Outward 2 is building on what made the first game unique: challenging survival elements, detailed character development, and a gameplay style that doesn’t offer much help. The sequel promises more complex systems, improved fighting, and a world that feels even more alive. It looks set to be a tougher, but ultimately more satisfying, experience when it launches in 2027. Here are fifteen things to keep in mind before you start playing.
An Open World, Survival-Driven RPG Sequel
Back in 2019, Outward was the game to play if you craved a brutally difficult and complex survival experience. Though it had some technical issues and wasn’t perfectly polished, it’s since become a beloved title for those who enjoy a challenge. Now, Outward 2 promises an even bolder and more demanding sequel that still offers plenty of rewards. This new installment ramps up the difficulty with meaningful RPG choices, diverse ways to play, improved combat, and incredibly tough enemies – making survival in its beautiful open world much harder than before.
A Relatable, Human Journey
In Outward 2, you start as a normal person – an ordinary citizen with no special abilities or combat training. You gain skills and choose a class by exploring the dangerous wilderness beyond city walls and surviving its challenges. The developers at Nine Dots Studio call this game “the ultimate adventurer simulation,” focusing on the rewarding journey from being a complete novice to a skilled hero, and exploring the relatable, human side of that experience.
Survival is Your First Concern
Before I could even think about being a hero in Outward 2, I was immediately thrown into just trying to survive. Seriously, I was way more likely to die from being hungry, thirsty, or just plain tired – or even getting caught in bad weather – than from any monster. The game doesn’t really help you out much, but it’s not trying to be mean about it. All the stuff like getting sick or exhausted isn’t about punishing you, it’s about making you learn to prepare for things. And trust me, you’re going to need to be prepared, because things only get harder and more dangerous as you go further in the game.
Your Backpack Can Be a Source of Friction
One of the things that really makes Outward 2 feel real is how the backpack works. You’re constantly juggling what to bring – food, weapons, potions, all the camping stuff. It’s a tough choice because if you pack too much, you move super slow. But if you leave something behind, you might really need it later and be in trouble. And honestly, no matter how much stuff I’m carrying, I always drop my bag before a fight. It lets me dodge roll away from danger, even if just for a split second, and that can be a lifesaver.
Fully Playable Online and Co-op
You can definitely finish Outward 2 playing by yourself, but it’s more fun with a friend! The game fully supports both online and local split-screen co-op, letting players easily join and leave whenever they want. Currently, there isn’t a way to find partners within the game itself, so if you’re looking for someone to play with, the developers recommend checking their Discord server.
Aurai is a Dynamic Open World
The sequel is visually stunning, but the world of Aurai is dangerous. Getting around can be tough since there’s no fast travel or way to ride creatures, so planning your routes carefully is essential. The game features four different regions, each with its own unique environments, dangers, and challenges – meaning you’ll have to change your equipment and strategy as you explore. For example, strong armor that protects you in a monster-filled forest will actually be harmful in the hot desert. Basically, preparation is key!
Cycling Seasonal Shifts
The variety of environments isn’t the only challenge in Aurai—the seasons and weather also change how you play. That monster-filled forest, for example, is pleasant in spring but becomes icy in winter, blocking off old routes while potentially opening new ones. To survive, you’ll need to learn to deal with both scorching heat and bitter cold as the game’s seasons shift.
Character Creation Includes Starting Scenarios
A key feature of creating your character in Outward 2 is choosing how their adventure begins. Beyond selecting family history and skills, you decide where your character starts – will they be a miner from the mountains, or someone who lives underground? It’s not yet clear if these starting locations lead to completely different storylines, or if they eventually come together, but they give you a much more compelling reason to leave your home than just customizing appearance and abilities.
Exercises is a New Progression System
Many of the improvements in Outward 2 build upon what was already there, but the new Exercise system is a complete game-changer for how your character improves. By doing things like surviving, crafting, and fighting, you complete ‘exercises’ that you can then use to permanently boost your stats and unlock new abilities. You can focus on five different skill areas, but you won’t be able to master everything. This encourages players to carefully plan their character’s development and choose a specific playstyle to specialize in.
The Reading System Synergises with Exercises
While actively practicing skills is important in Outward 2, learning also requires dedicated study. The game features a Reading system where you’ll need to find and study books at your camp to gain foundational knowledge. Just like Exercises, reading takes time and effort. You’ll need to make progress in both reading and practice before trainers – found throughout the world – will teach you more advanced abilities.
Combat Has Been Refined
Outward 2 keeps the original game’s realistic feel – you still need to physically drop your backpack – but greatly improves the combat. You can now freely wield any two weapons together, like two pistols, a sword and axe, or even two shields if you want to try a unique approach. The game also feels much smoother and more responsive, with quicker dodging, rolling, and fluid transitions between attacking, blocking, and evading.
Spellcasting Remains an Involved Process
Okay, so the combat got a little smoother in Outward 2, but playing a mage is still really intense! It’s not like other games where mana just refills – you actually have to lose health permanently to get more magic power. And if you go all-in on spells, you’re super fragile. Casting isn’t point and click either; you need special stones to make the sigils for each spell, kinda like a ritual. They’ve added some new stuff with willpower stats, learning from spellbooks, and even mixing magic with how you use weapons now, which makes it feel different than the first game. It definitely feels more unique this time around.
Defeat Leads to Unique Situations
Like the first Outward game, getting defeated doesn’t mean game over. Instead, your character will be knocked unconscious and carried away to a random location – maybe a cave or a bandit camp. You might wake up with your backpack, or you’ll have to search for it in a dangerous area. The game doesn’t mark locations on the map, so losing your equipment can be a real problem. You could also end up waking up hurt, robbed, or both!
Hardcode Mode Negates Frequent Auto-Saves
Outward 2 automatically saves often, making your choices feel truly meaningful – you have to live with the consequences of everything you do! If you’re looking for an extra challenge, Hardcode Mode offers a serious risk: there’s a 20% chance losing a fight will completely delete your save file. This creates intense pressure in every battle, turning even simple encounters into potentially game-ending situations where survival isn’t guaranteed.
Early Access Comes With the Usual Caveats
Launching in early access means Outward 2 won’t be fully finished yet. For PC players, expect regular updates to improve balance, fix bugs, and refine gameplay as development continues. The developers plan to use community feedback to guide future improvements and eventually add more areas, character classes, and events. A beta version is currently available, and Nine Dots Studio has already addressed player concerns with recent fixes detailed on the game’s Steam page.
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2026-06-17 21:45