The Outer Worlds is filled with imaginative and fun characters. Pursuing different dialogue options with them is the best part of the game. The writing is top-notch and each person has their own distinct personality. You never know what type of unique and fascinating stories will come from these highly humorous individuals.
The characters can range from mission givers idling around a city to your various companions. Several factors attribute to this list including their depth as a character, their humor, their quirkiness, their development, and the quality of their storylines.
10 Felix
You meet Felix at Groundbreaker after he was fired from a job. He has to pass an interview conducted by you to join your crew. Felix, though, is not hirable. To be blunt, he is a dimwit who solves problems with his fist. You expect companions to change over time and this happens with several of them, not Felix.
He does not learn anything about controlling his hot-headiness and never grows as a character. Here are some other things to not like about Felix: he thinks he's funny but he's not, he brings smelly cows onto your ship (at least he is the main suspect), and his questline is not too deep. One thing to like about Felix: he has a mean dropkick.
9 Nyoka
Nyoka serves as your guide through the dangerous lands of Monarch. She is an admirable warrior and a tough woman who is famous throughout the planet. Nyoka has an alcohol problem and the issue was not managed well. Her friends died and she is attempting to numb the pain through alcohol.
A real problem real people deal with. The game quickly overshadows Nyoka's good qualities and identifies her as the alcoholic companion. Instead of making a story about trying to overcome alcoholism, they make the issue into a running joke and she becomes a bland character.
8 Lilya Hagen
Lilya Hagen is the leader of Sublight Salvage and Shipping, a company with criminal undertones. It's funny to see Hagen hide her illegal dealings under the guise of a legit company. You can receive some quests from Hagen when you find out she has some strange conspiracy theories.
She thinks aliens have intercepted Halycon and plan to destroy it. Her undying belief in this theory makes her a funny character. It also makes you ponder the possibility of her theory being correct. This forces the player to make some difficult decisions in what would otherwise be some boring side quests.
7 Sam
Sam is a robot companion you may have missed and we're sorry if you did. He can be found on The Unreliable and requires a short quest before booting up. This quest is worthy of completion because Sam is one of the funniest characters in the game.
He is a killing machine but always thinks he is cleaning. He speaks in jingles and slogans, which always come out of nowhere in the middle of a firefight. He does not have any depth as a character but that's ok. He is a walking joke and a good one at that.
6 Phineas Welles
Phineas Welles is the glue that holds the story together. The most intriguing part of his character is the mystery. At first glance, he looks like a crazy old man with an unattainable plan to save a solar system.
The player can choose to bet humanity on this man they just met or turn him in (he is wanted by the governing authorities). Welles turns out to be an intriguing character with an intense backstory. He is the lifeblood of the main quest line and the character lives up to that massive role.
5 ADA
Every Sci-fi space adventure needs a sassy computer companion and ADA fits the role nicely. Her programming requires her to talk to the previous Unreliable captain, forcing you to fake your identity. She can clearly think above her programing and recognize that you are not the same person.
ADA also expresses strong emotions ranging from empathy, sorrow, and anger. This brings up the question of her sentience. The mystery helps to deepen an already exceptional character. One thing is for sure, ADA is one of the funniest and most helpful characters on The Unreliable.
4 Ellie
Ellie is another companion in The Outer Worlds who loves money. She will do anything for a little bit of cash but unlike Byzantium residents, she is not a snob. She did not let money corrupt her, which makes her an interesting foil for the rich characters in the game. Ellie also does not like companionship and developing friendships.
These character traits get a full explanation and we get to see her change throughout the game. Her questline introduces her parents, which goes a long way in establishing her backstory, and gives a deeper understanding of her character growth. It's not normal for a companion character to have such a deep arc but we're here for it.
3 Vicar Max
Max is one of the most complex characters in the game. He is a pastor that loves to shoot monsters and bandits with a shotgun. He is a rude and uncompassionate man who has a snarky comment for everything.
Max is far from a pleasant guy but that's part of his charm. We learn that his behavior is rooted in a deep desire to understand the world. A desire that his religion failed to accomplish. All of a sudden, this bitter man became much more understandable.
2 Sanjar Nandi
Sanjar Nandi is the leader of Monarch Stellar Industry (MSI) and he breaks the mold of corrupt corporate leaders. At the point of meeting him, the game has one note: all corporations and their leaders are bad. Nandi proves us wrong with a surprisingly smart plan to change the board from the inside.
At first, Nandi seems like an incompetent leader but quickly helps the player fill confident in his plan. The Outer Worlds threw a curveball with this character and it worked in its favor. Nandi is the shining light in the corporately owned solar system of Halycon.
1 Parvati
Parvati gained the hearts of everyone on the internet. She is sweet, caring, and an exemplary human being. Her character lacks self-confidence but she surprisingly stands up for what she beliefs in. She does this in a heartfelt way and it comes from the depths of her selfless nature.
Parvati's insecurities shine through when she wants to date a woman and fellow engineer. This questline has the player helping Parvati go on the perfect date. Throughout the process, you get to see Parvati grow in confidence. This is the one time where no one else could take the top spot. Parvati's that great.