The Outlast Trials Review : A Frighteningly Fun Experience

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date: May 18, 2023

If you’re a fan of survival horror, then The Outlast Trials is about to become your new obsession. And if you’re new to the franchise, buckle up, because this one’s a wild ride. Imagine being trapped in a nightmare while some mad scientist watches you run around like a lab rat—only this time, you can bring a few friends along for the terror!

Released on May 18, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, The Outlast Trials blends multiplayer co-op with the spine-tingling scares that the Outlast series is known for. But before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let me warn you: You might want to keep the lights on for this one!

Welcome to the Nightmare: The Plot

This horror tale, in particular, unfolds over the backdrop of the Cold War—an era that was marked by heightened levels of suspicion and fear. The popularly creepy scientists of Murkoff-corporated could certainly not let such an opportunity pass to experiment with everything and everybody in their reach. So, the test subject is subjected to more torturous horror in “The Trials” – a “let us see a person’s capacities” experiment.

SIt will not only be perturbing because you will be trying to survive in a horrifying ambience but also because you will be completely under watch by Murkoff’s rats. Entering a labyrinth of horror in order to expose snap bags and other inventions to unnecessary extremes. It’s not much different from The Hunger Games except that there are no arrows and there are night vision goggles as well as saltwater chlorination system.

Multiplayer Madness: Screaming Together

The biggest twist in The Outlast Trials is its multiplayer feature. You and up to three friends can team up to face the horrors together. But here’s the catch—sometimes your biggest obstacle is the people you’re supposed to be working with! In theory, cooperation is key. One of you distracts the monster while the others sneak by to complete objectives. In reality, someone’s probably going to mess up, scream, and alert every enemy in the vicinity.

The chaos of multiplayer can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, having friends along for the ride makes the experience a bit less isolating. On the other hand, watching your buddy get dragged off by some horrifying creature while you cower in a locker is… well, let’s say it adds a certain “spice” to the experience.

And while it’s all fun and games when you’re the one hiding, it’s a lot less fun when it’s your turn to be the distraction. Trust me, nothing bonds friends faster than shared trauma, especially the kind involving terrifying mutant experiments!

Gameplay: Outlast the Outlast

In terms of gameplay, The Outlast Trials is very intense and requires a great deal of stealth and cunning in order to achieve success. In common with the previous games in the series, there is no room for a direct approach with weapons. For that reason the player will have no choice but to hide, sprint, or pick up whatever is in arms’ reach in order to avoid the many potential dangers around them.

Night vision goggles make a return, and they’re just as creepy as ever. But there’s a catch—you need to manage your battery life. So yes, just as you’re trying to sneak past a hulking monster, your night vision might flicker out, leaving you in total darkness. Cue the panic.

Thankfully, multiplayer lets you revive your fallen teammates, and there are various gadgets and upgrades you can unlock as you progress. These small perks, like sprinting faster or reviving quicker, might just save your life. But make no mistake, no upgrade is going to make this game easy.

Customization: Dress for (a Terrifying) Success

One fun addition to the series is the ability to customize your character. Want to survive the night in a clown mask and a ballerina tutu? The Outlast Trials says, “Go for it!” There’s something oddly satisfying about sneaking through a decrepit asylum while dressed like you’re on your way to a Halloween party. Sure, it doesn’t help with stealth, but it’s good for a laugh.

While your outfit won’t make you any better at dodging murderous enemies, the ability to personalize your look adds some much-needed lightheartedness to an otherwise dark and gritty game. Because if you’re going to be scared out of your mind, you might as well do it in style, right?

Environments: Welcome to Your New Nightmare

Shall we spend a few moments on speaking about the environment of the video game? Well, focus on the word and you will see – The Outlast Trials to its credit gets it right. The visual lands are dingy, morbid and built in a way where you as a gamer have to admit that you are traversing through a place that is possibly best described as a dead persons dream. Think empty mental institutions, unlit science lab rooms and haunted underground tunnels. Every place players visit is a gold-plated invitation to an unavoidable end.

The lighting is also spot-on, with dim, flickering lights and narrow hallways that constantly make you feel like something is lurking just out of sight. Even when nothing is happening, the game keeps you on edge, as if the next jump scare could come at any second.

Oh, and did I mention the sound design? Every creak, whisper, and distant scream adds to the terror. If you’re wearing headphones, prepare yourself—you’ll hear every rustle of fabric and footstep like it’s right next to you. The audio makes the game 10 times more terrifying, in the best way possible.

The Trials: Different Flavors of Fear

Each trial in The Outlast Trials offers a new and horrific challenge. Whether you’re sneaking through a lab or trying to escape from a deranged doctor, every mission keeps you on your toes. The game is relentless in its pacing. Just when you think you’ve found a safe spot to breathe, BAM! A new enemy appears, or the environment changes in some unpredictable way.

Being psychological entails its own angle too. It’s more about the game frightening quote-unquote, “Challenge” spectators’ minds as well, as there is no single scary monster in it. The so-called “imagination effect” I’m talking about is what gets activated upon the encounter—appearing this time not highly concentrated, as in the previous one, but rather a bit more aggressive. It’s just that all the relentless tests one might not have agreed to at some point start emerging in the play. There is more to it than that. It is not simply the gotcha as it is a brand of fear that intensifies and intensifies and waits with bated breath until you are about to crack.

Graphics: Gruesomely Gorgeous

The Outlast Trials is graphically exquisite, albeit grotesquely so. The game artists create plentifully intricate pictures from the blood-spattered walls to bizzare looking oppressive flims like enemies. It’s the type of game in which you suspect that every predatory human figure could leap out of every single shadow and the anxiety never fades.

The night vision mechanics cannot be underappreciated, because everything looks stunning and at the same time, everything feels overwhelming. The way the screens do appear and fade has even been altered to contain that element of fear especially when the exact nature of the object in question is not perceivable. And as usual, it is sad that sometimes you wouldn’t want to know what is about to show.

Pros and Cons: The Good, the Bad, and the Terrifying

Pros:

• Multiplayer Madness: Playing with friends adds a whole new level of chaos (and fun) to the horror.
• Terrifying Atmosphere: The environments and sound design are a masterclass in horror.
• Character Customization: Dress up your character however you like, because why not look fabulous while fleeing for your life?
• Challenging Gameplay: This game doesn’t hold your hand—you’ll need to think fast and act even faster.

Cons:

• Not for the Faint of Heart: The difficulty might be a turnoff for casual players who don’t want to suffer (too much).
• Chaotic Co-op: If you’re looking for a smooth, tactical experience, multiplayer can sometimes feel more like a comedy of errors.

Final Verdict: Bring Extra Pants

In the end, The Outlast Trials delivers exactly what it promises—intense, pulse-pounding horror, with the added bonus of multiplayer mayhem. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, the game’s combination of atmosphere, fear, and teamwork (or lack thereof) will keep you coming back for more.

If you’re ready to test your nerves and see how long you can last without screaming, this game is an absolute must-play. Just remember: when the lights flicker, and the monsters start closing in, don’t be the friend who runs off without warning. That’s a sure way to lose any trust in The Outlast Trials.

also check out The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me article