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Starfield is the closest overall match if you want a large, system-hopping science-fiction RPG with ships, factions and character progression. Choose No Man’s Sky for the greatest freedom to explore and build, The Outer Worlds 2 for tightly authored quests and consequential dialogue, or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for another cinematic, third-person Star Wars campaign.
Star Wars Outlaws is an unusual combination: a third-person scoundrel story set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, broad planetary exploration, Outer Rim travel, space dogfights and relationships with criminal factions. The games below each reproduce some of that appeal, but none duplicates the entire formula. Use the comparison and play-style guide to decide which part matters most to you.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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No Man's Sky - PlayStation 5 | $23.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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No Man's Sky (PS5) EU Version Region Free | $23.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Forspoken - PlayStation 5 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
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Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon - PlayStation 5 | $29.29 | Buy on Amazon |
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What counts as a game like Star Wars Outlaws?
Outlaws sets a useful benchmark because its identity comes from several systems working together rather than from one feature. The ideal substitute depends on which of these you want to keep.
- Exploration scale: Do you want broad planets, a connected set of areas, or an effectively unlimited galaxy?
- Space travel: Is piloting a ship and moving between systems essential, or is a science-fiction setting enough?
- Story authorship: Are you looking for a directed campaign with dialogue and faction consequences, or a sandbox that creates its own stories?
- Action perspective: Outlaws uses third-person action. Some alternatives are first-person RPGs, which changes how movement and combat feel.
- Star Wars connection: A same-universe adventure may matter more than a larger map or deeper role-playing system.
There is no single winner on every axis. The recommendations are deliberately separated by the experience they deliver best.
#1 Best Overall
- Embark on an epic voyage, find your own destiny in this epic space adventure
- Includes 6 years of updates
- An entire universe to explore on the go in the palm of your hands
- For the first time ever, PlayStation 5 physical edition as well as Nintendo Switch (physical & digital)
Quick comparison
| Game | Best match for | Exploration model | Story and perspective | Important difference from Outlaws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starfield | Large-scale space RPG systems | More than 100 systems and over 1,000 planets are presented as open destinations | Traditional RPG progression and faction questlines; first-person presentation | More systems-driven and role-playing focused than a focused outlaw adventure |
| No Man’s Sky | Unrestricted discovery, survival and multiplayer | Procedural universe built for freeform travel; the design promise is, “If you can see it, you can go there” | Self-directed play with resource gathering and base building | Less tightly authored than Outlaws and built around ongoing updates |
| The Outer Worlds 2 | Authored choices and compact RPG pacing | Curated science-fiction environments rather than an effectively endless galaxy | First-person RPG from Obsidian with dialogue and faction decisions | No equivalent promise of open-world space travel; scope is more concentrated |
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | Another polished third-person Star Wars campaign | Large connected areas instead of an open-world outlaw sandbox | Third-person, galaxy-spanning action-adventure | Shares the setting and cinematic feel, but not Outlaws’ criminal-faction sandbox |
Platform support, edition contents, downloadable expansions and regional availability can change. Check the current store listing for your platform before buying, especially for a newly released edition or an expansion pass.
Starfield: best for a large-scale space RPG
Why it is the closest structural match
Starfield is the strongest choice when the part of Outlaws that excites you is leaving one world, jumping to another system and building a personal career in a large science-fiction setting. Bethesda describes a scope of more than 100 systems and over 1,000 planets open for visits. That scale makes the galaxy itself the main attraction rather than a backdrop between authored missions.
The game also combines ship ownership, faction questlines and character progression. Those systems give your travels a role-playing context: you are not merely sightseeing, but deciding how to develop a character, which groups to work with and how to use your ship. Players who like the idea of an outlaw becoming entangled with competing interests will recognize the appeal, even though the structure is a traditional Bethesda RPG rather than a direct imitation of Outlaws.
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Expect a first-person presentation. That viewpoint changes the feel of exploration and combat from Outlaws’ third-person action, but it puts the role-playing systems in the foreground. Conversations, faction work and progression are central reasons to keep moving through the galaxy. Ship ownership adds a long-term customization and travel layer that Outlaws readers often want when they ask for a game with spaceflight.
The large map can support different rhythms. You can follow a faction questline, pursue character development or simply choose a destination and see what is there. That flexibility is valuable if you want a game that remains interesting after the central story, but it also means the experience is less tightly paced than a single, directed scoundrel campaign.
Pick Starfield if…
- You want the most substantial combination of systems, ship ownership and faction progression.
- Travel across many star systems matters more than staying in one cinematic third-person adventure.
- You are comfortable with first-person presentation and a classic RPG structure.
Choose something else if…
Do not choose it solely because it has planets. Its appeal is the role-playing framework around those destinations. If you want spontaneous discovery, survival and construction with minimal authored direction, No Man’s Sky is a better fit. If dialogue choices and a compact campaign are your priority, The Outer Worlds 2 is more focused.
