“The Expanse: Osiris Reborn” is a third-person, narrative-driven RPG by Owlcat Games that immerses players in the hard sci-fi universe of The Expanse, featuring deep character customization, meaningful choices, and tactical combat inspired by genre classics. The game emphasizes authenticity, rich storytelling, and evolving companion dynamics, offering a 30-40 hour cinematic experience accessible to both fans and newcomers alike.
The video features an in-depth interview with the design team behind “The Expanse: Osiris Reborn,” a single-player RPG developed by Owlcat Games, known for their previous isometric RPGs. This new title marks their first foray into a third-person, high-budget, cinematic experience set in the grounded, hard sci-fi universe of The Expanse. The developers emphasize the game’s strong connection to the source material, aiming to create a believable, richly detailed world that reflects the political tensions, technology, and survival challenges of the 21st-century solar system. Importantly, players do not need prior knowledge of the books or TV show to enjoy the game, though familiarity adds depth.
Character creation and player choice are central to the RPG experience in Osiris Reborn. Players select their origin from one of the three main factions—Belters, Earthers, or Martians—which influences gameplay and narrative perspective. The game features a flexible playstyle system rather than rigid classes, allowing players to experiment with weapons, gadgets, and skills to suit their preferred combat approach. Choices made throughout the game carry weight, with some decisions having immediate or delayed consequences that affect storylines, companion relationships, and even character survival, adding meaningful stakes to the narrative.
Companion characters play a significant role, each possessing unique backgrounds, goals, and personalities that influence their interactions with the player and the story. These companions can disagree with the player’s decisions, offer advice, and have their own story arcs, including romance options. The small, tight-knit crew dynamic aboard the player’s ship is designed to evolve naturally, reflecting the close quarters and long journeys typical of The Expanse universe. This adds layers of interpersonal drama and emotional investment to the gameplay.
The combat system combines cover-based third-person gunplay with a variety of offensive and defensive abilities, gadgets, and companion-assisted maneuvers. The developers drew inspiration from genre-defining games like Mass Effect, The Division, Gears of War, and The Last of Us to create a tactical and immersive combat experience. While space exploration is part of the game, it focuses more on narrative-driven visits to key locations such as Luna, Mars, and the Belt rather than open-world planetary exploration or survival micromanagement. The game prioritizes story, character development, and meaningful choices over complex survival mechanics.
Finally, the team discusses the challenges of adapting The Expanse IP into a video game, particularly maintaining scientific realism and the gritty tone of the universe. They have consulted experts to ensure authenticity in technology, physics, and level design, such as simulating realistic gravity on rotating space stations. The narrative is carefully woven to coexist with the events of the books and TV series without overshadowing the main characters, offering a fresh perspective through the player’s mercenary protagonist. With an estimated 30-40 hours of gameplay, the game aims to balance cinematic quality with a rich, branching narrative, making it a promising title for fans of sci-fi RPGs and The Expanse universe alike.