A Sci-Fi RPG Merging The Expanse’s Corporate Grit With Starfield’s Scope Is Free To Play

Situated between the gritty, corporate-scarred politics of The Expanse and the expansive galaxy-hopping of Starfield is a compelling sci-fi RPG currently available on Xbox Game Pass. Despite its popularity, many fans of those franchises have yet to experience this title through its free subscriber offering.

If you appreciated how The Expanse portrayed corporations treating human lives as mere commodities, or how Starfield allows you to traverse planets and craft your own narrative, now is the ideal time to play The Outer Worlds. Available with Game Pass Essential and above, there is no reason for subscribers not to launch it tonight.

The Outer Worlds Is A Must-Play Sci-Fi RPG On Xbox Game Pass

The game casts you as a colonist destined to reach the edge of known space decades in the past. However, your ship went missing, and by the time you finally awaken, everything has deteriorated. The colony of Halcyon is entirely governed by megacorporations; the security forces, currency, and even basic medicine all trace back to an indifferent board of directors.

Developer Obsidian Entertainment crafted a world where every faction has demands on you, and the true enjoyment lies in deciding who deserves your allegiance. What makes the game exceptional, however, is the freedom it gives you to be a villain, a hero, or something far more ambiguous.

In The Outer Worlds, dialogue choices truly branch, and companions challenge your decisions rather than simply agreeing with them. The game also features a flaw system that recognizes when you repeatedly fall victim to the same enemy type or trick, offering a permanent debuff in exchange for a perk point. While unusual, this mechanic perfectly aligns with the game’s philosophy of embracing your mistakes rather than ignoring them.

The Outer Worlds’ Choices Make Its Sci-Fi RPG Stand Out

The combat system in The Outer Worlds is unremarkable on its own—a first-person shooter paired with a time-slowing ability called Tactical Time Dilation—but it serves its purpose. Most importantly, it never interferes with the writing, which is the true centerpiece. The humor is sharp and cynical without becoming exhausting, and most side quests feature meaningful choices rather than tedious fetch-and-return tasks.

The Outer Worlds is also not a massive game. You can complete a playthrough in roughly 15 to 20 hours if you avoid every side quest, which ultimately works in its favor. Compared to sprawling open-world RPGs that demand 80-plus hours before the credits roll, there is something refreshing about a game that understands exactly how long its narrative ideas can sustain a player’s attention.

With The Outer Worlds 2 launching in 2025 and dominating the spotlight recently, the original 2019 game is naturally fading from the conversation. However, if you have yet to try this series, you should absolutely start with The Outer Worlds. Both titles are included with all tiers of Xbox Game Pass, so if you have a subscription and an evening free, there is no excuse not to give them a try. Discover where Halcyon’s chaotic blend of corporate greed and dark comedy takes you—you might just find yourself wishing more sci-fi RPGs took such risks with their writing.

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