The Outlast Trials invites you to face your deepest fears — but not alone. Developed by Red Barrels, the studio behind the legendary Outlast series, this latest entry turns the solitary terror of its predecessors into a cooperative psychological experiment. Four players. One facility. Endless panic.
Unlike traditional horror games, The Outlast Trials doesn’t just make you scream — it makes you distrust your teammates.
“You don’t survive The Outlast Trials,” wrote PC Gamer, “you endure it — and pray your friends don’t leave you behind.”
The Premise Welcome To The Murkoff Facility
Set during the Cold War era, the game drops you into the Murkov Corporation’s underground research complex — a nightmarish laboratory where human subjects are forced to participate in psychological “trials.”
Each trial is designed to test obedience, pain tolerance, and cooperation — under the constant supervision of masked doctors and grotesque monitors. Players assume the role of unwilling test subjects trying to escape the experiment by completing objectives… all while surviving the horrors within.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Developer | Red Barrels |
| Release Date | May 2023 (Full Release 2024 Update) |
| Genre | Survival Horror / Co-op |
| Mode | 1–4 Player Multiplayer |
| Setting | Cold War America, MK-Ultra–inspired asylum |
| Platform | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
A Multiplayer Experiment In Fear
Red Barrels’ greatest risk with The Outlast Trials was transforming its iconic solo horror experience into a multiplayer format without losing tension.
The gamble paid off.
Players must work together — carrying objectives, unlocking doors, reviving allies — yet every moment of cooperation is haunted by paranoia. One wrong move, one mistimed flashlight, and your friend’s screams become bait for enemies.
“It’s the only game where teamwork feels like a moral test,” said IGN.
The shared experience amplifies fear. The moment you hear another player’s panicked breathing through your headset, the terror becomes personal.
Gameplay Mechanics Brutal And Unforgiving
The Outlast Trials keeps the series’ signature no-combat rule — you can’t fight back. Instead, survival depends on stealth, speed, and sanity.
Core Gameplay Elements:
Stealth-Based Progression: Hide in lockers, under tables, or in darkness.
Limited Resources: Night vision goggles require battery management.
Co-op Objectives: One player distracts enemies while others complete tasks.
Psychological Endurance: The longer you survive, the more the environment distorts.
| Mechanic | Description |
|---|---|
| Fear Meter | Tracks panic levels; extreme stress causes hallucinations |
| Stim Injections | Temporary boost to stamina or health |
| Night Vision Goggles | Essential tool, limited charge |
| Enemy AI | Reacts to sound, light, and proximity |
| Trial Ratings | Rank system from D to S+ based on cooperation and stealth |
The brilliance lies in how The Outlast Trials uses co-op tension as gameplay fuel. You need your team — but you might have to sacrifice them.
The Atmosphere A Descent Into Human Experiments
The game’s design draws heavily from real Cold War mind-control programs like MK-Ultra, blending fact and fiction into grotesque authenticity. Flickering fluorescent lights, decaying medical wings, propaganda posters, and bloodied operating rooms immerse you in a dystopian nightmare.
“It feels like Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange collided with a government lab,” said Polygon, calling it “uncomfortably plausible.”
Audio design completes the horror. Metal grates rattle above, speakers whisper directives like “Comply to progress,” and the cries of unseen victims echo endlessly through the walls.
Composer Samuel Laflamme’s score — a chaotic mix of industrial noise and orchestral dread — makes every quiet moment unbearable.
The Enemies Monsters With A Purpose
Unlike supernatural horror, The Outlast Trials grounds its villains in human evil. Each enemy represents an experiment gone wrong — grotesque reflections of obedience, control, and loss of self.
| Enemy | Description | Threat Level |
|---|---|---|
| The Mother Gooseberry | A matronly killer with a gas mask and mallet | High |
| The Blind Twins | Surgical abominations that hunt by sound | Medium |
| The Doctor | A sadistic experimenter obsessed with “fixing” minds | Extreme |
| Program Overseers | Shadowy figures watching every trial | Psychological |
Each encounter teaches through trauma — fail to adapt, and you become another “subject file.”
Storytelling Through Surveillance
Instead of traditional cutscenes, The Outlast Trials tells its story through environmental storytelling and surveillance footage. You learn about Murkov’s experiments through memos, hallucinations, and distorted training videos.
The deeper you go, the more the lines between test subject and experimenter blur. Are you escaping, or are you still being studied?
“The narrative is a mirror — you never know which side you’re on,” wrote GameSpot.
Technical Performance
Running on Unreal Engine 5, The Outlast Trials achieves impressive visual fidelity with minimal performance trade-offs.
Dynamic lighting, particle fog, and ray-traced reflections enhance realism while maintaining stable frame rates, even in chaotic co-op sessions.
Though minor bugs appear in matchmaking, recent patches (2025 Update 1.3) improved stability and cross-platform play.
| Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Visuals | 9/10 |
| Optimization | 8.5/10 |
| Multiplayer Stability | 9/10 |
| Sound Design | 10/10 |
| Immersion | 10/10 |
Why It Works
It Reimagines Fear: Makes cooperation as terrifying as solitude.
It’s Uncomfortably Real: Draws from human psychology, not monsters.
It’s Replayable: Procedural objectives and random AI keep trials unpredictable.
It Feels Alive: Players leave behind data ghosts, haunting future runs.
It Rewards Empathy: The best players save teammates, not abandon them.
The Outlast Trials transforms horror into a social experiment, asking whether survival is worth your morality.
Critic Reviews
| Outlet | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| IGN | 9/10 | “A masterclass in multiplayer terror.” |
| PC Gamer | 8.8/10 | “The most anxiety-inducing game of the decade.” |
| Polygon | 9.5/10 | “Human cruelty turned into art.” |
| GameSpot | 8.7/10 | “Outlast evolves — and it’s horrifyingly effective.” |
| Eurogamer | Recommended | “Fear as teamwork, not spectacle.” |
The Verdict
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | 9.0 |
| Atmosphere | 10 |
| Story | 8.5 |
| Multiplayer Dynamics | 9.2 |
| Scare Factor | 10 |
| Overall | 9.3/10 |
The Outlast Trials isn’t just a horror game — it’s an ordeal. Every scream, betrayal, and breathless sprint through Murkov’s labyrinth feels like part of an experiment on the limits of human fear.
“It’s not about surviving monsters,” concludes Eurogamer, “it’s about surviving yourself.”
FAQ
Q1: Can you play solo?
A1: Yes, but it’s significantly harder — designed primarily for 2–4 players.
Q2: How long does it take to finish?
A2: Around 15–20 hours, with replayable trials and difficulty modes.
Q3: Does it have crossplay?
A3: Yes, introduced in the 2024 patch for all major platforms.
Q4: Is it connected to previous Outlast games?
A4: Yes, as a prequel exploring Murkov Corporation’s early experiments.
Q5: What’s the scariest part?
A5: The “Mother Gooseberry” trial — a claustrophobic nightmare that tests communication and sanity.
Sources
IGN – The Outlast Trials Review
PC Gamer – Outlast Trials Is Multiplayer Horror Done Right
Polygon – The Outlast Trials Review
