Starfield vs The Outer Worlds 2
Two space RPGs with different priorities — one builds a sandbox of systems, the other writes a sharp satire with better pacing.
Updated 24d ago
Free Lanes finally fixed the space travel — you can cruise between planets now — but the procedural planets and the weak main story are untouched.
Obsidian writing is back at full peak — Outer Worlds 2 sharpens what the first game whispered, with companions and corporate satire that finally feel essential.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 8; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 8.
| Measure | Starfield | The Outer Worlds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Starfield wins on value | ||
| Price now | $35.99 −28% · Fanatical | $69.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $34.39 | $34.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.51/hr $35.99 · 24 h main story | $3.78/hr $69.99 · 18 h main story |
| Off its low | +5% low was Jul 2026 | +100% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 24 h | 18 h |
| Health The Outer Worlds 2 wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 57% 175k reviews | 74% 9k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 62% 418 votes · vs 57% lifetime | 72% 89 votes · vs 74% lifetime |
| Peak players | 7,154 Aug 2026 · ↓ 2% MoM | 651 Aug 2026 · ↓ 49% MoM |
| Launch peak | 2% of Sep 2023 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 330,597 Sep 2023 | 18,187 Nov 2025 · now at 4% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 3 months ago | 2 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 2 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Gold |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Starfield
Long-haul pilots credit the ship builder and the mod scene with carrying exploration well past what the vanilla planets offer.
Reviewers with four-figure hour counts say the handcrafted content thins out fast and repeated points of interest turn planet-scanning into filler.
from our July 2026 verdict
The Outer Worlds 2
The witty satire, memorable characters, and goofy tone keep players engaged for hundreds of hours.
Frequent fatal crashes and unstable saves after patches plague long-term playthroughs.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Starfield if
- You want to mod heavily on PC and build ships for hours.
- You enjoy Bethesda's loot-and-quest loop as comfort food.
- You're okay with procedural planets repeating after some time.
Pick The Outer Worlds 2 if
- Fallout New Vegas is your favorite RPG and you want that tone back.
- Companion banter and quest reactivity drive your enjoyment.
- You prefer handcrafted zones over a vast procedural universe.
Bottom line
Pick Starfield for its ship-building sandbox and mod-friendly PC freedom; choose Outer Worlds 2 if you value sharp writing and tight pacing, with its 74% Steam approval besting Starfield's 57%.