If you’ve just started playing The Outer Worlds 2 and want to add a little alien critter to your ship, you’re in luck. While pets in this game don’t change combat, they add fun and personality. Here’s your complete, easy-to-understand guide on how to get pets in the game.
In The Outer Worlds 2, “ship pets” are small companions you can unlock and show off while cruising around aboard your ship. They wander around, they’re cute, and they don’t affect your stats or gameplay in major ways — they’re purely cosmetic companions.
You only need one pet to start using the system; once you unlock any pet, you can access a pet station in your ship (sometimes called a Kennel or Pet Barrel) and swap between unlocked pets.
How to Unlock Pets: The Methods
There are multiple ways to unlock pets in The Outer Worlds 2:
1. Bonus / Edition-Unlock Pets
Some pets are unlocked simply by owning certain editions of the game or pre-order bonuses. For example, one pet is available if you owned the Premium Edition of the game.
2. Buying From Vendors
Several pets can be bought from merchants on different planets after you’ve progressed a bit in the story. They cost in-game currency (“bits”) and require you to find the right shop.
3. Completing Side Quests or Missions
Some pets are unlocked by completing specific side quests or helping an NPC with a task that rewards you with a pet. For example, you might find a sick creature and help heal it, then get it as your companion.
Step-by-Step: Unlocking Your First Pet
Here’s a basic roadmap you can follow to get your first pet, then build up to all of them if you like collecting:
- Step A: Start playing and complete the early story missions until you can access your ship freely and explore planets.
- Step B: Look for the pet station inside your ship (often near the medical bay or main area). Once you have at least one pet unlocked, you can interact there to select or swap pets.
- Step C: For your first free pet via a side quest, go to the planet Paradise Island. Find a “Crabble Farm” in the southeast of the map, talk to the rancher, and help an ill crabble named Lucy. Heal Lucy (via Medical skill or a Trauma Kit), then recruit her as your pet.
- Step D: For purchase pets, keep an eye out for merchants on various planets. For example:
- On Paradise Island, you can buy the Hover Drone from a repair centre after obtaining fake credentials. Cost: 1,000 bits.
- On planet Dorado, in the region Golden Ridge (Fort Endurance), buy the Zyranium Mantiwasp for 2,000 bits.
- Later in the game, on planet Praetor, you can access the Electric Mantiwasp for 3,000 bits.
- Step E: Premium or edition pets: If you own the Premium Edition of the game, you might already unlock the Premium Edition Sprat pet. Check your ship’s pet station after your first launch.
Why Should You Get Pets?
- They add visual charm to your ship: While you’re jumping between planets, seeing your little companion adds life and character to your environment.
- They allow for minor personalisation: Even though they don’t boost combat, choosing your pet gives you a sense of ownership and style.
- They’re great for completionists: If you like to collect everything in a game, hunting down all the pets gives you extra objectives.
- They don’t complicate the game: Since there’s no major gameplay benefit, you don’t have to stress about choosing the “best pet” — just pick the one you like most.
