Compare Kingdom Come: Deliverance II vs The Outer Worlds 2

Mission variety was strongly praised, especially for quests that went beyond simple errands or bandit-clearing objectives.

Mission variety was criticized by one reviewer who felt objectives repeated too often.

The dog companion Mutt was praised as useful and worthwhile, especially for tracking and early side-quest benefits.

Companion AI drew negative comments for reckless combat behavior and frequent deaths.

Immersion was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly describing the world, systems, and presentation as absorbing.

Immersion was limited in one review where the ship never felt like home.

Reviewers described the story as memorable and emotionally powerful, including scenes that brought strong lasting reactions.

Emotional impact was limited in mixed reviews, with satire and tone sometimes keeping decisions from landing deeply.

Cutscene direction and mocap were praised for selling relationships and emotional scenes convincingly.

Animation quality was mixed to negative, mostly due to janky or weak animation comments.

The open world drew strong praise for its scale, density, historically grounded cities, and lived-in regions across multiple maps.

Open-zone design drew mixed reactions, with compact areas praised but barren spaces and shallow depth criticized.

Henry and Hans received strong praise for their evolving relationship and character arcs, with Henry’s trauma and growth adding stakes.

Character development was mixed, with some praise for relationship growth but several complaints about unmemorable or thin characters.

Maps were praised for medieval flair and exquisite town art, supporting the game’s historical presentation.

Navigation drew criticism for unclear markers, map cursor issues, and unintuitive routes.

Reviewers repeatedly emphasized how unusual and specific the game feels compared with modern RPGs.

Originality was moderate, with one reviewer describing the sequel as incremental rather than transformative.

Reviewers praised the breadth of activities, quests, and post-launch additions, with many describing a large and varied set of things to do.

Content variety was mixed, with one review arguing expanded quantity sometimes came at the cost of depth.

Load times were criticized by one reviewer as long enough to worsen stealth retries and experimentation.

Load times were praised as reasonably short in one cross-platform review.

AI and NPC behavior were praised for believable reactions, routines, crime responses, and increased sophistication over the first game.

Enemy AI was sharply split between smart tactical behavior and complaints about idling, aggro, detection, or rough enemy decisions.

One reviewer strongly disliked Hans as a long-term companion presence, creating strain on their desire to continue.

One reviewer enjoyed shaping an idiot-savant commander, supporting protagonist role-play appeal.

The soundtrack was one of the most consistently praised elements, with several reviewers calling it orchestral, phenomenal, or legendary.

Soundtrack quality was mixed: radio and themed music were liked, while several reviewers found the score sparse or not memorable.

Loot was criticized for early encumbrance pressure and the difficulty of carrying everything a player might want.

Loot was praised as meaningful, rewarding, and varied enough to support distinct builds.

One reviewer felt early traversal was unnecessarily taxing, especially before stronger equipment and better mobility options eased the burden.

Movement was usually considered improved and freer, helped by mobility options, though fall damage and melee sluggishness drew criticism.

UI feedback was positive when reviewers discussed improved, adaptable, or visually polished interface presentation.

Interface design was split between a UI that stayed out of the way and a cluttered UI complaint.

The cast was praised for memorable personalities, humor, and a strong sense of history.

The companion roster drew mixed reactions, from mostly memorable faction representatives to a separate view that no one truly stood out.

Reviewers saw the sequel as much more polished than the first game, with rough edges reduced and systems better realized.

Polish was mixed, balancing technical reliability improvements against uneven design and jank.

The learning curve was repeatedly described as steep, slow, and friction-heavy, rewarding patience but likely turning some players away.

One reviewer found the broader RPG structure easy to grasp despite its added ambition.

Main mission design was mixed: reviewers praised varied scenarios, but one criticized a required sequence for lacking an alternate path.

Major missions and tentpole scenarios were praised for puzzle-box structure, role-play opportunities, and varied routes.

Crash stability was praised by multiple reviewers who reported no crashes, no soft locks, or no hard crashes.

Crash stability was mixed, from one-crash praise to reports of hard crashes or repeated crashes in a specific area.

One reviewer found the loop rewarding but volatile, with strong highs offset by repeated frustration and setbacks.

The main loop of talking, looting, fighting, and resolving problems your way was praised as satisfying and strongly role-play driven.

Value was praised because the game is both strong and very long, with some reviewers reporting enormous playtime.

Value was mixed-positive: Game Pass and standard pricing were praised, while some reviewers recommended waiting for broader opinions or a sale.

Narrative quality was a major strength, with reviewers praising the historical saga, main quest, character arcs, and cinematic ambition.

Narrative quality ranged from excellent political intrigue and strong story beats to complaints about a weak, predictable, or flat core story.

Several reviewers found the game highly entertaining, addictive, and rewarding once its demanding systems clicked.