No Man’s Sky: best for unrestricted exploration and survival
Why explorers should start here
No Man’s Sky is built around an open universe rather than a fixed route through a campaign. Hello Games describes it as “A TRULY OPEN UNIVERSE” and uses the promise, “If you can see it, you can go there.” That philosophy makes it the clearest recommendation for players who treat discovery itself as the objective.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIts worlds are procedural, so the attraction is not simply visiting a finite list of authored planets. You gather resources, survive, build bases and decide what to do next. The loop is deliberately self-directed: a session can be about finding a new place, collecting materials, improving your base or traveling with other players instead of advancing a prescribed crime story.
Rank #2
- Embark on an epic voyage, find your own destiny in this epic space adventure
- Includes 6 years of updates*
- An entire universe to explore on the go in the palm of your hands
- For the first time ever, PlayStation 5 physical edition as well as Nintendo Switch (physical & digital)
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
Features that change the comparison
The game supports PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch and VR, along with cross-play. That broad platform coverage is useful for groups whose friends use different systems, although the exact feature set and performance can vary by platform. The universe also receives continuing major updates, so the game can change substantially over time rather than remaining a fixed release.
Those strengths come with a clear trade-off. Outlaws supplies an original scoundrel narrative, cinematic encounters and criminal-faction relationships. No Man’s Sky gives you room to make your own objectives, but it does not replace that authored structure one-for-one. If you need every planet to serve a dramatic mission, its procedural approach may feel diffuse. If you want the freedom to ignore a quest and simply head toward a visible horizon, it is the better choice.
Pick No Man’s Sky if…
- Exploration freedom is more important than a tightly scripted story.
- You enjoy resource gathering, survival decisions and constructing a base.
- You want multiplayer and cross-play across supported PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch or VR versions.
- You prefer a universe that continues to receive major updates.
Choose something else if…
Choose Starfield when you want faction questlines and character progression to organize a broad galaxy. Choose The Outer Worlds 2 when your favorite part of a science-fiction game is arguing, persuading and making decisions in authored missions. Choose Jedi: Survivor when third-person Star Wars presentation is non-negotiable.
The Outer Worlds 2: best for authored choices and compact RPG pacing
Why it suits story-first players
The Outer Worlds 2 is the recommendation for readers who value the decisions inside a mission more than the number of planets on the map. Xbox Wire describes it as the eagerly awaited sequel to Obsidian Entertainment’s award-winning first-person science-fiction RPG. The important comparison is its emphasis on an authored adventure: dialogue, faction decisions and curated pacing are the center of the experience.
That makes it a good alternative when you want the sense that conversations matter and that competing groups react to your choices. It is not presented as an effectively endless galaxy, so the journey is more concentrated than in Starfield or No Man’s Sky. The smaller scope is an advantage if you prefer a campaign that keeps its narrative in view rather than constantly asking you to choose among distant destinations.
Perspective and edition choices
The game is first-person, so it does not reproduce Outlaws’ third-person movement or visual relationship with the protagonist. Its appeal is the role-playing conversation layer and the ability to shape an authored science-fiction story through decisions.
The announcement confirms standard and premium editions. The premium package includes a digital artbook, soundtrack and expansion pass. Because edition contents and availability can change, verify the current listing and whether the expansion pass is included in the version you are considering. Do not assume that a premium edition is necessary to understand the base campaign; the listed extras are digital companion material and future expansion access.
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- You want dialogue choices and faction decisions to drive the adventure.
- You prefer a curated campaign to a galaxy that can be explored indefinitely.
- A first-person RPG is acceptable and authored pacing matters more than third-person action.
- You are evaluating the standard edition against a premium edition that adds a digital artbook, soundtrack and expansion pass.
Choose something else if…
It is not the right substitute if your must-have feature is piloting between many star systems or landing on a large number of independently explorable planets. For that, Starfield is the stronger fit. If your priority is a same-universe Star Wars adventure in third person, select Jedi: Survivor.
Rank #3
- The Odyssey of a Reluctant Hero – Lead Frey on an unforgettable journey in her search for a way home after being mysteriously transported to an ancient, fantastical land.
- A Beautiful and Cruel Open-World – Explore the sprawling realms of Athia, a striking land of remarkable vistas as Frey ventures deep into corrupted territories where a mysterious darkness defiles everything it touches
- Intuitive, Magic-Enhanced Parkour – Scale walls, vault across canyons, leap from dizzying heights, and dash through vast landscapes; Frey's unique abilities allow her to fluidly traverse the open world with ease
- Customizable Arsenal of Spells – Take on twisted monsters in magical combat with a wide range of powerful abilities catering to a variety of playstyles – from fast-paced and exhilarating to strategic and methodical
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: best same-universe action adventure
What it preserves
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the safest recommendation when the setting and third-person cinematic action matter more than open-world scale. Lucasfilm describes it as a third-person, galaxy-spanning action-adventure from Respawn Entertainment made with Lucasfilm Games. You stay in the Star Wars universe and receive another polished campaign built around exploration and action.
That shared setting matters. The tone, visual language and sense of traveling through a galaxy will feel more familiar than any non-Star Wars science-fiction RPG. It is the option to choose when you want to remain inside Star Wars rather than exchange the setting for a larger or more systemic universe.
