Sci-Fi RPGs to Play While Waiting for The Outer Worlds 2

Normally, when the idea of an RPG comes to mind, gamers think of fantasy games such as The Elder Scrolls or Baldur’s Gate. However, many RPGs with a sci-fi setting have also excelled and one of the most anticipated is The Outer Worlds 2, which is currently set to release later in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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Best Sci-Fi Fantasy Games

Players who love the synergy between science fiction and fantasy will love what these games have to offer.

Fortunately, there are other sci-fi RPGs out there that can help gamers pass the time before The Outer Worlds 2 is released. They range from other space-faring adventures set on alien planets to Earth-based stories set in the distant future, either post-apocalyptic or dystopian. Each one takes on RPG aspects in their own memorable ways.

10

Starfield

Bethesda’s Unique Take On Space Exploration

Systems

Released

September 6, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Rather than going for something like Mass Effect or Guardians Of The Galaxy with outlandish sci-fi elements, Starfield takes a more practical approach to a space-faring adventure. Everything is designed to be more rugged and industrial, akin to films like the original Alien or Interstellar, while giving gamers the chance to explore over one thousand planets across different star systems.

Starfield is Bethesda’s newest original RPG and despite initial drama about it being an Xbox and PC-only release, it still provided much of what fans loved in The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games. Building and upgrading starships, fighting space pirates and aliens, and completing quests across different planets has resulted in one of Bethesda’s more underrated titles.

9

Earthbound

The Strange RPG That Became A Phenomenon

Systems

Released

June 5, 1995

ESRB

T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Crude Humor

Earthbound was the victim of poor marketing when it was released in 1995, but over the years, word of mouth spread and gradually turned the flop into an all-time classic. It features kids on an adventure in a suburban town fending off an alien invasion utilizing simple weapons and a little telepathic ability.

The story of Earthbound is a mind-bender, especially since it was originally a sequel to a Japanese game called Mother, but that became part of its charm. The bizarre enemies, characters, and story beats combined with well-made turn-based RPG gameplay all became vital pieces of what would become an iconic game.

8

Borderlands 2

Loot And Shoot Through The Planet Of Pandora

Released

September 18, 2012

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The planet of Pandora has become iconic due to the Borderlands series. While the first game is enjoyable, many fans consider Borderlands 2 to be the best installment. The playable characters are unique, and even the new Siren class stands out from Lilith, offering greater depth in their skill trees and the RPG system.

It’s not a Borderlands game without guns, and Borderlands 2 is filled to the brim with thousands of guns that are to be looted, upgraded, or traded. On top of it all, Pandora is expanded upon even more with different biomes that provide more diversity in visuals as well as the different kinds of foes, especially with the series’ now-iconic villain: Handsome Jack.

7

Cyberpunk 2077

A Game That Went From Failure To Fantastic

Released

December 10, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Thanks to a rushed release, Cyberpunk 2077 was met with a controversial launch in 2020 filled with missing content and a plethora of glitches. Fortunately, CD Projekt Red took the time to release numerous patches and an expansion that turned it into the immersive RPG that it is now. It is a real-life redemption story for a video game that comes so rarely, but gamers were happy it happened.

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19 Awesome Side Quests Hidden In Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 scatters great side quests across Night City, and it’s up to players to find these amazing stories hidden around the map.

As the character known only as V, the player dives deep into the dystopian underbelly of Night City to pursue their criminal life as they choose. They can be as heroic or as villainous as they wish, both in terms of character development and in the way they level up their cybernetic upgrades to suit their needs. With Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, and hundreds of hours of content, the final product emerges as a modern classic.

