The core game design decision behind this is the fact that players’ characters in Outward 2 will be regular humans, rather than being important parts of some major prophecies about the fate of the world. “That was the big change in our approach,” said Boucher-Vidal. “We made all of our design decisions to be in alignment with this vision. You are just a regular person, and you just want to think like a human would, but in a fantasy world.”

“It’s when you’re aloof, when you’re just like ‘pfft, that’s not so dangerous, I’ve done it before,’ and that’s when life just claps back at you, right? In real life, it’s like that. It should be like that in the design as well.”

Things start out with the in-depth character creation offered in Outward 2, which is a major step up from 2019’s Outward. Boucher-Vidal acknowledged the fact that the first game in the series had “very ugly protagonists,” and that it didn’t offer many options aside from a handful of faces and haircuts. Outward 2, on the other hand, will offer players more options, including things like character backgrounds and traits.

When starting out, players will also have the choice of three different starting locations, each of which will have its own unique quest that sets up the motivation to go on an adventure. One city, for example, frames the player’s decision to set off on an adventure as being the result of desperation from being homeless, while another city will have players having just bought a house, and getting embroiled in strange situations from that. The third city will have the player looking to improve their lot in life after having spent time sweating away in mines.

Tying further into the sense of immersion Nine Dots Studio wants to provide for players, Outward 2 will have a complete year-long calendar system that will also serve as the foundation for a dynamic weather system. Much like in the real world, the seasons in Outward 2 will change depending on the month. Seasons will also affect the world around players rather than simply being visual effects.

Improvements made the combat include allowing players to equip more varying kinds of equipment, including the option to dual wield just about any weapons or shields they might find.

Outward 2 is coming to PC in Summer 2026. The studio has also confirmed that there will be playtests, which can be registered for through Steam.

As a follow-up to the 2019 open-world RPG, Outward 2 continues the tradition of immersive fantasy with extensive consequences for nearly every action. You’re once again starting as an unremarkable individual, but there are three scenarios and 11 backgrounds to influence the beginning. Aurai offers four core regions with unique biomes and a seasonal cycle that spans the entire year.

While it’s a struggle at first (and honestly, every step along the way), you can seek out trainers to improve your skills and leverage the Exercise system to improve passives. Weapons have separate movesets, and combat feels more fluid. You can even bring along a pack mule for extra carrying space.

For those interested in going hands-on ahead of time, Nine Dots Studios will host a playtest. Dates have yet to be revealed, but you can pre-register on Steam.

Among the features of Outward 2, alongside a general improvement to visuals when compared to the original Outward, will be more content than before, including new non-combat encounters, impactful day/night cycles and weather conditions, and even more active NPCs.

The game will also have improved character creation tools, as well as a complete overhaul to progression that brings with it a new exercise tree and gives players tasks to help unlock new improvements and abilities. The combat system is also set to be improved, with more responsive attacks, as well as the addition of dual wielding.

Outward 2 doesn’t yet have a release date, but the game does have a Steam page, which reveals that it will support single-player, as well as online and split-screen co-op.

Nine Dots Studios’ ambitious open world RPG Outward is now available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Unlike your typical medieval fantasy titles, Outward is all about pure grit and effort as you conquer any challenges thrown at you. Which usually results in a lot of dying.

Along with survival elements, which see players managing their stamina and staying vigilant while camping, Outward employs a complex magic system. It’s all about crafting the right seals and preparing your magic beforehand as opposed to instantly casting spells. There’s also split-screen co-op, which allows two players to venture into the world together.

So you could battle enemies together, manage different inventories, and even watch over the other person at camp while they recover. Outward doesn’t boast the most impressive visuals, but its gameplay does provide a large amount of choice. Check out the launch trailer below and see if it scratches your own fantasy RPG itch.

Many open world, RPG-style experiences pride themselves on rewarding players and eventually letting them steam-roll through challenges. Nine Dots Studio’s Outward takes a different approach. It’s more survival-oriented, challenging players to stay alert and prepare for the worst. The combat is no exception – check it out in the trailer below, courtesy of IGN.

Even if you’re taking on two simple bandits, Outward is about careful movement and attacking, as opposed to rushing in. Attacking foes on unstable ground will cause them to lose balance, creating openings for further attacks. We also get a look at how features like traps, poison, and magic can tip the scales in your favour.

Outward releases on March 26th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Playable solo or co-op, the game sees players embarking to unknown lands and cities, taking on various quests and surviving against all odds. Check out GamingBolt’s interview with the developer to learn more about Outward’s intricacies..