Where its structure differs
The game uses a set of large connected areas instead of Outlaws’ open-world outlaw sandbox. You should therefore expect a more hub-based rhythm: explore a substantial area, follow the campaign and return through connected routes rather than freely jumping between a broad network of planets and criminal factions.
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That limitation is also its strength. A connected-area structure can keep the campaign focused and make each location feel deliberately designed. It is less suitable if your favorite Outlaws feature is choosing a destination, managing faction relationships and improvising a personal spacefaring career.
Pick Jedi: Survivor if…
- You want third-person action in the Star Wars setting above all else.
- You prefer a directed, cinematic campaign to a survival sandbox or expansive RPG map.
- You are happy with large connected areas rather than a fully open outlaw world.
Choose something else if…
Pick Starfield for ship ownership and a galaxy-scale RPG, No Man’s Sky for unrestricted discovery and building, or The Outer Worlds 2 for authored dialogue and faction choices outside the Star Wars universe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which game should you play after Outlaws?
If spaceflight and planet-hopping are essential
Start with Starfield. Its stated scope of more than 100 systems and over 1,000 planets is the closest match to the fantasy of charting a large galaxy while developing a character and ship. Accept that its first-person, traditional RPG structure is a meaningful change.
If exploration freedom matters more than plot
Choose No Man’s Sky. Its procedural universe, survival systems, base building, cross-play and continuing updates support a play style in which you set the agenda. This is the strongest answer to “What game lets me go anywhere?” It is not the strongest answer to “What game gives me another tightly written scoundrel story?”
If choices and faction consequences are the priority
Choose The Outer Worlds 2. Its authored first-person RPG format is designed for players who want conversations and decisions to shape a compact science-fiction adventure. Check the edition details if you are considering the premium package and its expansion pass.
Rank #4
- A new action experience from the makers of Dark Souls and Elden Ring
- Assemble and pilot your own mech
- 3D maneuverability to move freely through three-dimensional fast-paced missions
- Take on difficult challenges and overwhelm your enemies
- Infiltrate Rubicon as an independent mercenary
If you mainly want more Star Wars
Choose Jedi: Survivor. It retains the universe, third-person viewpoint and cinematic action, but it does not replicate Outlaws’ open-world criminal-faction structure or broad space travel.
How to choose without overvaluing the word “open-world”
Open-world can describe very different commitments. In Starfield, the term points to a huge map of systems and planets embedded in an RPG framework. In No Man’s Sky, it describes a procedural universe designed for ongoing, self-directed exploration. Jedi: Survivor offers large connected areas, which can feel expansive without being a freeform galaxy. The Outer Worlds 2 is the most curated of the four, making authored decisions its main form of freedom.
Use this three-question test before buying:
- Would you rather follow a compelling mission or invent your own objective? Follow missions in The Outer Worlds 2 or Jedi: Survivor; invent objectives in No Man’s Sky; mix both through a broad RPG in Starfield.
- Must the protagonist be viewed in third person? If yes, Jedi: Survivor is the direct fit among these recommendations. Starfield and The Outer Worlds 2 are first-person, while No Man’s Sky is primarily about the universe and your activities rather than reproducing Outlaws’ specific action presentation.
- Do you need the Star Wars setting itself? If yes, select Jedi: Survivor. If the setting is interchangeable with a strong science-fiction world, the other three offer broader differences in scale, systems or choice.
Platform, edition and availability checks
Before purchasing, verify three items on the current store page for your region:
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- Supported platform: The listed versions can differ, and cross-play is specifically available for supported No Man’s Sky platforms.
- Edition contents: For The Outer Worlds 2, compare the standard and premium editions; the premium listing includes a digital artbook, soundtrack and expansion pass.
- Ongoing content: No Man’s Sky receives continuing major updates, while downloadable content and availability for other games may depend on the edition and platform.
These checks matter more than a generic “best game” ranking because the deciding feature may be a platform requirement, a desired expansion pass or whether your group needs cross-play.
A practical recommendation order
If you have access to all four and want to sample the major alternatives in a sensible order, begin with the game that matches your strongest requirement rather than playing them by release sequence.
- Start with Starfield if you want the broadest RPG replacement for Outlaws’ travel fantasy.
- Move to No Man’s Sky if you discover that unstructured discovery, survival or building is more satisfying than following missions.
- Try The Outer Worlds 2 when you want to return to authored conversations and decisions with a tighter pace.
- Finish with Jedi: Survivor when the priority is a focused third-person Star Wars campaign rather than a sandbox.
This order is not a quality ranking. It progresses from the largest systemic space RPG, through the most open-ended exploration, to the most authored non-Star Wars RPG and finally the closest same-universe action alternative.
Bottom line by player type
- Galaxy-scale role-player: Starfield.
- Explorer, builder or co-op player: No Man’s Sky.
- Choice-driven story player: The Outer Worlds 2.
- Third-person Star Wars fan: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Outlaws remains distinctive because it combines these ideas—third-person action, an original Star Wars scoundrel, planetary exploration, space dogfights and criminal factions—in one package. The best follow-up is therefore the game that preserves the element you personally miss most.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