6

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Respawn Listened And Responded To Make A Better Sequel

Action-Adventure

Soulslike

Sci-Fi

Released

April 28, 2023

ESRB

T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Nearly every Star Wars game takes inspiration from other games and the Star Wars Jedi series by Respawn Entertainment borrows heavily from Souls-like action RPG games such as Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor goes even further into RPG territory with even more skill trees to level up, more weapon variation with the five lightsaber stances, abilities, and perks that turn Cal Kestis into a powerful Jedi.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor not only adds to the RPG aspects, but improves on what many felt lacked in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The planets are even bigger with more activities to do, including side quests. Cal Kestis and his loyal companion droid BD-1 are also far more customizable from head to toe, and the same can be said for lightsabers, which were already a highlight in Fallen Order.

5

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Remastered Chronicles Of Commander Shepard

Released

May 14, 2021

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

In the 2010s, the original Mass Effect trilogy was considered the gold standard when it came to space RPGs, rivaling the likes of Star Trek and Star Wars in terms of world-building, storytelling, and character development. That’s why fans were happy to see all three games remastered in one package with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.

Like most BioWare RPGs, Mass Effect games mix top-tier storytelling and characters with strong gameplay, mixing third-person shooter elements with psionic powers depending on the class. The Legendary Edition keeps all that made the three games so cherished, especially the story and dialogue options that can drastically change entire plotlines. At the same time, it updates a few outdated aspects, especially in the first Mass Effect.

4

Fallout 4

The Commonwealth Provides Hours Of Memorable Content

Released

November 10, 2015

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Bethesda had a tough act to follow after their explosive hits with Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, but Fallout 4 proved to be a worthy addition to their library. It gave fans a fresh perspective of someone who has survived the nuclear apocalypse since the day the bombs dropped and is now searching the wastelands of Boston to find their lost child.

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Fallout 4: 12 Best Things You Can Do Outside Of The Main Story

Rather than speedrunning the main plot of Fallout 4, here are a few cool things players can do outside of the main quest.

Longtime fans often debate between Fallout 4 and Fallout: New Vegas as which is the best in the series. Fallout 4 boasts even better visuals, even without the many mods available for it, and more simplified but effective controls that make wandering the wasteland a blast. It also introduces base-building mechanics that give the player more to do outside the already expansive list of quests.

3

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Augmented Into An Iconic Reboot

Released

August 23, 2011

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

Deus Ex: Human Revolution reboots the series by putting the player in the shoes of Adam Jensen, who feels like a love letter to classic cyborg characters like RoboCop. He is a Detroit SWAT operative-turned private security officer who is rebuilt with cybernetic augments after his body is mostly destroyed, turning him into a superhero agent for a cyberpunk future.

Alongside a gripping and thought-provoking story of corporate espionage, Deus Ex: Human Revolution maintains what made the original Deus Ex so revolutionary in terms of gameplay. Nearly any situation can be handled via stealth or guns-blazing action as the player wishes and just like Mass Effect, the player can make choices that alter the story.

2

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Adam Jensen Gets Even Better Than Before

Released

August 23, 2016

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Adam Jensen continues with the direct sequel, which took an already strong template of the first game and pushed it even further with polished visuals and gameplay. The result is Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, which pushes its hero even more with a story being the aftermath of the first game’s ending.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided also takes its cyborg concept even further with even more upgrades for Adam Jensen unlocked throughout the game that make him even more powerful. However, that doesn’t mean he is a perfect super-soldier, as enemies are not only stronger but are even more difficult, resulting in a sequel that is considered on par with the first, if not superior.

1

The Outer Worlds

The First Game Is A Genuine Galactic Gem

Released

October 25, 2019

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

While fans wait for the sequel, The Outer Worlds is still worth playing, even if it’s for a third or fourth time. Obsidian Entertainment delivered when it came to giving fans an intergalactic RPG that mixes retro-futurism and fun first-person shooter gameplay to create a memorable adventure that can appeal to fans of their previous endeavors and sci-fi fans in general.

Not only is it a delight to explore planets freely, battling other space explorers, bandits, and alien monsters, but The Outer Worlds also features player choices that truly matter. From character creation to mission outcomes, Obsidian ensures that even the smallest details have significance. The addition of social satire targeting capitalism and corporate control serves as a humorous icing on a delicious cake.