In recent years, the popularity of cooperative horror games like Dead By Daylight and Phasmophobia has skyrocketed, so developer Red Barrels decided to take a different approach when developing the latest installment in the Outlast series. The Outlast Trials takes many staples of the franchise and adapts them to this growing trend, which is the biggest change to the series we’ve seen to date. The game was released in Steam Early Access last May and is coming to PlayStation and Xbox consoles this week.
In The Outlast Trials, you play an anonymous test subject who is forced against her will by the Murkoff Organization to take part in a series of horrific tests. These unethical experiments that took place during the Cold War were designed to test brainwashing and mind control procedures, and completing these experiments will lead you to freedom. If you can trust a shady organization involved in murders.
Unlike previous Outlast titles, you can choose from multiple tests to complete alone or with a group of up to four players. These trials require you to complete a series of basic objectives while sneaking through the shadows and avoiding capture by nightmarish creatures. The structure of each test is a little monotonous, but the varied environments help keep things fresh. In the first two hours I had to fight for survival in a blood-spattered courthouse, an abandoned police station and a carnival.
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Before going to the test, players can choose between four rigs (player classes): X-Ray Rig, Blind Rig, Stun Rig and Heal Rig. Each of these teams has its own skill tree that can be upgraded after completing trials, and all offer their own unique features for team play. Players with the ability to stun enemies.
When deciding whether to play alone or as a team, I see advantages and disadvantages to both options. Playing solo is the most exciting option because you can’t rely on other teammates stumbling into danger and distracting your enemies. The biggest downside, however, is that the game is designed for cooperative mode, as many of the objectives seem intentionally repetitive, allowing multiple people to share and complete them. Luckily, if you don’t have any friends who own the game, matchmaking is easy and hassle-free, so you can easily join a random trial or find players to help you.
The feeling of terror and helplessness that the original titles perfectly conveyed is very present in Trials and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. With no way to defend yourself, you have no choice but to sneak past the hideous monsters and avoid the shards of glass and noise traps that stand in your way. Additionally, enemies will jump out of hiding, traps will trigger unexpectedly when you grab consumables, and the new Psychosis mechanic will distort your vision and make you hallucinate wildly until you find a cure.
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The camera mechanics that are a staple of the series return here, albeit in a different form. With the night vision goggles on your skull, you can light your way by pressing the triangle button (on PlayStation), but you should use them sparingly. Using the camera drains your battery and without power you are completely at risk. Even in these moments, the game increases the paranoia, because there are mannequins and cardboard cutouts scattered everywhere that look suspiciously like enemies.
Since The Outlast Trials is a multiplayer experience, I worried whether it would give players a compelling reason to return. Fortunately, I found the exams very repeatable and can imagine coming back to them again and again in the future. At the end of each test, the player receives a score for their performance and earns money that they can spend on customizing their character and their own space within the facility. You can also experiment with different teams each time and play alone or in a group.
One point that frustrated me is that the game doesn’t give you a map or a clear way to pursue your goals. The game won’t tell you where your next target is until you’re near it. This is frustrating considering you’re often running in circles trying to get rid of monsters. This becomes even worse when you have to carry around items like gas cans that you can’t walk with.
After a nearly seven-year hiatus, The Outlast Trials marks a bold return for the series, taking a surprising new direction without compromising what made the previous two titles so appealing to horror fans. It’s bloody, exciting and downright terrifying, and its new multiplayer approach gives it plenty of replayability despite a few minor flaws. If possible, I recommend trying it out in co-op with a full team, but it’s still a good game if you decide to face its horrors alone.
