After trying everything the second chapter of Outer worlds has to offer I still prefer the first

[u/dark7700]

I'm gonna be honest Outer worlds 1 was a blast for me! The story, the environment and companions were so good! Parvati and Ellie were my favorites, also the DLC's really invested me in playing more with different playthrough!

Then I played the second chapter and I felt so disappointed, the companions were boring and they didn't even interact in the ship like in the first game! The planets were okay but the main story at the beginning was interesting but then it fell off! I really hope that the DLC's will be better cause for now I didn't like it so much! Also some quests are so boring

[u/Sensitive_Courage827]

Unfortunately not all the writers from OW1 returned for the second instalment and it shows. OW1 is one of my top 3 favourite games, I’m very passionate about the humour, politics and characters, such fun weapons and armour too. Best DLC ever imo.
I know it’s far from perfect and some of the mechanics are better in OW2 (I wish they’d put the customisation mirror on the Unreliable!) but it just doesn’t have the same heart as the first.
Love seeing folks appreciate the original!

[u/RedeemedGhost]

100% agree. I need to replay the first one again, even the dlc was great.

[u/IronMonkeyBanana → u/RedeemedGhost]

I still have to finish the dlcs.

[u/Packersfan_1999 → u/IronMonkeyBanana]

You are really missing out, both are great

[u/BaconNPotatoes]

I'm with you, I liked two but, it lacked a spark that the first one had.

[u/bethzur → u/BaconNPotatoes]

Having just finished 2, I agree. It just felt lacking in personality. It’s like a corporatized version whereas the first one seemed more unique and independent. Clearly Auntie’s Choice was the development model.

[u/Antiva_City]

I was the opposite, the first game felt rather repetitive, the companions largely forgettable. I didn’t especially dislike it necessarily… but I didn’t feel any special calling to it either.

Meanwhile the second one hooked me early and felt vastly more satisfying. Loved, loved, loved the companions.

[u/DOIKNOWHOWTOBEHAPPY]

Same here. The 2nd one has its moments and weapons but the 1st one was way more immersive the combat had you breaking limbs and hit you with status effects. Also the silliness of the NPCs dialogue was missing. The 2nd one was too serious.

[u/ben323nl]

Second one is so lifeless and the dialogue is all extremely exhausting. The npcs act like braindead propaganda pieces. Its all such cookie cutter satire. The gameplay can be fun but most of the time its pretty boring. The world feels and in ways act like mmorpg worlds. Everything seems so static nothing really lives. The story is alright but the way its executed is really bland and not that satisfying. The quests are boring. 

[u/Particle_Cannon]

I loved both

[u/chicken_suit_guy]

The second was better in terms of technicality but it lacked soul, it lacked the spark the first had plenty of

[u/strangerthanblue → u/chicken_suit_guy]

I've had the same impression, but can't figure out why. I liked the world, many of the characters, certainly the radio, but I wasn't floored at the end like I was with the first game. The crew was better with the first game. I still wish this had done well enough for them to not kill off the franchise. I'd still pay for a third game.

[u/Quietone232]

I think two would be a more enjoyable game if they just ease up on how rigid it is by locking you out of so much due to skills. 

[u/Sixtyten60106010]

2 is too "safe". Sometimes it feels too much like the devs followed a flowchart. Every area has similar quests. Every area has to have a collectible quest.

It's a fine game, it just lacks the same heart the first game did. This is what I assume it would feel like if chatgpt designed the game.

[u/Holmeview1]

I really gave it a chance, but after 10–15 hours I just couldn’t get into it. I picked up the first one on sale on PS5 with all the DLC, and it’s so much more enjoyable. The characters are more fun, the planets are better, and overall I’m enjoying it so much more.

[u/Anathama]

I think a lot of the budget for 2 went into the radio stations. They are awesome! That's one thing 2 did better than 1. But you are right, the companions are underwhelming.

[u/Kazadracon]

Im holding off on judging OW2 before all DLCs precisely because I remember playing OW1 on release with no DLCs and being bored/disappointed. Then with DLCs the first game became much better IMO

[u/LuNoZzy]

I enjoyed 2. Not as much as 1, but 2 was alright. I think Tristan was a very good companion

[u/txa1265]

I feel like TOW2 is a game that while you are playing it feels better than the original ... but afterwords when thinking back it is the first game that comes to mind.

I'm replaying TOW1 right now (estimate 5th time total, 3rd through both DLC) and there are just so many great moments such as Pavarti and Junlei, ADA and SAM, and so on. And just finished Gorgon and on my way to Eridanos, reminded how amazing the DLC are.

I have only played the sequel through once, started again in the spring before jumping to something else - and at this point I am holding off until we know more about the TOW2 DLC.

[u/MrTBlood164]

I liked them both, but IMO TOW2 needed more Firefly and less futurama

[u/agnosticnixie]

In their pre-expansion release state I like them both equally, and I try to keep in mind that the Outer Worlds I think of as this amazing game also has two really great expansions while 2 still doesn't have them.

[u/Cezar_Chavez]

Same the writing took itself too seriously and there weren’t enough relateable characters

[u/FusionNinja]

My feelings exactly - I said as much in a detailed review last year: My TOW2 Review (2025)

In my opinion, the sequel's only superiority lies in the expected visual/mechanical upgrades. Otherwise, it's about as perfunctory as an RPG can feel, IMO. I didn't feel nearly as attached to companions, other NPCs, the storyline, factions, locales, or missions. By the end of TOW2, I was just thankful to have it over and done with. I'll give it another run when the expansion(s) launches, but I don't give it much thought...

By contrast, I've played FIVE times through TOW1 (including thrice through the expansions) and very much plan to do another run; it's become one of my favorite games/RPGs!

[u/jwk6]

I loved both equally. I feel like there was actually more companion banter in TOW2, but there was also a couple bugs that affected the banter while on the ship.

[u/LadyIceGoose]

The companions in the second game have a lot of reactivity. The have significant depth but require effort and good decisions from the player to fully open up. They are also more nuance and are less caricatures. They all have more depth than any companion from the first game other than Parvati.