The Outer Worldsis an action-adventure game that came out in 2019. As an original game, set in space and featuring all sorts of exploration, there were a lot of expectations surrounding it, and it largely lived up to them. One unique mechanic that madeThe Outer Worldsso interesting to play was the mechanic called “flaws.:
The flaw mechanic inThe Outer Worldsis a unique systemthat allows players to voluntarily take on character traits that come with both benefits and negative effects. The flaw is triggered when a player encounters certain enemies or environmental hazards multiple times, and the game presents the player with an option to accept a flaw. Whilst the flaw mechanic isn’t as fleshed out or developed as some players would like, it’s still a fun mechanic that adds to the game’s uniqueness. While some flaws are so great that they just seem like perks, there are a ton of flaws that are outright bad.
6Robophobia
The Robophobia flaw is easily one of the worst in the game. The premise behind it is that the player character has a phobia of robotic enemies, which de-buffs the player in encounters against them. With this flaw equipped, playersdeal less damage to robotsand also receive a de-buff. However, players can still use certain types of weapons to damage these robots effectively.
RELATED:The Outer Worlds: Best Starting Aptitudes To Choose
Whilst this flaw isn’t awful, it is extremely tedious, especially in the areas that are infested with robotic enemies. In response to using this flaw, players receive an additional perk point which can be used as they see fit. While this particular flaw can be handled fairly well, it’s just annoying and honestly not worth the hassle.
5Nyctophobia
Another phobia, another bad flaw. Nyctophobia refers to fear of the night or darkness. With this flaw, players take extra damage in dim light or dark areas, or during nighttime. Players who take Nyctophobia will need to be cautious and strategic when navigating dark environments, as they will be at a disadvantage when it comes to combat and survival.
As is generally the case, players who take this flaw can receive an extra perk point that can be used toimprove other aspectsof their character. They can increase their damage output with certain types of weapons or boost their overall health and survivability, which can help overcome the challenges of this flaw.
4Acrophobia
Acrophobia is a flaw inThe Outer Worldsthat players can take if they want to add an extra layer of challenge to their gameplay experience. In both the game and in real life, acrophobia is the fear of heights. When a player character takes this flaw, they become more vulnerable to damage and suffer accuracy penalties when at high elevations or in areas with deep drops.
RELATED:The Outer Worlds: Best Melee Weapons, Ranked
Lots of players underestimate how much the de-buff actually hurts them in areas of the game with elevation. Players who take Acrophobia will need to be more careful when navigating high places, such as cliffs, buildings, or bridges. Some of the harder missions inThe Outer Worldsare at high elevations, which does make this flaw a hassle.
3Paranoid
The premise of the Paranoid flaw is quite simple: the player character becomes suspicious ofeveryone, including NPCs.This flaw is a pain, and honestly not worth it. It makes social interactions and quests much more difficult. It also makes a ton ofdialogue options difficult to complete, or even find.
Along with the obligatory de-buff, Paranoia gives the player -1 in their Personality attribute. This flaw can be triggered by entering restricted areas too often.
2Drug Addiction
This flaw can be triggered after the player’s character consumes too much alcohol, cigarettes, or other addictive substances quickly. Once a player gets the Drug Addiction flaw, it becomes much easier to trigger addiction. And much like in real life, a drug-addicted player charactersuffers adverse effectswhen not consuming.
RELATED:The Outer Worlds: All The Companions, Ranked
The Drug Addiction flaw leads to playerssuffering from lower accuracyand reduced health, as well as higher vulnerability to other de-buffs. Overall, this flaw can be really hindering. Along with all the de-buffs, players have to manage how much they use addictive substances to ensure their character doesn’t end up dependent on them.
1Food Addiction
Often considered the worst flaw in the game, Food Addiction is honestly the most annoying flaw inThe Outer Worlds. The addiction can cause the player character to consume more food than necessary, which can lead to weight gain and other negative status effects such as reduced movement speed and lower health regeneration. This can make it more difficult to navigate environments and engage in combat effectively, as the player character may be slower and more vulnerable to attacks.
The Outer Worldshas a ton of different food items, which makes the flaw even more of a hindrance. It reduces a player’s character’s dexterity, temperament and perception by 1. The game’s worst flaw is triggered by, surprise surprise, eating a lot of food.
