Is Starfield Just The Outer Worlds? Debunking the Space RPG Clone Claims
The short and direct answer is no, Starfield is not just The Outer Worlds. While both games are first-person, open-world space RPGs with a shared genre, their core design philosophies, gameplay mechanics, and overall experiences diverge significantly. Superficial similarities like the ability to travel between planets and engage in combat might initially lead to comparisons, but a deeper dive reveals they are distinctly different games with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. To label Starfield as merely a clone of The Outer Worlds would be a gross oversimplification that disregards their fundamental differences.
The Fundamental Differences: More Than Skin Deep
While The Outer Worlds presents a viciously cynical take on corporate exploitation with a focus on concise storytelling and flexible character builds, Starfield embraces a more open-ended “space playset” approach. Here’s how they contrast:
Scope and Scale
One of the most obvious differences is the sheer scale of each game. Starfield boasts over 1,000 planets across 100 star systems, combining both handcrafted and procedurally generated environments. This colossal scale invites players to explore an almost unimaginable amount of space. The Outer Worlds, on the other hand, features a much smaller, more contained world, segmented into distinct areas. This smaller scale allows for a denser narrative and more focused character interactions but limits the overall exploration compared to Starfield.
Gameplay and Systems
Both games feature first-person combat, but their RPG systems differ considerably. While The Outer Worlds places emphasis on how companions impact skills and perks, Starfield leans into Bethesda’s familiar leveling and skill-tree system, offering a plethora of options to mold your character. While The Outer Worlds provides flexible build options, many felt the game lacked variety in enemies and interactions within the world. Furthermore, the exploration mechanics in Starfield revolve around fast travel and discovering new locations, while The Outer Worlds has more limited travel options due to its structure.
Narrative and Themes
The Outer Worlds excels in its biting social commentary on corporate greed and its effect on society. It presents a tightly woven narrative with compelling choices that directly impact the world. Starfield, while having a narrative centered around gathering artifacts and exploring the mysteries of the universe, prioritizes the player’s freedom to forge their own path. It’s less focused on delivering a singular, pointed message and more about allowing the player to experience the wonders and dangers of exploring a vast galaxy.
Worldbuilding and Immersion
Starfield’s worldbuilding is immense, continuing Bethesda’s tradition of expansive environments with a blend of handcrafted and procedurally generated content. The focus here is on the sheer volume of things to discover. The Outer Worlds provides a well-crafted, albeit smaller world with interesting lore. However, its lack of broad interaction with the world, combined with a smaller map, makes it seem less immersive when compared to Starfield. While The Outer Worlds aimed to recapture some of the magic of Fallout: New Vegas, its smaller scale proved to be its greatest limitation.
Why the Comparison Arises
The confusion often stems from the fact that both games are first-person space RPGs, a subgenre that is not as heavily populated as fantasy RPGs, or other action games. The initial similarities of being able to travel to different locations in space, engage in combat, and make choices with consequences make it easy for people to initially label them as alike, even though the scale and depth are vastly different. Also, fans of the RPG genre are always searching for games in the same vein as other popular titles, leading to quick comparisons based on a genre label, rather than a thorough comparison of the overall game’s mechanics.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, while both Starfield and The Outer Worlds share a genre, they are very different gaming experiences. Starfield offers a vast, expansive galaxy ripe for exploration, while The Outer Worlds delivers a more focused and narratively driven adventure. One isn’t inherently better than the other; they simply cater to different player preferences and priorities. Dismissing Starfield as simply an “Outer Worlds clone” does a disservice to its ambition, scale, and unique gameplay loop. Each stands on its own merits and provides a unique space RPG experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Starfield just Fallout in Space?
While Starfield carries over some of Bethesda’s signature world-building and RPG elements from the Fallout series, it is not simply “Fallout in space.” It’s a brand new universe with its own lore, systems, and mechanics. While players may see similar features to Fallout, Starfield’s focus on space exploration is its own unique design.
What is the difference between Starfield and Outer Wilds?
Starfield is a large open-world space RPG where you explore numerous planets to collect artifacts. Outer Wilds is a smaller, time-loop based puzzle game focused on uncovering the secrets of the universe, specifically the location of the eye of the universe. They are different gaming experiences entirely, despite the similar naming conventions.
Can you go to Earth in Starfield?
Yes, you can visit Earth in Starfield. It’s located in the SOL star system. You’ll typically be able to access it after delivering your first Artifact in the game’s early stages.
Will Starfield really have 1,000 planets?
Yes, Starfield includes over 1,000 planets across more than 100 star systems. These planets range from barren wastelands to habitable worlds, providing a vast space to explore. While not all planets are created equal, the sheer amount available for players to explore is impressive.
Are there cities in Starfield?
Yes, Starfield has four major cities: New Atlantis, Akila, Neon, and The Key. New Atlantis is the largest, serving as the capital of Jemison. The Key is a space station serving as the Crimson Fleet’s headquarters. The other three are capitals of various human settlements.
How many planets are there to explore in Starfield?
Starfield boasts a staggering 1600+ planetoids to explore, including moons. While many of these are procedurally generated, a good amount are handcrafted for a more unique experience.
How big are the worlds in Starfield?
Starfield provides over 1,000 planets with thousands of miles of square footage to explore, making it a truly massive world. While the exact size of each planet varies greatly, the overall scale is unprecedented.
Is Starfield bigger than Skyrim?
Starfield is significantly larger than Skyrim. Skyrim’s map is roughly 15 square miles, while Starfield encompasses over 1000 planets, some of which can be comparable to Skyrim in size. In terms of the total playable area, Starfield is a much larger game.
Is Starfield male or female?
In Starfield, you choose your character’s pronouns (male, female, or non-binary) during character creation. The game does not restrict your character design based on your chosen pronouns.
Why did The Outer Worlds fail?
The Outer Worlds didn’t necessarily “fail,” but it didn’t live up to the hype for some. Reasons include its smaller, segmented world, lack of enemy variety, forgettable companions, and a less immersive world compared to Bethesda titles like Fallout and Skyrim. It also faced difficulties in comparison to Fallout: New Vegas.
Can you fly from planet to planet in Starfield?
While you can technically fly your ship to another planet, the distances are immense and most players will opt for fast travel. Much of the space exploration revolves around quick travel options, not full manual flight from one planet to the other.
Can you go to other planets in Starfield?
Yes, the game allows you to explore a vast array of planets within its 100+ star systems. You are not restricted to small zones and can travel to different planets in a semi-realistic representation of distance.
Why does Starfield have 1,000 planets?
The developers wanted to give players a sense of choice and freedom to explore the galaxy as they see fit. The sheer number of planets offers players the ability to discover a vast universe.
Has anyone beaten Starfield?
Yes, many players have completed the game. Speedrunners have managed to complete the main story in under 3 hours.
Can you build settlements in Starfield?
Yes, Starfield features settlement building mechanics called Outposts. This allows players to create their own bases throughout the galaxy.