The Outer Worlds 2 Background Guide: Every Option Explained and Ranked

When you first boot up The Outer Worlds 2, one of your earliest decisions is choosing a background for your character. Unlike some RPGs where this choice is purely flavor text, your background in Outer Worlds 2 actually matters—it unlocks unique dialogue options, alternative quest solutions, and roleplaying opportunities throughout your journey.

But here’s the question everyone asks: which background is actually the best? Let’s break down all six options and figure out which ones give you the most bang for your buck.

How Backgrounds Work in The Outer Worlds 2

Before we dive into the individual backgrounds, let’s clarify what these actually do. Your background represents your character’s life before joining the Earth Directorate. It’s basically your origin story, and the game remembers it.

What backgrounds affect:

• Special dialogue options with NPCs
• Alternative approaches to completing quests
• Roleplaying flavor and character depth
• Your character’s relationship with different factions

What backgrounds DON’T affect:

• Your starting stats or skills
• Combat effectiveness
• Which companions you can recruit
• The main story outcome

Think of it as the game giving you different “keys” to unlock situations. A Professor might talk their way through an academic debate, while an Ex-Convict might recognize criminal activity and use that street knowledge to their advantage.

All Six Backgrounds: What They Mean and When They Matter

Ex-Convict: The Street-Smart Survivor

Background Story: The Earth Directorate threw you in prison, but desperate times led them to offer you a deal—work for them to clear your record. Or, you know, escape when they’re not watching.

When it’s useful:

• Dealing with criminals and shady characters
• Recognizing illegal operations
• Intimidation tactics in conversations
• Understanding the underworld’s unwritten rules

This background gives you credibility with the less savory elements of society. When you’re negotiating with smugglers or talking your way past gang members, they recognize you as “one of them.” The downside? Corporate types and law enforcement might look down on you.

Gambler: The Chaos Agent

Background Story: You’ve always known the universe runs on luck and chaos, and you’ve been riding that winning streak your whole life. That is, until you lost a bet with an Earth Directorate agent who convinced you to put your talents to work for them.

When it’s useful:

• Games of chance and betting scenarios
• Reading people and calling bluffs
• Risk assessment situations
• Conversations about probability and luck

The Gambler is all about understanding risk and reward. You’ll spot opportunities where others see danger, and you can often talk about odds and statistics in ways that impress or intimidate NPCs. It’s a more niche background, but when it comes up, it feels really satisfying.

Lawbringer: The Order Enforcer

Background Story: After a youth marked by hardship and corporate wrongdoing, you joined the Earth Directorate to bring order to chaotic colonies. You’re a champion of the people whether they want one or not, and neither you nor the law should be trifled with.

When it’s useful:

• Invoking legal authority
• Understanding law enforcement procedures
• Intimidating lawbreakers
• Negotiations involving justice and order

If you want to play the “good cop” (or bad cop), this is your background. You can lean on your authority, understand the legal system, and approach situations from a law-and-order perspective. It’s great for players who want to be the moral center of their playthrough.

Professor: The Academic Genius

Background Story: You were a respected voice in your field until “full contact archaeology” and jealous colleagues cost you your tenure. Turns out, your talent for dealing with artifact traffickers makes you valuable to the Earth Directorate.

When it’s useful:

• Scientific and academic discussions
• Analyzing technology and artifacts
• Outsmarting NPCs with knowledge
• Historical and research-based quests

This is arguably the most consistently useful background in the game. Science, history, and technology are everywhere in The Outer Worlds universe, which means Professor-specific dialogue pops up constantly. You can leverage your expertise to bypass challenges, impress quest-givers, and access information others can’t.

Renegade: The Morally Flexible Operator

Background Story: You’ve lived a life that “skirted the laws” of every colony you operated in—hey, that’s what you were paid for. Now your previous employers want revenge, and the Earth Directorate seems like a good place to hide.