Fun factor was mostly positive, though some reviewers tied their enjoyment to tolerance for repetition, pacing, or familiar design.

Stealth was useful and sometimes satisfying, yet reviewers also called it finicky, weak, or frustrating in specific forced sections.

Stealth was often viable and rewarding, especially with builds and gadgets, but some reviewers found it imbalanced or merely serviceable.

Pacing opinions varied: some praised the sustained momentum, while others complained about indulgent cutscenes or late-game pacing issues.

Pacing was the most consistent caveat, with slow first acts, uneven zones, or late-game drag appearing in several reviews.

Performance was generally praised across PC and console contexts, with reviewers noting strong optimization and technical improvements.

Performance optimization was mixed but generally acceptable, with strong platform reports offset by rough PC or ray-tracing complaints.

The early economy was described as restrictive, especially when selling damaged or stolen goods with limited vendor money.

Economy balance drew criticism from one reviewer who found bits and faction standing underdeveloped.

The revised perk and upgrade system was praised for offering meaningful upside-focused choices rather than weak side-grades.

Weapon and gear upgrades were usually liked for customization, but some reviewers found mod limits or specific systems clunky.

Quest design was one of the strongest points, with reviewers praising memorable side stories, branching approaches, and strong writing, despite a few disappointing payoffs.

Quest design was split: several reviewers loved the branching checks and side content, while others saw busywork or inconsequential side quests.

One reviewer praised the scale of improvement as something other studios rarely achieve.

Innovation was split between praise for the flaws system and criticism that broader mechanics felt unimaginative.

Bugs were present but usually minor; reviewers ranged from calling glitches common to saying issues rarely disrupted play.

Bug frequency was mixed, with several reviewers noting annoying or persistent bugs and others saying issues were minor.

Onboarding divided reviewers: returning and new-player recaps helped, but some found the opening overloaded or blunt.

Onboarding and character setup were mostly praised for immediately expressing background, traits, and build identity.

Exploration was praised for beautiful spaces, meaningful discoveries, and a strong adventuring feel, though harsh systems made some travel demanding.

Exploration was generally rewarding and purposeful, though some reviewers found open stretches empty or unrewarding.

One reviewer reported a consistent frame rate and treated that as part of the game’s stronger technical state.

Frame rate evidence ranged from smooth 60 FPS praise to concerns about 4K performance and quality/performance tradeoffs.

Writing was described as excellent, engaging, humorous, and consistently strong across main and side content.

Writing was one of the best-supported strengths, especially satire, dialogue, humor, and faction commentary, despite a few complaints about patchiness.

The visual style of menus, maps, and medieval presentation received praise for matching the game’s historical tone.

Art direction was mostly praised for color, personality, and alien worlds, though one reviewer preferred the first game's grounded look.

Graphics were broadly praised for impressive landscapes, cutscenes, lighting, and major visual improvements over the first game.

Graphics were generally positive, with vibrant worlds and improved visuals, though some character models or performance-mode compromises drew criticism.

Sound design was praised for supporting immersion and helping players identify attacks or stealth-relevant cues.

Sound design and radio presentation were praised for adding flavor and helping scenes land.

Reviewers generally agreed the sequel stays true to the original while improving its systems, scope, and accessibility.

Faithfulness to the franchise was praised for refining the series, keeping its soul, and moving closer to Obsidian's RPG promise.

Visual set pieces and in-engine scenes were praised for creating striking emotional moments.

Visual effects were praised by one reviewer for good-looking special effects and reflections.

Camera behavior was a noted issue for one reviewer, especially through finicky first-person viewpoint problems.

Third-person camera implementation was criticized as uncomfortable by one reviewer.

The game was not seen as a pure grind, but reviewers still emphasized the effort and repetition needed to gain traction.

Grind level was mixed: IGN found the RPG grind compelling, while RPGFan said repetitive tasks and level-cap timing hurt motivation.

Atmosphere was praised alongside world-building, especially in cities, music, and historically grounded locations.

Atmosphere was praised for oppressive planets, overwhelming corporate spaces, and a strong sense of place.

Fast travel opinions were mixed: one reviewer praised dynamic events, while another found it cumbersome and interruption-prone.

Fast travel was useful and sometimes praised, though lack of interplanetary fast travel frustrated one reviewer.

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

Side characters and companions were divisive: many praised their faction ties and quests, while others found them uneven or unmemorable.

Reviewers consistently praised the reactive crime, reputation, NPC, and quest systems that made the world feel alive and responsive.

World interactivity was praised where obvious environmental solutions and discovered information could be acted on directly.

Menu usability was mixed to negative, with some praise for navigation but others calling the menu system dire or frustrating.

Menus and inventory drew mixed-to-negative reactions, especially inventory patience, UI bugs, and clutter.

The historical codex and contextual detail were praised for offering extensive background on people, events, and society.

