If you’ve been following Obsidian Entertainment’s recent releases, you already know 2025 has been an incredible year for the studio. After launching Avowed and opening early access for Grounded 2, they’ve now delivered The Outer Worlds 2—and it’s substantially meatier than the original game.
The sequel takes everything players loved about the first game and expands it dramatically. If you’re wondering how much time you should set aside for your journey through Arcadia, I’ve got the breakdown you need—whether you’re rushing through the main story or aiming for that coveted 100% completion.
Main Story Playtime: What to Expect
The time investment for The Outer Worlds 2 really depends on how you like to play RPGs. Are you the type who blitzes through main objectives? Or do you stop to read every terminal entry and explore every nook and cranny?
Speedrunning the Story
Estimated Time: 20-30 hours
If you focus exclusively on main missions and skip most side content, you’re looking at around 20 to 30 hours. This is still significantly longer than the original Outer Worlds, which clocked in at about 12-15 hours for a story-focused run.
Honestly though? You’d be missing out on some of the game’s best content. The side quests in this game aren’t just filler—they’re often where Obsidian’s writing really shines.
The Balanced Playthrough
Estimated Time: 30-50 hours
This is probably where most players will land. If you’re tackling the main story while picking up side quests that catch your interest, you’re looking at 30 to 50 hours of gameplay. This playstyle lets you:
- Experience the best companion storylines (check out our complete companions guide to find them all)
- Engage with faction politics and reputation systems
- Discover unique gear and build options
- Make meaningful choices that actually impact the story
I’d argue this is the sweet spot—you get the full narrative experience without feeling obligated to hunt down every collectible.
Going for 100% Completion
Estimated Time: 50-75 hours
If you’re an achievement hunter or completionist, prepare for a serious time commitment. The Outer Worlds 2 features 48 achievements, and some are genuinely challenging to unlock. You’ll need multiple playthroughs for certain mutually exclusive achievements.
Some particularly time-consuming elements include:
- Multiple ending paths: Different faction choices lead to different outcomes (our Auntie’s Choice vs Order Ascendant guide explains the major split)
- Collectible hunting: Finding all Science Adventures Quarterly magazines scattered across Arcadia
- Character build diversity: You’ll want to experiment with different backgrounds and starting builds
- Complex puzzle solutions: Like Otto’s Lock or the Order Initiate Scavenger Hunt
The variance in completion time (50-75 hours) depends on your familiarity with the game world, your problem-solving skills, and whether you use guides or prefer discovering everything organically.
Complete Main Mission List
The Outer Worlds 2 features eight core main missions, though calling them “just eight missions” is somewhat misleading. Each one branches into multiple objectives, side quests, and decision points that can dramatically alter your experience.
Here’s your story roadmap:
- A Cause Worth Killing For – Your introduction to Arcadia and the conflict brewing beneath the surface
- Recalling the Score – Early game mission establishing key factions and allies
- The Saboteur of Paradise – Things start getting complicated
- On the Trail of the Traitor – Halfway point marker—if you’ve completed this, you’re about 50% through the main story
- Fiends in High Places – The stakes escalate considerably
- An Instrument to Unfold Space & Time – Sci-fi elements really come into play here
- A Complication With the Computronic Cerebrum – Complex decision-making territory
- Sins of the Past on the Precipice of the Future – The grand finale
Pro tip: “On the Trail of the Traitor” (#4) marks your halfway point, making it a good checkpoint to gauge your progress. If you’re trying to reach the max level cap, this is a good time to assess whether you need more side content.
Tips for Optimizing Your Playthrough
Based on my experience with the game, here are some suggestions for making the most of your time:
For First-Time Players:
- Don’t stress about negative traits or character creation too much—you’ll learn as you play
- Check our beginner’s guide before diving in
- Read our what to do first guide to avoid missing early opportunities
- Learn about increasing max health and inhaler charges early—it makes combat much more forgiving
For Efficiency-Minded Players:
- Understand which items to sell or break down to manage inventory effectively
- Learn about weapon slots early so you’re not constantly swapping
- Master the use of Mag-Picks and Bypass Shunts for accessing locked areas
- Farm Advanced Decryption Keys to open high-security lockboxes
For Achievement Hunters:
- Review the complete perks list to plan character builds
- Study the all backgrounds and traits guide before starting new playthroughs
- Familiarize yourself with all faction choices early
- Don’t miss companion-specific quests as some achievements are tied to them
How It Compares to the Original
The original Outer Worlds was frequently criticized for feeling too short—many players finished it in 15-20 hours and wanted more. Obsidian clearly heard that feedback. The Outer Worlds 2 more than doubles that playtime while maintaining the tight, reactive storytelling the studio is known for.
The increased length comes from:
- Larger, more intricate environments to explore
- More complex quest chains with branching outcomes
- Deeper companion interactions and loyalty missions
- Additional faction layers requiring careful reputation management
- More robust side content that feels meaningful rather than like padding
Key decision points like crossing the Protectorate Bridge, the Vox Relay choice, or the Kaur Milverstreet decision genuinely impact how your story unfolds—these aren’t superficial dialogue changes.
Is It Worth the Time Investment?
If you loved the original game’s satirical take on corporate dystopia and Obsidian’s signature choice-and-consequence gameplay, absolutely. The Outer Worlds 2 delivers a substantially more ambitious experience that justifies its length.
The game respects your time by offering visual mode settings to optimize performance, and the story pacing ensures you’re rarely bored. Even seemingly minor choices—like deciding about Inez Graft’s creatures or finding the Commander’s safe key—feel consequential.
For more information about the game and upcoming content, visit the official Outer Worlds 2 website or check out the Xbox game page.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re planning a quick 25-hour romp through the main story or settling in for a 70-hour completionist marathon, The Outer Worlds 2 offers enough content to satisfy any playstyle. The game’s improved scope and depth make it a worthy successor that addresses the original’s biggest weakness.
My recommendation? Aim for that balanced 30-50 hour playthrough on your first run. Engage with side content that interests you, experiment with different builds, and make choices based on your instincts rather than a guide. Save the completionist run for a second playthrough when you know the game world better—you’ll appreciate the nuances more.
Now get out there and explore Arcadia. Just remember to manage your inhaler charges, and whatever you do, don’t trust the corporate propaganda.
