Outward Definitive Edition

Developer: Nine Dots Studio
Release: May 17th 2022
Platforms:
RPG
Challenging
Immersive
Deep
Clunky Combat
Repetitive
Outward Definitive Edition Poster

" Immersive survival RPG with deep mechanics and expansive world but clunky combat and slow pacing "

Outward Definitive Edition Review

Outward Definitive Edition is an ambitious survival RPG that offers a unique blend of exploration, crafting, and challenging combat. Players appreciate its old-school, hardcore approach reminiscent of classics like Gothic and Morrowind, with no hand-holding, limited fast travel, and a punishing difficulty curve.

The game emphasizes preparation and resource management, requiring players to carefully plan combat and survival strategies. Its world is expansive and immersive, with diverse locations and a focus on player-driven storytelling rather than a linear narrative. Co-op mode adds a social dimension but suffers from design limitations such as lack of shared rewards.

However, many players find the gameplay tedious due to excessive walking, repetitive crafting, and clunky combat mechanics. The difficulty can feel unfair and frustrating, with death penalties and inventory management adding to the challenge. Despite these flaws, fans of niche, demanding RPGs find the experience rewarding and deep, especially after investing significant time to master its systems.

Highlights

Players praise Outward's deep and rewarding survival mechanics that create a genuine sense of adventure and danger. The build diversity and crafting system allow for unique character customization and strategic gameplay.

The game's world design is appreciated for its old-school charm and exploration focus, with a realistic, immersive atmosphere. The co-op mode, while imperfect, is seen as a fun addition that enhances the experience.

Many commend the game's ambition to deliver a hardcore, no-hand-holding RPG that challenges the player to learn and adapt, providing a fresh alternative to mainstream titles.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the tedious and repetitive crafting and survival mechanics that consume excessive time and interrupt pacing. The combat system is frequently described as clunky, unresponsive, and frustratingly difficult, often feeling unfair and inconsistent.

Players also highlight the lack of fast travel and excessive walking as major drains on enjoyment. Inventory management is cumbersome, and death penalties can result in significant progress loss, which some find demotivating.

Co-op mode is criticized for poor design choices like non-shared rewards and bugs, which diminish cooperative fun. Additionally, the story and quests are seen as shallow and unengaging by many.

Pros

  • Deep survival mechanics create a unique sense of immersion and challenge.
  • Extensive build diversity allows for creative character customization.
  • Expansive world design encourages exploration without hand-holding.
  • Crafting and enchanting systems add meaningful gameplay depth.
  • Co-op mode enhances social play despite some limitations.
  • Old-school RPG feel appeals to fans of classic titles.
  • No fast travel increases realism and tension in exploration.

Cons

  • Combat is often clunky, unresponsive, and frustratingly difficult.
  • Excessive walking without fast travel drains pacing and enjoyment.
  • Crafting and survival tasks become repetitive and tedious over time.
  • Inventory management is cumbersome and slows down gameplay.
  • Death penalties can cause significant progress and item loss.
  • Co-op mode lacks shared rewards and has synchronization bugs.
  • Story and quests are shallow, text-heavy, and lack engagement.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

No remarkable journey is achieved without great effort. In Outward, the cold of the night or an infected wound can be as dangerous as a predator lurking in the dark. Explore the vast world of Aurai solo or in Co-op. The Definitive Edition features both DLCs and quality of life improvements.

Release Date May 17th 2022
Publisher Prime Matter
Developer Nine Dots Studio
Platforms

User Reviews

Mostly Positive (14,586)
74% Positive 26% Negative