Releasing on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
Outward, a throw-you-in-the-deep-end survival RPG, is getting a Definitive Edition on May 17 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. You might not have heard of this one, but it made a splash onSteamin 2019 as an open-world game with a sprinkle ofSoulsand co-op support.Outwardwasn’t afraid to push back — there’s no fast travel! — and it clicked with players who needed a break from bigger-budget open-world game design.
It struck me as a game that would be fun to learn but not necessarily fun tofinish, if you catch my drift. Post-launch updates helped. And withOutward: Definitive Edition, Nine Dots Studio is making “one last big push before focusing all our efforts on our next games.”
According to Prime Matter, players who own the base game andThe ThreeBrothersDLC will getOutward: Definitive Editionfor free. Here’s a surprisingly chipper trailer:
What’s different?
Earlier this week, the developers highlighted the balance changes ina Steam post:
“This list is not exhaustive, but those changes are those that I think will most significantly alter the experience of playingOutward,” said the developers.
“Hopefully it will keep even seasoned adventurers on their toes.”
We haven’t touched onOutwardin years — I still think of it as “Ray’s weird backpack game,” in honor of our then-reviewer. That said, I randomly remember it all the dang time.
“During my first ten hours inOutward, I was mauled by wolves three different times, kidnapped by bandits twice, and left shanghaied on a magic-infused mountain by a mysterious stranger. I fought subterranean monsters and laid tripwire traps in a desperate ploy to take on foes much stronger than me.”
The Definitive Edition seems like a good entry point for RPG fans, especially if you have a certain old-school patience for the world’s hostility, repetition brought on by long walks, and bugs. It may not be a looker, but as a wacky adventure generator,Outwardis memorable. Sometimes, things go off the rails, and it sucks. Other times, all of the discomfort can lead to something unique. Not enough open-world games hit this way.
