Red Barrels continues to provide excellent sound and level design, both of which contribute pricelessly to the scary atmosphere needed in a survival horror experience. Imprisoned in a secret underground facility, you and dozens of other test subjects must work together to brave the torments put together by the company. This highly anticipated prequel takes place in 1959 during the Cold War era, and you take on the role of a civilian abducted by the Murkoff Corporation to partake in a series of physical and mental experiments. The original games nailed the tense atmosphere and immersed you into the secrets and lore behind Murkoff. Using the camera repeatedly drains the battery which must then be replaced by scavenging for replacements around your environment. This means that there are no weapons to utilize, but only a video camera that acts as night vision goggles to use in the dark. In many ways, this reminds me of a crossover between Hostel and Squid Game, where American chainsaw horror and the use of torture is combined in the form of a game or trial.įor those unfamiliar, the Outlast franchise is a series of first person survival horror games that really capitalized on the theme of helplessness due to the inability to defend yourself during gameplay.

Despite only releasing in Early Access on Steam, The Outlast Trials serves up a horrifyingly delicious experience with plenty of demented trials to brave through with only more to come down the road. This is the first time the game features seamless cooperative play of up to four players, but know that the experience can be enjoyed just as much solo as well.

Now the development team is back with their most ambitious project yet: The Outlast Trials, which serves as the fourth installment in the overall series but a prequel to the first game. The name Outlast is bound to come to mind when asked about influential and iconic horror experiences, thanks to its immaculately tense atmosphere and terrifying gameplay. Red Barrels has made quite a name for themselves with their famous flagship game Outlast, which came out almost a decade ago.

Outlast trials plot