When it’s useful:

• Mercenary and combat situations
• Negotiating with questionable clients
• Understanding tactical operations
• Conversations about getting paid and doing dirty work

The Renegade is basically a professional problem-solver who doesn’t ask too many questions. You’re not quite a criminal (like the Ex-Convict), but you’re definitely not playing by the rules either. This background gives you credibility with anyone who needs someone to get their hands dirty.

Roustabout: The Accidental Hero

Background Story: You have no skills. You wanted a simple job. Somehow you accidentally killed a well-known villain, and now everyone thinks you’re a legendary Earth Directorate agent. You’re mostly just wondering if they have any cashier openings.

When it’s useful:

• Playing the “reluctant hero” angle
• Downplaying your abilities
• Relating to regular working folks
• Humor and self-deprecating dialogue

The Roustabout is the game’s “everyman” option. You’re not special—things just happen to you. This background is fantastic for roleplaying and adds a ton of humor to conversations, but it offers fewer practical advantages than the other options.

So Which Background Is Actually Best?

After spending serious time with all six backgrounds, here’s my honest assessment:

For maximum gameplay advantages: Professor

The Professor background simply comes up more often than the others. The Outer Worlds 2 is packed with scientific installations, ancient technology, corporate research, and academic NPCs. Having the Professor background lets you engage with this content on a deeper level and often provides shortcuts or alternative solutions to quests.

I’ve lost count of how many times the Professor dialogue option was the “smart” solution that avoided combat or gained extra rewards.

For roleplaying depth: Ex-Convict or Renegade

Both of these backgrounds give you a morally gray character with a questionable past. The Ex-Convict leans more toward street smarts and criminal connections, while the Renegade is more about being a professional gun-for-hire. Both offer compelling roleplaying opportunities, though the Professor still edges them out in terms of sheer frequency of special dialogue.

For pure entertainment: Roustabout

If you want to laugh your way through the game, the Roustabout delivers. The self-aware humor and “I don’t know what I’m doing” energy makes every major moment funnier. Just know that you’re trading practical advantages for comedic gold.

For specific playstyles:

• Lawbringer: Great for lawful good characters who want to be space cops
• Gambler: Perfect for players who love risk-taking and probability
• Any of them, honestly: They’re all viable

My Recommendation: Pick What Feels Right

Here’s the thing—while Professor objectively offers the most frequent advantages, The Outer Worlds 2 is fundamentally about roleplaying. The “best” background is the one that fits the character you want to create.

Want to be a reformed criminal trying to go straight? Ex-Convict is perfect. Want to play as an overqualified academic slumming it as a space agent? Professor nails that fantasy. Want to stumble through saving the galaxy while wondering how you got here? Roustabout is hilarious.

The beauty of the original Outer Worlds was player choice, and the sequel doubles down on that philosophy. Every background has its moments to shine—some just shine a bit brighter than others.

Quick Tips for Background Selection

Considere estos factores:

• Your planned playstyle: Combat-focused? Renegade or Lawbringer. Dialogue-focused? Professor or Gambler.
• Your skill choices: Pairing Professor with science skills creates synergy. Ex-Convict works well with stealth builds.
• Roleplaying goals: Pick the background that matches your character concept
• Replay value: Try different backgrounds on subsequent playthroughs to see new content

Don’t stress too much: No background locks you out of completing quests or experiencing major story beats. They add flavor and options, but they’re not make-or-break decisions.

All Roads Lead to Adventure

Your background choice in The Outer Worlds 2 sets the tone for your character without restricting your options. Whether you’re a disgraced professor, an accidental hero, or a reformed convict, the game adapts to your choice and gives you opportunities to lean into that identity.

If you’re still unsure, start with Professor for your first playthrough—it offers the most consistent advantages while you’re learning the game. Then experiment with other backgrounds on future runs to see how different the experience can feel.

For more help getting started, check out our guía completa para principiantes covering essential tips and tricks for new players.

Now get out there and create your character. The Arcadian system isn’t going to explore itself, and your background—whatever it is—will shape how you experience every moment of the journey.