Why Skyrim players are looking at Outward right now
On October 8, 2026, Nine Dots Studio set a February 8, 2027 date for Outward 2’s PC Early AccessSteam RPG Site, after a delay from its original July 7, 2026 dateSteam. That news has many players discovering the original — and asking whether it can replace Skyrim.
Outward Definitive Edition holds a 73% “Mostly Positive” Steam rating from 31,536 reviews Steam. That is lower than Skyrim’s 92% Steam — and the gap tells you something: Outward is divisive by design.
Outward vs Skyrim: side-by-side
| Topic | Outward | Skyrim |
|---|---|---|
| Progression | No XP and no levels. You buy skills from trainers using silver and limited breakthrough points, and your gear does much of the work. | Skills level up as you use them; leveling grants perks and attribute increases. |
| Survival | Hunger, thirst, sleep and temperature all matter. Diseases and status effects need treating. | None in the base game (Survival Mode is an optional Creation). |
| Magic | Must be unlocked first, at a permanent cost to your maximum health and stamina. Many spells are built from rune combinations. | Learn spells instantly from spell tomes; any character can cast from the start. |
| Combat | Deliberate, stamina-heavy third-person combat. Being outnumbered is genuinely dangerous. | First- or third-person action combat that gets easy as you level. |
| Navigation | Your position is not shown on the map. You read landmarks and use your compass. | Map markers, quest markers and fast travel to discovered locations. |
| Saving & death | Autosave only. Defeat triggers a scenario — you may wake up robbed, rescued or captured. | Manual saves and quick-saves at any time; death reloads your last save. |
| Co-op | Two-player online and local split-screen co-op. | Single-player only. |
| Story | Choose one of three faction storylines; the world matters more than the plot. | The Dragonborn main quest plus many guild questlines. |
Co-op modes per the Outward Steam page. Mechanics are documented in the Outward Wiki andUESP.
How similar is Outward to Skyrim?
- Open world
- 4/5
- Freedom
- 4/5
- Combat feel
- 3/5
- Quests & story
- 2/5
- Modding
- 3/5
You will love Outward if…
- You played Skyrim on Legendary or with survival mods and wanted more.
- You enjoy planning trips, packing supplies and earning your power.
- You want a co-op RPG to play with a partner — even on one screen.
- You like worlds that do not revolve around you.
Skip Outward if…
- Quick-saving before every fight is part of how you play.
- You want to feel powerful within the first few hours.
- Dated animations and budget presentation bother you.
- You play for a big, cinematic main story.
6 tips for Skyrim players starting Outward
- 01
Buy a backpack first
Your carrying capacity comes from your backpack, not your strength. Drop it before a fight to move faster.
- 02
Trainers are your level-ups
Since there is no XP, saving silver for the right trainer skill is the main way to grow stronger.
- 03
Cook, do not just eat
Prepared meals give useful buffs and restore far more than raw ingredients.
- 04
Learn to navigate without a marker
Open the map, find nearby landmarks and use the compass at the top of the screen.
- 05
Rest before you travel
Sleeping in a bed or tent restores you; long trips with no rest are how characters get defeated.
- 06
Bring a friend
Co-op makes the early game much more forgiving — and it is genuinely fun in split-screen.
Outward trailers & video reviews
Official trailer
Gameplay
Video reviewWhat critics say about Outward
- Critics recommend
- 21%
- OpenCritic rating
- Weak
- Top critic reviews
- 32
Source: OpenCritic · verified October 14, 2026
- PC Gamer89/100
“A few rough edges don't stop Outward from being a gem of an RPG.”
Christopher LivingstonApr 10, 2019
Read the full review - IGN5/10
“Outward is an open-world survival RPG that starved me of fun and left me thirsty for bug fixes and a better combat system.”
Apr 14, 2019
Read the full review - Rock, Paper, ShotgunUnscored
“I am not incredibly enthused to fight more baddies in Outward. I’m not that excited to speak to more of its cardboardy NPCs. I’m not looking forward to getting up from my chair to do some light cardio while I wait for my character to warm up by a campfire in the middle of a snowstorm, so I don’t get diseased and have to trek to the nearest village for a herbal tea and sleep for a day before I’m healthy again. But that travel, maaaaan. It absolutely nails it.”
Nic ReubenMar 28, 2019
Read the full review - Destructoid6/10
“Taken as a whole, Outward practically screams "cult classic." Its consistent challenge, cumbersome combat, and co-op systems won't resonate with everyone. But for a particular type of player—ones that don't mind trading dozens of frustrating moments for open-ended experiences—Nine Dot Studios' RPG is sure to find a dedicated audience. Outward's aspirations are commendable, but just like its protagonist, the end result is just average.”