Lore depth was praised where new factions made Arcadia feel deeper and more distinct than the first game.

Environmental detail was praised for dense, specific objects, puddles, tools, farms, residences, and believable spaces.

Environmental detail was praised for purposeful design, interiors, environmental storytelling, and handcrafted spaces.

Voice acting was broadly praised, especially the main cast, though some reviewers noted repeated or uneven minor NPC voices.

Voice acting was considered strong or solid, with performances generally supporting the setting and comedy.

Weapon balance was mixed: one reviewer liked weapon choice, while another found some ranged options hard to use effectively.

Weapon balance ranged from fresh, satisfying arsenals to overpowered or underwhelming weapons and uneven biomass guns.

Difficulty was often called demanding and unforgiving; reviewers generally treated this as part of the appeal, though not always an easy one.

Difficulty was mixed: some liked the challenge and fairness, while others noted reverse difficulty or uneven spikes.

World-building was repeatedly praised as immersive, historically grounded, and central to the game’s appeal.

World-building was a major strength, with reviewers praising factions, moral dilemmas, environmental context, and a lived-in universe.

Reviewers liked the depth and usefulness of perks, weapon techniques, and skill trees, especially when they enabled meaningful playstyle specialization.

Skill depth was praised for meaningful specialization, tough choices, and builds that affected both dialogue and combat.

Progression was widely praised for turning early friction into rewarding growth through skills, perks, equipment, and player learning.

Progression, perks, flaws, and no-respec commitment were widely praised, though level-cap and respec complaints created some friction.

One reviewer praised the way locations were recontextualized into memorable set-pieces that rewarded planning and awareness.

Dense openings and dungeon spaces earned strong praise, with reviewers singling out alternate routes and thoughtful layouts.

Reviewers repeatedly framed the systems-heavy design as a major strength, praising how mechanics connect to role-playing, dialogue, world simulation, and player expression.

Reviewers generally liked the RPG systems, build options, and reactive mechanics, though a few found familiar systems less imaginative.

Replay value looked strong thanks to hardcore mode, major content additions, and reviewers wanting to return for more playthroughs.

Replay value was a major strength, with reviewers wanting additional runs for alternate builds, choices, paths, and endings.

Ranged play was viewed as improved by some reviewers, especially archery, but another found ranged combat weightless and weak.

Aiming was mostly better and more natural, but one reviewer still found the reticle a little slippery.

Reviewers admired the freedom to solve problems, exploit systems, and role-play, though the sandbox sometimes clashed with scripted story demands.

Reviewers strongly praised the freedom to solve situations through speech, stealth, combat, skills, traits, and prior discoveries.

Controls were described as noticeably smoother than the first game, especially in camera feel, aiming, and sword fighting responsiveness.

Controls were praised for snappier, more responsive shooting and better weapon heft.

Combat drew broad attention for its realism, skill focus, and improvements, though several reviewers still found it harsh, clunky, or frustrating early on.

Combat was widely seen as a major improvement, especially gunplay, though melee feel and RPG-shooter limitations kept some scores mixed.

Dialogue was mostly praised for impact, humor, and organic choices, though one reviewer found some repeated dialogue drawn out.

Dialogue was praised for branching options, smooth integration of background choices, and rewarding nonviolent solutions.

One reviewer warned that excessive profanity and potentially offensive material make the game unsuitable for some audiences.

Checkpointing was criticized for causing lost progress when autosaves appeared only at limited quest points.

Crafting split reviewers: blacksmithing and alchemy could be charming and rewarding, but several found parts clunky, slow, or repetitive.

Cross-save support was positively noted when saves moved between Xbox and PC.

The post-launch expansions were credited with adding a large amount of extra content to the package.

Endgame content drew criticism when the level cap arrived before some arcs or final hours, reducing reward momentum.

Enemy variety was a repeated low point in IGN-aligned reviews, especially repeated creatures across planets.

Facial animation feedback was mixed: one reviewer noted lifeless dialogue faces, while another praised key character animations.

Family friendliness was limited by repeated profanity, sexual content, and depictions of women that one reviewer found objectifying.

Handheld suitability was supported by one reviewer who described the game as scalable enough for handheld play.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were praised for reflecting stamina, sword clashes, and sharpening interactions.

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

The adaptive HUD was praised for hiding unnecessary elements and improving immersion when information was not relevant.

Post-launch support was described positively through free updates, fixes, and eagerly awaited features.

The PS5 Pro version was praised as a graphical treat, with platform-specific technical strengths noted.

Puzzle support was praised where gadgets expanded both combat and puzzle-solving options.

The save system was one of the most divisive topics, praised by one reviewer but criticized by many as stingy or punishing.

Tutorial quality was mixed, with one reviewer calling it decent while others criticized dense text screens and poor explanations.