The Outer Worlds, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, has skillfully carved its niche within the RPG (Role-Playing Game) universe. Its unique blend of wry humor, dystopian storytelling, smooth game mechanics and space exploration has endeared players worldwide. However, an intrepid gamer always craves the next adventure. For fans of The Outer Worlds seeking engagement in fresh galaxies, here are five alternative games, each possessing a blend of interstellar exploration, action-packed combat, and engrossing storylines.
1. Mass Effect 2
Developed by BioWare and released in 2010, Mass Effect 2 holds an esteemed place in action RPG canon. With its deep, character-driven storyline, strategic combat, and richly detailed world-building, it's a must-play title for any fan of The Outer Worlds.
Gameplay and Story
Mass Effect 2 allows players complete control over Commander Shepard and tasks them with assembling and maintaining an eccentric crew to combat an imminent and grave threat to humanity. Active combat relies on utilizing team skills effectively, making split-second decisions to ensure survival. Non-combat gameplay involves extensive dialogue trees and critical decision-making that affects the direction and outcome of the story.
Setting
The game is set in a vast, intricate galaxy filled with diverse alien races and factions. Each planet visited provides a unique experience, allowing players to indulge in deep exploration across multiple star systems.
2. No Man's Sky
Next on our list is No Man's Sky. Developed by Hello Games, it offers an entirely different experience from The Outer Worlds but captures the same sense of space exploration and adventure.
Gameplay and Story
In No Man's Sky, players are thrust into an expansive, procedurally-generated universe. Gameplay elements include exploration, survival, combat, and trading. As for the story, it brims with mystery as players follow cryptic signals and learn the truth about the universe while continually upgrading their character and spaceship.
Setting
Its near-infinite universe holds 18 quintillion planets, each with its unique ecosystem, fauna, flora, and weather cycles. It's a haven for keen space explorers willing to lose themselves in a ceaseless sense of discovery.
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Coined one of the greatest Star Wars games ever made, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic blends RPG elements with memorable characters and a gripping storyline set within the iconic Star Wars universe.
Gameplay and Story
This game follows a classic RPG set-up with a twist: players explore various planets, engage in tactical combats and make critical decisions that sway the story towards the dark or light side of the Force. The player character begins as a blank slate, allowing for extensive customization.
Setting
Knights of the Old Republic takes place 4000 years before the Galactic Empire's rise. The game allows visits to known Star Wars locations and alien planets, providing thorough exploration punctuated by an epic narrative.
4. Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous, developed by Frontier Developments, is an excellent choice for fans of space simulation. Its open-world environment fosters exploration with incredible depth and diversity.
Gameplay and Story
Players start with a small starship and a few credits, then are set free into an open galaxy where they can do as they please. The major gameplay elements encompass exploration, trading, combat, and diplomacy. The game lacks a traditional narrative but replaces it with a dynamic, player-influenced story model.
Setting
Tellurian geography is represented in a 1:1 scale in the Milky Way, fostering unparalleled diversity in space exploration. Elite Dangerous's universe is a living, breathing place that tests player skills and resilience.
5. Cyberpunk 2077
If fans of The Outer Worlds are more attracted to its hefty dose of dystopia, then Cyberpunk 2077 fits the bill. Developed by CD Projekt Red, the game offers an intricate narrative, versatile gameplay, and an immersive, dystopian world.
Gameplay and Story
Cyberpunk 2077 introduces gamers to the First-person action RPG genre. The game enables players to customize their characters deeply and make story-altering decisions. Vibrant city exploration, rewarding combat sequences, hacking mechanics, and complex relationships form the bedrock of gameplay.
Setting
The game is set in Night City, a teeming metropolis obsessed with power, glamour, body modifications, and the glaring divide between the rich and the poor. It's a grim, captivating look into a possible future.
Wrapping up, replaying The Outer Worlds remains an appealing prospect, but the universes listed above provide galaxies brimming with adventures and secrets waiting to be explored. Whether it's traditional RPGs like Mass Effect 2, space simulators like Elite Dangerous, or expansive open-world experiences like Cyberpunk 2077, there's a universe out there for every ardent gamer to lose themselves.