10 Sci-Fi RPGs to Keep You Busy Until The Outer Worlds 2 Releases

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Summary

  • The famous Mass Effect trilogy was remastered for modern generations to enjoy with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.
  • The Outer Worlds and Starfield allow players to explore multiple planets for various adventures.
  • Cyberpunk 2077 and Fallout 4 showcase two drastically different versions of a post-war future.

Normally, when the idea of an RPG comes to mind, gamers think of fantasy games such as The Elder Scrolls or Baldur’s Gate. However, many RPGs with a sci-fi setting have also excelled and one of the most anticipated is The Outer Worlds 2, which is currently set to release later in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

Fortunately, there are other sci-fi RPGs out there that can help gamers pass the time before The Outer Worlds 2 is released. They range from other space-faring adventures set on alien planets to Earth-based stories set in the distant future, either post-apocalyptic or dystopian. Each one takes on RPG aspects in their own memorable ways.

10. Starfield

Bethesda’s Unique Take On Space Exploration

Rather than going for something like Mass Effect or Guardians Of The Galaxy with outlandish sci-fi elements, Starfield takes a more practical approach to a space-faring adventure. Everything is designed to be more rugged and industrial, akin to films like the original Alien or Interstellar, while giving gamers the chance to explore over one thousand planets across different star systems.

Starfield is Bethesda’s newest original RPG and despite initial drama about it being an Xbox and PC-only release, it still provided much of what fans loved in The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games. Building and upgrading starships, fighting space pirates and aliens, and completing quests across different planets has resulted in one of Bethesda’s more underrated titles.

9. Earthbound

The Strange RPG That Became A Phenomenon

Earthbound was the victim of poor marketing when it was released in 1995, but over the years, word of mouth spread and gradually turned the flop into an all-time classic. It features kids on an adventure in a suburban town fending off an alien invasion utilizing simple weapons and a little telepathic ability.

The tale of Earthbound is quite intriguing, given it was initially conceived as a follow-up to a Japanese game titled Mother. Yet, this peculiarity added to its appeal. The eccentric creatures, characters, and plot twists, skillfully integrated with engaging turn-based RPG mechanics, eventually shaped an iconic video game.

8. Borderlands 2

Loot And Shoot Through The Planet Of Pandora

The planet of Pandora has become iconic due to the Borderlands series. While the first game is enjoyable, many fans consider Borderlands 2 to be the best installment. The playable characters are unique, and even the new Siren class stands out from Lilith, offering greater depth in their skill trees and the RPG system.

Handsome Jack.

7. Cyberpunk 2077

A Game That Went From Failure To Fantastic

Thanks to a rushed release, Cyberpunk 2077 was met with a controversial launch in 2020 filled with missing content and a plethora of glitches. Fortunately, CD Projekt Red took the time to release numerous patches and an expansion that turned it into the immersive RPG that it is now. It is a real-life redemption story for a video game that comes so rarely, but gamers were happy it happened.

As the character known only as V, the player dives deep into the dystopian underbelly of Night City to pursue their criminal life as they choose. They can be as heroic or as villainous as they wish, both in terms of character development and in the way they level up their cybernetic upgrades to suit their needs. With Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, and hundreds of hours of content, the final product emerges as a modern classic.

6. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Respawn Listened And Responded To Make A Better Sequel

Nearly every Star Wars game takes inspiration from other games and the Star Wars Jedi series by Respawn Entertainment borrows heavily from Souls-like action RPG games such as Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor goes even further into RPG territory with even more skill trees to level up, more weapon variation with the five lightsaber stances, abilities, and perks that turn Cal Kestis into a powerful Jedi.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor not only adds to the RPG aspects, but improves on what many felt lacked in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The planets are even bigger with more activities to do, including side quests. Cal Kestis and his loyal companion droid BD-1 are also far more customizable from head to toe, and the same can be said for lightsabers, which were already a highlight in Fallen Order.

5. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Remastered Chronicles Of Commander Shepard

In the 2010s, the original Mass Effect trilogy was considered the gold standard when it came to space RPGs, rivaling the likes of Star Trek and Star Wars in terms of world-building, storytelling, and character development. That’s why fans were happy to see all three games remastered in one package with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.

Like most BioWare RPGs, Mass Effect games mix top-tier storytelling and characters with strong gameplay, mixing third-person shooter elements with psionic powers depending on the class. The Legendary Edition keeps all that made the three games so cherished, especially the story and dialogue options that can drastically change entire plotlines. At the same time, it updates a few outdated aspects, especially in the first Mass Effect.

4. Fallout 4

The Commonwealth Provides Hours Of Memorable Content

Bethesda faced a challenging task following the success of their blockbuster games, Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, but they delivered with Fallout 4. This game offered players a unique viewpoint of a character who has lived through the nuclear apocalypse since the bombs first dropped, and is now on a quest to find their missing child amidst the wastelands of Boston.

Longtime fans often debate between Fallout 4 and Fallout: New Vegas as which is the best in the series. Fallout 4 boasts even better visuals, even without the many mods available for it, and more simplified but effective controls that make wandering the wasteland a blast. It also introduces base-building mechanics that give the player more to do outside the already expansive list of quests.

3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Augmented Into An Iconic Reboot

Deus Ex: Human Revolution reboots the series by putting the player in the shoes of Adam Jensen, who feels like a love letter to classic cyborg characters like RoboCop. He is a Detroit SWAT operative-turned private security officer who is rebuilt with cybernetic augments after his body is mostly destroyed, turning him into a superhero agent for a cyberpunk future.

Alongside a gripping and thought-provoking story of corporate espionage, Deus Ex: Human Revolution maintains what made the original Deus Ex so revolutionary in terms of gameplay. Nearly any situation can be handled via stealth or guns-blazing action as the player wishes and just like Mass Effect, the player can make choices that alter the story.

2. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Adam Jensen Gets Even Better Than Before

Adam Jensen proceeds with the direct follow-up, building upon the solid foundation established in the initial game and enhancing it further through refined visuals and game mechanics. The outcome is Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, a sequel that deepens the protagonist’s journey as it unfolds in the aftermath of the previous game’s climax.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided also takes its cyborg concept even further with even more upgrades for Adam Jensen unlocked throughout the game that make him even more powerful. However, that doesn’t mean he is a perfect super-soldier, as enemies are not only stronger but are even more difficult, resulting in a sequel that is considered on par with the first, if not superior.

1. The Outer Worlds

The First Game Is A Genuine Galactic Gem

While fans wait for the sequel, The Outer Worlds is still worth playing, even if it’s for a third or fourth time. Obsidian Entertainment delivered when it came to giving fans an intergalactic RPG that mixes retro-futurism and fun first-person shooter gameplay to create a memorable adventure that can appeal to fans of their previous endeavors and sci-fi fans in general.

Not only is it a delight to explore planets freely, battling other space explorers, bandits, and alien monsters, but The Outer Worlds also features player choices that truly matter. From character creation to mission outcomes, Obsidian ensures that even the smallest details have significance. The addition of social satire targeting capitalism and corporate control serves as a humorous icing on a delicious cake.

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2025-03-17 06:38