The Outer Worlds 2 is a sequel to the surprise hit space RPG The Outer Worlds, and in a lot of ways, the sequel is more like the original game than it is not. But with expanded worlds, more complex game systems, more RPG choices to make, and overhauled combat, even veteran Outer Worlds fans may have a hard time learning how to play the new entry.
Some of your most important choices in Outer Worlds 2 come at the start of the game, during the character creator when you decide the foundation of your build. After making your character, follow this guide to learn some of the best beginner Outer Worlds 2 tips to find your footing more effectively in the expansive, strange worlds of the Arcadian system.
Take Your Time In The Character Creator
Your Starting Build Dictates Available Choices In The Early Game
At the very start of The Outer Worlds 2 you will be prompted to prove your identity, entering the character creator. After customizing your character's appearance, you will have to choose a background, two Traits, and two Skills.
You can choose three Traits in character creation, but you will have to choose a Negative Trait to do so. If you pick Brilliant, you'll get to pick a third Skill.
Spend time here thinking about the kind of character you want to play. Whether you want to play a smooth-talking underground criminal, a mech-minded engineer, a greed-driven capitalist mercenary, or something else entirely, your decisions in the character creator will dictate what you can do in the early game.
The Inhaler Has Limited Uses - Be Careful
Recharge the Inhaler With Certain Consumables & Auto Docs
Out of combat, you can eat food or restore Health in other ways. But during combat in Outer Worlds 2, the Medical Inhaler is your only way to heal on demand (or by using VAL's companion ability, but that has a cooldown).
However, Medical Inhaler charges do not refill naturally. You must find Auto Doc stations to get Inhaler Charges or build up to a full charge by collecting Drug pickups out in the world. Go out of your way to get the Shield generator from the auto-mech station south of Westport to have a way to reduce the amount of direct Health damage you take.
Generally, Ammo Is Scarce – Be Conservative
Until You Get Lots of Crafting Materials & Bits, Ammo Is Hard to Come By
At the start of the game, players have extremely limited ammo, and it can be easy to run out of bullets before you amass enough Bits to refill your bandolier – let alone find enough crafting materials to craft ammo at a bench.
Melee weapons do not use ammo, which can be a good way to save ammo in the early game before you build up a stock of crafting materials or get enough Bits to purchase ammo.
Try to conserve your ammo and avoid engaging in combat until you complete a few side missions or otherwise earn enough Bits to buy ammo. If you do run out of an ammo type, swap to another weapon (if available) that uses a different ammo type.
Let Yourself Get Distracted By Side Quests & Exploration
Great Weapons, Equipment, & Narrative Moments Lie Off The Main Path
The Outer Worlds 2 is a larger game than Outer Worlds 1, both in terms of the size of explorable areas and the amount of side content and side missions you can pick up. The worst thing you can do in such a well-developed world is race toward the end of the main story.
Whenever you get tired of chasing the main mission, take some time to explore the world around you and clear out Fog of War from your region map. You might be surprised how much there is waiting just off the beaten path, especially if you want to see some of the game's most unique characters, stories, locations, and equippable items.
Available Perks Are Determined By Your Skill Levels
Level Certain Skills Over Others If You Want A Specific Perk
At Level 2, you will be able to choose between one of several starting Perks in Outer Worlds 2. These perks are basic and don't really have any special requirements to pick up. Every even level grants a Perk Point to spend in addition to the normal 2x Skill Points.
The vast majority of Perks in Outer Worlds 2 have Skill prerequisites. For example, to pick up the Connoisseur Perk (which increases Food and Drug Health/Inhaler percentages), you must have at least 1 level in Medical skill.
Plan ahead, and scroll through the Perks list to find later-game perks that you might be interested in. Favorite them to track their requirements, then allot points into the required skills to earn your desired Perks more efficiently.
Loot Everything – There Is No Weight Limit
No Equip Load in Outer Worlds 2 Means Unlimited Materials & Pickups
In some RPGs, items you pick up will contribute to your overall weight, limiting your movement speed or forcing players to manage their inventories every time they pick up something heavy. In Outer Worlds 2, there is no equip load or weight limit, so players can pick up every weapon, every piece of armor, every consumable, and every item they find without worry.
It's a good idea to loot just about anything that doesn't count as stealing (which will make nearby NPCs hostile to you). Not only can you sell everything you don't use for easy Bits, you can also Break Down junk items to quickly gain a lot of Crafting Materials, which can be hard to come by otherwise.
Don't Forget To Use Companion Abilities
Niles Can Teleport To & Taunt a Target, V.A.L.E.R.I.E. Can Heal You
At the start of the game, there are two Outer Worlds 2 companions: Niles and V.A.L.E.R.I.E. (VAL). You can unlock more companions later on, and every companion has a unique Companion Ability that you can activate to command them to perform a certain action.
Niles can taunt a target enemy, teleporting to them and shooting them rapidly for a few seconds, while VAL will slowly restore your Health over a short time. Don't forget to use your Companion Abilities, or you may find combat more difficult than it needs to be.
Learn How To Quick Save & Load in Outer Worlds 2
Quick Saving Is Necessary to See Outcomes of Different Choices
The Outer Worlds 2 is a very choice-driven game, and there are many points of no return when you will be forced to choose between a set of options to influence how events will play out. For example, when you reach the Vox Relay, you will have the option to send it to one of three locations, each with wildly different results.
Outer Worlds 2 does not auto-save as often as some other RPGs – learning how to Quick Save is not just good for seeing the outcomes of choices, but it's also a good habit you form to avoid losing too much progress should you die suddenly.
If you are someone who likes to see multiple outcomes before making a choice, or if you are just curious what would happen if you choose one option over another, you should take full advantage of the quick save mechanic.
On PC, you can quick save with F5 and quick load with F9, while console players will have to open up the menu and manually save if they want to go back before a pivotal choice.
The Outer Worlds 2
- Released
- October 29, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Prequel(s)
- The Outer Worlds
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
