Games

The Outer Worlds 2 Should Learn From Starfield

Published

2 hours ago

January 11, 2025

In the wake of Starfield, The Outer Worlds 2 has to deliver when it comes to exploration. Naturally, one would expect this to be a notable focus of games that revolve around space travel. Considering how Starfield and The Outer Worlds both gave players plenty of opportunities to do so, the industry seems to realize that. The Outer Worlds 2 could take the opportunity presented to it and outdo its predecessors in that regard, taking its version of space exploration to new heights. Doing so could set the bar for future sci-fi games to aim for.

Players should expect to hear about The Outer Worlds 2 sometime soon, considering its announced 2025 release date. However even as it stands, players can make a few reasonable assumptions based on the previous game. The Outer Worlds was a sci-fi adventure with a heavy dose of satire, taking place in a universe where corporations had near-total power to the point of owning entire planets. The game saw players recruiting a crew, trekking across multiple planets, solving problems, and fighting villains. It was a sardonic RPG with the spirit of old sci-fi pulp, giving the game a memorable identity among its peers.

The Outer Worlds 2 Understands Trailers

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The Outer Worlds 2’s gameplay trailer was an old-school offering that included everything a trailer should without giving away important details.

The Outer Worlds 2 Needs to Make Its Planets Exciting and Well Worth Exploring

Many of Starfield’s Planets Lacked Notable Identifying Traits

Players had plenty of planets to explore in Starfield, but unfortunately, they didn’t always feel like they were worth exploring. Many of the game’s planets offer little of note aside from giving players a place to find resources. A part of this could be the result of the game’s use of procedurally generated planets, which are stretched quite thin when applied to the sheer amount of planets in the game. As a result, exploring can feel thankless because the player doesn’t often find anything truly new. It was a disappointment for an ambitious game, and The Outer Worlds 2 can’t repeat that.

The Outer Worlds 2 Can Introduce a Plethora of Planets

When it comes to letting players explore new planets in The Outer Worlds 2, the developers must ensure that there is good reason to do so. Every area that players could explore in The Outer Worlds had some good reason for the player to visit, and quests sent players all around the game’s playable regions. The Outer Worlds 2 already has a valid way to expand on this by adding more planets and biomes than the first game featured. A wider variety of landscapes would hopefully lead to more interesting setpieces, treasures, and quests worth pursuing.

The Outer Worlds 2’s Adventures Have Potential to Get Creatively Absurd

The Outer Worlds 2 could have another secret weapon to make its exploration more exciting. The Outer Worlds‘ science weapons were unique creations that could affect battles in ways that no other weapons could. Additionally, science weapons would be great treasures for players to uncover. At the same time, a similar influence could be applied to exploration. Planets or areas with unique effects involving physics, gravity, locomotion, or other features could add a touch of creativity and challenge to exploring. If The Outer Worlds 2 seeks to outdo its predecessor, then a dash of wild science could do the trick.

A wider variety of landscapes would hopefully lead to more interesting setpieces, treasures, and quests worth pursuing.

Space is naturally an exciting prospect, and The Outer Worlds 2 should make that come through when players explore it. If The Outer Worlds 2 gets creative, its worlds could be a sight to behold. While the first game was a good starting point, the developers have room to expand far more now that they have an existing framework. Starfield showed some potential but also showcased some key flaws. The Outer Worlds 2 can learn from the past and offer one of gaming’s best spacefaring adventures.