Pick whichever The Outer Worlds 2 background you want, but this one skill is absolutely vital on the first planet

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Xbox Game Pass subscribers can now play The Outer Worlds 2! Before diving into Obsidian’s latest space adventure, you’ll need to create your character by selecting a background, traits, and starting skills.

As someone who plays a lot of RPGs, I’m used to knowing that the choices you make right at the beginning – like what class you pick and how you spend your first skill points – actually matter down the line. It’s not just fluff; those early decisions really affect how the game plays out.

Because of this, it’s common to spend a lot of time in the game’s character creation menus, trying to figure out the best way to build your character from the beginning.

When it comes to future problems, your skills matter much more than where you come from or what you’ve done in the past.

When I first played through The Outer Worlds 2 for our review, I chose the ‘Roustabout’ background for my character.

I was curious about the game’s humor and thought this option would highlight the funny parts of the story.

I decided to create a character who’s a bit of a mess, someone who surprisingly succeeds despite constantly messing up and always manages to avoid real consequences. I’m glad I went with that idea.

Choosing ‘Roustabout’ at the beginning unlocks funny conversations throughout the game. I never regretted picking it, even though it seemed like a silly choice. In fact, the game often surprised me with little jokes and humorous moments because of it.

I highly recommend being careful with how you spend your skill points. Choosing the wrong skills early on can create difficult situations later in the game that you won’t be equipped to handle.

In fact, there’s one area in which I’d really recommend that you pump a few skill points early on.

My top tip is to invest four skill points into the Hack ability as early as possible.

Why, I hear you ask?

I’m about to reveal something that could spoil the story, so if you don’t want even a hint of what happens, you should probably stop listening now.

Just checking you’re still with me! It’s important to have a Hack skill level of four or higher, because that’s needed to complete the main objective on the first planet.

After the initial tutorial, the game truly begins as you land on a planet with one main objective: to sneak into a hidden laboratory known as the Vox Relay.

Reaching the Vox Relay will likely take several hours, and you’ll probably gain a few levels during the journey. This gives you a good opportunity to spend some skill points on improving your Hacking ability.

After completing the Vox Relay mission, you’ll be presented with a quick decision via a computer. This choice will have significant consequences for many people in different places.

Without at least four points in the Hack skill, you can’t resolve this situation peacefully. You’ll be forced to choose between two unfavorable options, with no good outcome available.

If you invest four skill points in the Hack ability, you can easily avoid problems and complete the first planet without causing major damage or upsetting any groups. That’s why I highly recommend maximizing your Hack skill before finishing up on the Vox Relay.

As you progress in the game, you’ll eventually face challenges that require skills you haven’t yet developed. If you prefer to talk your way out of fights, investing a few points in Speech is a good idea. Also, a little bit of Engineering can be really helpful.

Everyone plays differently, and you’ll discover what works best for you as you play – like which skills you rely on and what weapons you prefer in battle.

When it comes to choosing your character’s strengths and weaknesses, there aren’t any bad choices. Just read the descriptions and pick whatever appeals to you!

I selected the Consumerism flaw because I felt the benefits outweighed the potential downsides. I also made sure to choose traits that fit how I like to play – for example, I didn’t bother with skills like pickpocketing or stealth, so I avoided traits focused on those areas.

Definitely put four points into Hacking early on – you’ll be glad you did! Just a heads-up, you can’t change your skill points after the tutorial, so choose carefully!

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2025-10-30 15:35