Raymond PorrecaMar 26, 2019
Read the full review - Fextralife6.5/10
“Good ideas and interesting systems held back by clunky combat and the occasional bad design decision, Outward is an RPG for a very specific pallet. You will either really like it, or find it insufferably aggravating.”
Apr 18, 2019
Read the full review - Metro GameCentral6/10
“A deeply flawed open world role-player but also an extremely ambitious and unique one, whose approach to co-op play and survival deserves further iteration.”
Apr 4, 2019
Read the full review
Excerpts and scores as published by each outlet for Outward Definitive Edition, collected via OpenCritic OpenCritic.
Where to play Outward — price, Steam Deck & players
Steam Deck & PC
Steam Deck Verified
Windows · Controller: full support
Valve compatibility rating Steam
Price on Steam
$1.99 $39.99 −95%
US price on October 14, 2026 — check Steam for today’s price ·price history
Players & co-op
493 playing on Steam
Online co-op · Split-screen co-op
Live count on October 14, 2026 SteamDB
How long is Outward?
Playtimes vary hugely with how much you explore. See community-submitted completion times on HowLongToBeat.
Outward PC system requirements
Minimum
- OS *
- Windows 7 (64 Bit) / 8 (64 Bit) / 10 (64 Bit)
- Processor
- Intel Core i5-750 or equivalent
- Memory
- 6 GB RAM
- Graphics
- Nvidia GTX 660 or equivalent
- Storage
- 51 GB available space
Recommended
- OS *
- Windows 7 (64 Bit) / 8 (64 Bit) / 10 (64 Bit)
- Processor
- Intel Core i5-2400 or equivalent
- Memory
- 8 GB RAM
- Graphics
- Nvidia GTX 960 or equivalent
- Storage
- 51 GB available space
From the official Steam store page · verified October 14, 2026
Latest official Outward news
Outward 2 will release on February 8th
Hello Adventurers! First we’d like to thank once again everyone for being so supportive when we announced Outward 2 was getting delayed. We have been hard at work and the game is shaping up more and more beautifully…
Delaying the launch of Outward 2
Hi everyone, I know that this might seem sudden as not that long ago we released a trailer inviting people to explore Aurai during summer, but the truth is that if we just stick to the plan stubbornly, we’re delivering…
5 tips to play Outward 2 Beta! AG French Direct Trailer
Watch our new trailer from the AG French Direct showcase! Tip #1 — CHECK YOUR VITALS! Outward is a game that simulates the life of an ordinary adventurer in a very hostile world. You need to take care of your basic…
Outward 2 Beta starts now
Hello adventurers! Outward 2 Closed Beta is now live! Please find all the information related to the closed beta below in the FAQ. You can leave your feedback on Discord or by filling this #ExploreAurai: Get a chance to…
Official announcements from the developer’s Steam news hub, updated automatically.
Outward mods & community
Community links are fan-run spaces; opinions there are players’ own, not ours.
Community
What Skyrim players say about Outward
Reviews from players on this site, answering the questions Skyrim fans actually ask. Published instantly, moderated afterwards.
No player reviews yet
Played Outward? Be the first Skyrim fan to tell others whether it scratches the itch.
Coming February 8, 2027
Outward 2: should you wait?
The sequel enters Early Access on Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG. If you want a finished game today, start with the original — your experience will carry straight over.
Outward 2 release date & detailsOutward vs Skyrim FAQ
Is Outward like Skyrim?
Partly. Both are open-world fantasy RPGs with free-form character builds and exploration. But Outward removes levels, adds survival needs and only autosaves, so it feels far more grounded and harder than Skyrim. We rate it 64% similar overall.
Is Outward harder than Skyrim?
Yes, especially in the first few hours. You are not a chosen hero, enemies do not scale down to you, and you cannot reload a save after a bad fight. Many players find that the difficulty is exactly what makes it rewarding.
Does Outward have co-op?
Yes. Outward Definitive Edition supports two-player online co-op and local split-screen co-op, according to its Steam store page. Skyrim has no official co-op.
Does Outward have mods?
Yes, there is an active community modding scene; mods are commonly installed through Thunderstore. It is much smaller than Skyrim’s, though.
Should I buy Outward or wait for Outward 2?
Outward 2 only enters PC Early Access on February 8, 2027, and Early Access games are unfinished by design. If you are curious now, the original Outward Definitive Edition is a complete game and often on sale. See our Outward 2 page.