wanted the bleak atmosphere of Fallout but instead just ripped it off and added the easy target of big business, and in a completely tone-deaf move, used in-game corporate advertising for its own DLC, completely undermining the supposed anti-capitalist message in it!”
    • “The game's satire basically destroys itself through sheer overindulgence, and with it goes much of its carefully crafted atmosphere.”
    • “One of my major complaints is the game's atmosphere (and sometimes lack thereof).”
  • stability190 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a generally smooth experience and minimal bugs or glitches. However, some users have experienced issues such as freezing, frame rate drops, and occasional crashes, particularly in specific locations or under certain conditions. Overall, while the game is often praised for its polish and stability compared to other titles in the genre, some players still encounter frustrating technical problems.

    • “Mostly bug free and very stable too, which was very surprising for a game of this genre.”
    • “The game runs 'straight out of the box' and appears to be virtually bug free.”
    • “The gameplay is clean, the mechanics are bug free, and the whole vibe of the game gives Skyrim and Fallout NV nostalgia.”
    • “The game freezes sometimes and there is massive FPS loss on specific locations.”
    • “Even at low PC settings the game constantly freezes or just crashes randomly.”
    • “I have all the requirements to run it, and then some, but it won't open half the time and when it does the game is a broken buggy mess.”
  • grinding179 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the abundance of uninspired quests and combat mechanics that lack engagement. While some appreciate the story and humor, the overall sentiment leans towards the gameplay feeling like a chore, with numerous mentions of needing "a second life for grinding" to endure the monotonous tasks and inventory management. Despite some redeeming qualities, the grind-heavy nature detracts from the overall enjoyment for many players.

    • “Only played at easier levels, but leveling isn't too grindy and the world scales appropriately.”
    • “Game devs need to understand that games are meant to be fun, not grindy.”
    • “+ achievements are not grindy or hard to get.”
    • “This game is so tedious; go here, fight through overpowered monsters, endure 10 minutes of pointless, badly scripted and acted garbage, rinse and repeat... somehow engineered all the fun out of this game.”
    • “The quests have some interesting features and a bit of variety to them, but by the end of the game, the appeal wears off and they become a bit tedious (e.g. go clear this building, go loot this place, go find and kill this creature).”
    • “Ultimately, I found it to be a tedious exercise to simply keep engaging with it.”
  • character development121 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and customization options available for player characters and companions, while others criticize the lack of meaningful growth and impact from choices made throughout the story. Some players appreciated the engaging dialogue and interactions among companions, but felt that overall character arcs were often shallow or formulaic. The game's character design and writing were noted as strong points, yet several reviewers expressed disappointment in the limited development compared to previous titles by the same developers.

    • “The world-building is intriguing and the character development is well-done, giving players plenty of opportunities to shape their own story.”
    • “I really appreciate the amount of character development for each of the possible companions.”
    • “The story is great and there's always more than one way to go about any and every hurdle you may encounter; I especially love the way they get you invested with your followers/crewmates and not only have it lead to character development and individual perks for them but also have the impact you made on them be known.”
    • “Aside from the gameplay being slow, the story also seemed to have nothing to give up right away to keep me interested with no character development whatsoever and a very unclear agenda.”
    • “Character development of your squad mates is weak.”
    • “The story is great and there's always more than one way to go about any and every hurdle you may encounter, I especially love the way they get you invested with your followers/crewmates and not only have it lead to character development and individual perks for them but also have the impact you made on them be known.”
  • emotional105 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the heartfelt character interactions and impactful storytelling that evoke strong feelings, while others criticize the lack of emotional investment due to bland characters and a weak narrative. Notably, the representation of asexuality and specific companion quests, like Parvati's, are highlighted as touching moments, but the overall emotional weight is undermined by humor that feels out of place and a story that fails to engage many players. Ultimately, while some find the game deeply moving, others feel disconnected and uninvested in the characters and plot.

    • “The memorable cast of characters, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations, adds depth and emotional investment to the story.”
    • “I absolutely adored Parvati as a character and her companion quest was so freaking good, cute, and wholesome, and that was the point I genuinely fell in love with this game.”
    • “Made me cry, wonderful game, very pretty, story rich with endearing characters, play it.”
    • “Otherwise, it's a snooze-fest with a boring story line and bland gameplay.”
    • “Outer Worlds takes everything that was wrong with Fallout 4 (clunky combat, dry character interactions, boring factions, annoying companions, dry boring landscapes, glitches, and most importantly a boring story to save your son that the player... just doesn't care about) and flips it on its head!”
    • “Boring story, unoriginal jokes, stereotypical characters.”
  • monetization85 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and the overall value for money, describing it as a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape. However, there are significant criticisms regarding the game's heavy reliance on in-game advertising and perceived cash grab tactics, particularly with the DLCs and corporate sponsorships that undermine its anti-capitalist themes. Overall, while the game offers a complete experience without additional costs, the aggressive advertising and corporate elements have left some players feeling conflicted.

    • “I like that there are no microtransactions, although it's sad that this isn't the norm these days.”
    • “On the positive side, I enjoy the lack of microtransactions and getting a full game for the money I paid.”
    • “A full game at a fair price with no shady monetization.”
    • “The game was massively unfinished, still is and is nothing more than a cash grab.”
    • “Ah yes, the game with an aggressively anti-corporate message now engages in a blatant cash grab.”
    • “The advertisements had more personality than the actual game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy The Outer Worlds

Play time

31hMedian play time
42hAverage play time
13hMain story
39hCompletionist
20-48hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 192 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News