The Outlast Trials is the latest installment in the critically acclaimed Outlast franchise developed by Red Barrels. Taking a unique spin from its predecessors, this psychological survival horror game introduces a multiplayer cooperative gameplay model while maintaining the franchise’s signature elements of fear, stealth, and deeply disturbing storytelling. Set in the era of the Cold War, The Outlast Trials thrusts players into a series of ethically depraved experiments orchestrated by the sinister Murkoff Corporation.
In this comprehensive review and guide, we break down everything you need to know about The Outlast Trials—from gameplay mechanics and characters to tips for surviving the most brutal trials in horror gaming.
Immersive Setting and Twisted Storyline
The Outlast Trials is set in a chilling Cold War environment, where players are unwilling test subjects trapped in a nightmarish facility. Murkoff Corporation, known for its grotesque experiments, subjects you to psychological torment, invasive procedures, and mind-control trials meant to “rehabilitate” and condition your behavior.
The setting is claustrophobic, dimly lit, and filled with disturbing imagery. The game does a masterful job of instilling fear without relying on traditional jump scares. The environment itself tells a story—walls scribbled with blood, deranged enemies, and malfunctioning machinery paint a bleak narrative of human experimentation gone wrong.
Gameplay Mechanics: Horror Redefined
Unlike previous titles in the series, The Outlast Trials emphasizes team-based survival horror with up to four-player co-op gameplay. However, it still offers a solo experience for purists.
Key Gameplay Elements:
- No Combat Mechanics: Just like in previous Outlast games, you cannot fight back. Your survival depends entirely on hiding, running, and staying silent.
- Tools and Gadgets: Use items like night vision goggles, healing syringes, anti-psychotic drugs, and rig upgrades such as x-ray vision or stun tools.
- Rig Customization: Choose from four rigs (Night Vision, Stun, Heal, Blind) that suit your playstyle and can be upgraded through progression.
- Resource Management: Limited resources mean you must explore thoroughly but cautiously to find items and upgrades.
- Procedural Challenges: Each trial includes random events, enemy placements, and objectives, making replayability a strong aspect.
Characters and Roles: Who You Become
In The Outlast Trials, you don’t play as a specific protagonist. Instead, you create your own character—one of many test subjects recruited by Murkoff. While there’s no in-depth backstory for each character, the game allows for extensive customization and narrative progression through cutscenes and documents.
Your journey is tracked through a disturbing dormitory system called the Sleep Room, where your level, outfits, and unlocked items are displayed. You’ll slowly uncover the overarching narrative of Murkoff’s depravity as you progress through trials.
Trials and Missions: The Core Experience
Trials are the main missions in the game, broken down into:
- Main Trials – Full-length missions with multiple objectives (e.g., destroy evidence, escape facilities, complete surgeries).
- MK-Challenges – Special experimental tasks that increase in difficulty and reward.
- Programs – Sets of multiple trials culminating in a Final Exam, testing your survival skills under extreme pressure.
Each trial is carefully designed to push your psychological limits. Enemies patrol relentlessly, and each sound, light, or misstep could alert them. Teamwork becomes crucial when it comes to distractions, reviving teammates, and completing simultaneous objectives.
The Enemies: Terrifying and Unrelenting
The enemies in The Outlast Trials are grotesque, unpredictable, and deeply unsettling. Each one has a backstory tied to Murkoff’s cruel experiments.
Notable Enemies:
- Mother Gooseberry – A deranged clown nurse hybrid who sings lullabies before murdering victims.
- The Skinner Man – A hallucination-based threat who appears when you’re exposed to too much psychotropic gas.
- Father Halfway – A disfigured preacher obsessed with moral cleansing.
These foes can’t be killed, only evaded or stunned temporarily, which adds a constant tension throughout gameplay. Their AI is dynamic, reacting to noise, light, and proximity.
Multiplayer and Co-op Strategy
Teamwork is essential in The Outlast Trials. While you can go it alone, cooperative gameplay significantly enhances the experience and survivability.
Multiplayer Tips:
- Communication is key. Use voice chat or pings to coordinate.
- Specialize roles. Have one player focus on healing, another on stealth, etc.
- Stick together. Straying far increases the risk of being overwhelmed.
- Share resources. Be mindful of your team’s needs and distribute supplies evenly.
- Revive quickly. Downed teammates have limited time before being permanently lost from the trial.
Progression and Customization
The game features a robust progression system, including:
- Player Level – Earn XP by completing trials to unlock cosmetic items.
- Rig Upgrades – Improve tools to better handle enemies and navigate objectives.
- Outfits and Masks – Fully customizable appearance, including cosmetics earned through gameplay or purchased via microtransactions.
Though the game includes cosmetic monetization, it remains strictly non-pay-to-win, maintaining a balanced experience for all players.
Graphics, Sound Design, and Atmosphere
Using Unreal Engine 4, the game delivers moody lighting, highly detailed environments, and smooth animations. Every element is designed to invoke discomfort and dread. The sound design is particularly noteworthy, with ambient noise, enemy vocalizations, and distant screams constantly keeping you on edge.
Whether you’re navigating a flickering hallway or crawling through blood-soaked vents, the sense of immersion is hauntingly real.
System Requirements and Platform Availability
The Outlast Trials is currently available on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), with console versions expected in the near future.
Minimum Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel i5-4460 or AMD FX-6300
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 760 / AMD Radeon R7 260x
- Storage: 30 GB available space
The game is well-optimized, offering scalable graphics settings for both low-end and high-end systems.
Tips for New Players: How to Survive the Nightmare
- Always conserve your night vision battery.
- Use distractions wisely. Bottles and traps can buy you crucial seconds.
- Heal only when safe. Don’t waste syringes in high-risk zones.
- Pay attention to audio cues. Enemies give away their positions if you listen.
- Don’t rush. Exploration reveals valuable resources and shortcuts.
Final Verdict: A Masterclass in Cooperative Horror
The Outlast Trials is a bold evolution of a legendary horror franchise. By introducing cooperative gameplay while retaining its signature fear-driven mechanics, Red Barrels has successfully redefined multiplayer horror. The game’s unpredictable enemy AI, psychologically tormenting trials, and immersive storytelling make it one of the most compelling horror games in recent memory.
Whether you’re braving it alone or surviving with friends, The Outlast Trials delivers an experience you won’t soon forget.
