With the long-awaited sequel on the way later this year, 2025 is a perfect time to jump back into The Outer Worlds for a fresh playthrough ahead of The Outer Worlds 2. Either for gamers who haven’t played the original The Outer Worlds in years or for players who still haven’t experienced their first playthrough yet, this year is arguably a great time to do so.
While the core gameplay of The Outer Worlds remains the same, the game has still seen a handful of improvements over the past five years since The Outer Worlds' original release in 2019. Whether fans are looking to refresh on the franchise’s story or to experience some of the latest post-launch additions and improvements, there’s arguably never been a better time to revisit The Outer Worlds with a fresh playthrough than in 2025.
The Outer Worlds Could Fill a Unique Niche By Going the Opposite Direction as Avowed
The Outer Worlds could distinguish itself from other Obsidian IPs by going in the opposite direction as Avowed and the Pillars of Eternity series.
Why The Outer Worlds is Worth Playing in 2025
Experience The Outer Worlds’ Post-Launch Additions and Improvements
By now there are two DLCs available for The Outer Worlds, as well as a next-gen update that brings improvements to the game’s visuals via the Spacer’s Choice Edition. Even for players who plan on playing on last-generation consoles, the Spacer’s Choice Edition of The Outer Worlds is still arguably a must-have because it increases the level cap from 36 to 99, giving players much more freedom in how to upgrade their character. For players who haven’t played the game since it first launched, experiencing these post-launch additions and improvements can be the perfect excuse to start a new playthrough.
The Outer Worlds Has New Perks Depending on Players’ Platform of Choice
- Gamers can play The Outer Worlds on the go via the convenience of the Nintendo Switch.
- On PC, players can download community mods for The Outer Worlds, ranging from the addition of features like new game plus, and several ways to fine-tune the difficulty with combat and perk balancing changes.
- The base game of The Outer Worlds is currently available on Xbox Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can get the DLCs at a discounted rate.
- On PlayStation 5, The Outer Worlds supports the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback features.
See The Outer Worlds’ Different Endings
With the raised level cap available in The Outer Worlds’ Spacer’s Choice Edition, it’s now much easier to achieve one of the game’s endings that are locked behind a high-level skill check. Alternatively, instead of striving for an ending that requires a high-level skill check, one of The Outer Worlds’ different endings is only possible if players can meet a low-level Intelligence skill check, often referred to as the dumb-playthrough ending.
In total, there are three different endings for The Outer Worlds, and many branching questline choices along the way that can provide plenty of fresh variety between subsequent playthroughs. Considering all the different routes of progression players can take and how the order of certain events can affect the story, regardless of how the story ultimately ends, every playthrough of The Outer Worlds can still be vastly unique, making it quite a replayable experience.
Prepare for The Outer Worlds 2 with a Fresh Playthrough of the Original
Another reason why The Outer Worlds is worth returning to for a fresh playthrough in 2025 is for the sake of a refresh of the franchise’s story and universe ahead of The Outer Worlds 2 releasing later this year. While it’s seemingly unlikely that any particular factions, characters, or locations from the original game will make a return appearance in The Outer Worlds 2, since the sequel is said to take place in a separate Solar system, a refresh could still come in handy for navigating the RPG elements of the sequel in subtle, yet satisfying ways.
Outside of a general release window of 2025, the exact release date for The Outer Worlds 2 still hasn’t been announced.
The Outer Worlds
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- October 25, 2019
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
WHERE TO PLAY
The Outer Worlds is a new single-player sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division. As you explore the furthest reaches of space and encounter a host of factions all vying for power, who you decide to become will determine the fate of everyone in Halcyon. In the corporate equation for the colony, you are the unplanned variable.
Lost in transit while on a colonist ship bound for the furthest edge of the galaxy, you awake decades later than you expected only to find yourself in the midst of a deep conspiracy threatening to destroy the Halcyon colony. As you explore the furthest reaches of space and encounter a host of factions all vying for power, who you decide to become will determine the fate of everyone in Halcyon. In the corporate equation for the colony, you are the unplanned variable.
Welcome to the future - try not to break it.
