Even in Beta, Outward 2 Delivers a Brutal Challenge That Won’t Suit All Gamers (But That’s The Point) [Preview]

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RPGs now come in all styles, from relaxing experiences to intensely difficult ones, meaning there’s something for every player. For those seeking a truly challenging game that doesn’t offer much assistance, the original Outward has been a long-time favorite. Now, Nine Dots is releasing the highly anticipated sequel, Outward 2. This new installment aims to deliver everything fans loved about the first game, improved with years of player feedback. I recently had a chance to play a beta version of Outward 2 ahead of its final Closed Beta on May 26th, to see what it has to offer.

Nine Dots isn’t exaggerating when they call Outward 2 a “challenging action RPG” that doesn’t hold your hand. The beta strongly suggests you try a tutorial first, and for good reason. You start as an ordinary person, completely on your own, trying to survive in a harsh world. This is a far cry from games like Skyrim where you’re the chosen hero, and it won’t appeal to all players. However, after playing for several hours, I understand the game’s vision – though it still feels a little unpolished in this beta version.

Outward 2 Levels Up Character Creation, But Getting Stronger Won’t Be Easy

So, the team at Nine Dots is really focusing on making character creation better in the Outward sequel. It’s the first thing you do in any RPG, right? And while Outward is all about being a normal person thrown into an extraordinary situation, I still want to feel like my character is my own. The character creator in the closed beta is a little rough around the edges, but there are some good options for how my character looks. But the cool part is the backgrounds and traits – you get to pick from 11 backgrounds and 10 traits, which really lets you build a starting character that fits how you want to play this tough survival game. They’re planning to add even more with different starting scenarios – eventually three will be available, but only one is in the beta right now.

After you create your character, the real adventure starts, and becoming more powerful won’t be simple. What I especially liked about Outward 2 is how it handles skills. You can’t just instantly unlock abilities with points. Instead, you have to do things in the game world to learn them – like cooking, crafting, or fighting enemies – before you can spend skill points. This makes the game feel more realistic and challenging, and it makes earning new skills feel truly rewarding and immersive, even if it takes time.

Getting stronger in Outward 2 takes time, and you’ll likely die frequently – especially if you’re not quick in combat! But dying isn’t a simple restart. Instead, you’ll face consequences – you might wake up robbed and stranded, forced to retrieve your belongings from a dangerous location, or you might get lucky and be carried back to town. The game makes you deal with the results of your mistakes, rather than just letting you try again. While I personally found this more annoying than enjoyable, I understand Nine Dots’ intention: to create a truly realistic challenge. Even in its beta state, Outward 2 is already delivering on that promise for players who crave a difficult experience.

It’s a Slow Burn with Some Kinks to Work Out, But Outward 2 Clearly Builds on Its Predecessor

To be honest, my first few hours with Outward 2 weren’t very enjoyable. The game really pushes you to learn its systems from the start, and it’s especially challenging if you didn’t play the original. However, once you get used to how Outward 2 approaches the action RPG genre – which is different from many popular games – it becomes incredibly addictive. You’ll find yourself wanting to play for hours on end. It’s important to remember this is still a beta, though, so expect to encounter bugs and glitches, like the amusingly invisible beds I found at the inn!

Nine Dots is focusing on several key improvements for the sequel to Outward, including more engaging combat, a stronger story, and a world that feels more dynamic and lively. While the beta version shows promise in these areas, there’s still work to be done. The world is populated with characters going about their daily lives, but they currently feel a bit limited. The characters you can interact with have interesting personalities, though the dialogue can be slow to load, which was occasionally frustrating. Despite these issues, the game is starting to feel immersive, and the lack of traditional quest markers helps with that. Instead of being told where to go, you’ll need to use a static map and learn the world yourself. This makes Aurai feel more personal, though those with a poor sense of direction might find themselves wandering in circles!

Combat is challenging to learn. Without good dodging and blocking skills, you’ll likely die quickly. While I personally find it more frustrating than smooth, it has potential for players who like quick, close-range fights against relentless enemies. I often tried to escape battles, only to be attacked from behind as I ran away.

I need to spend more time with Outward 2 before I can really talk about the story. The game’s quests have time limits, and I struggled to complete any of them during my first attempt. I spent too much time getting lost and dying, so my character hasn’t made much progress yet. However, I appreciate how even failing and starting over feels like a natural part of a larger, ongoing adventure in the game’s world.

I spent a lot of time playing the closed beta for Outward 2 and I’m excited to play more. While it’s still a bit unpolished and performance isn’t perfect even with the graphics turned down, if you’re looking for a challenging, realistic survival RPG that doesn’t guide you every step of the way, the Outward 2 beta is worth trying when it launches on May 26th. The beta is available until June 8th, giving you plenty of time to experience the game’s demanding but rewarding gameplay.

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2026-05-25 10:10