The Outlast Trials Review: Intense Co-Op Therapy (PS5)

I had my doubts about The Outlast Trials when the game was first announced back in 2020. Changing the single-player horror formula to a co-op experience could go very bad, or very good. It all depended on how the developers (Red Barrels) were going to assume such a difficult task. After playing the game myself with the newest huge update (Project Lupara), I can confidently say there’s nothing like The Outlast Trials out there. It somehow managed to keep the Outlast spirit while merging its concept with a fun multiplayer game, making it the best option for players who want a decent co-op horror experience that its basic gameplay mechanics don’t rely on taking your credit card and paying hundreds of dollars on microtransactions.

The Outlast Trials is available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 & PS5.

Story – As Disturbing as It Gets

I’m shocked at how Red Barrels were able to make a multiplayer Outlast game with such a disturbing and intriguing story. The game obviously has weaker narrative elements than the two previous games because of the fact that it’s mostly a co-op experience, but this didn’t stop the developers from building an amazing world and lore with this game.

The Outlast Trials is a prequel to the other games and takes place during the Cold War era. You and many other people have been involuntarily recruited by the twisted Murkoff Corporation. If you played the first Outlast game, you already know how human-friendly are the experiments of this beautiful company. They’ll try to torture and break you, but you all share the same goal: escape the trials. Become reborn, and gain freedom. “Therapy” (as Murkoff calls it) is the only way to escape The Outlast Trials…

They are always watching you…

Due to the nature of this game, there isn’t a protagonist other than you, the player. You create your character and then embark on a bizarre, disturbing journey where you’ll have to do unimaginable things to earn your freedom back. I seriously love the jigsaw-esque concept, it’s been years since the gaming industry needed this in a multiplayer game, and I’m glad it has finally arrived by the talented hands of the folks who made the Outlast games.

Other than the trials, there are several hidden collectibles and dialogues with NPCs that give you a lot of context on the story of the Outlast universe. And being a live service game, it’s getting expanded with updates, more content, and lore as the months go by. And while its narrative isn’t the most powerful of all Outlast games, do not get discouraged by the fact that it’s a co-op game. There’s a really intriguing story hiding beneath the surface and it’s getting better and better with the updates.

Watch out for Mother Gooseberry…

Gameplay – Fun Co-Op Horror

I have to say the fun factor of this game almost exclusively relies on the co-op factor. Yes, you can play the full game by yourself and it will probably still be a decent experience for a horror game. But nothing can beat how this game develops when you play it with friends.

At the beginning of the game, you’ll create your character and face a solo trial that serves as a tutorial. After that, you’ll enter the sleep room, which is something like the lobby. Here, you’ll be able to upgrade and customize your character and interact with other players and NPCs. This is where you will start off the trials. You can invite up to 3 friends beforehand, select a trial or MK-Challenge, and face it together. You must complete objectives, survive the trial, and get back to the sleep room safely. If you achieve this, you’ll get a specific amount of release tokens. And once you get enough of them, you will be able to trade them at the sleep room to face a final solo trial to earn your freedom back and “finish” the game.

Hide from your enemies, you can’t fight back!

The trials’ objectives vary but the gameplay mechanics will be almost always the same. Wander in the dark using your night vision device, take care of your battery and resources, hide from the enemies, and run from them if they spot you. It plays very similarly to the other Outlast games. However, the trials introduce new basic mechanics such as distraction items (the classic brick and bottle), antidotes to cure psychosis, lock picks… things you’ll probably need to raise your chances of survival.

The more people you play with, the more you’ll need to plan your strategies. There will be more enemies wandering around looking for you, so everyone needs to pay attention. Coordination will be mandatory in case you all want to survive and make sure no one is left behind. But in case you want to just do your part and leave your friends behind… that is also possible. In any case, you’ll have a few laughs together, so I definitely recommend co-op to get the full experience out of The Outlast Trials gruesome and macabre therapy.

Will you help your friends or ensure your own safety?

Visuals & Sound – Explicitly Visceral

The graphics are very similar to what was presented by Red Barrels in Outlast 2. I’ve always been a huge fan of the visual quality of the Outlast games, and The Outlast Trials is no exception. For an indie horror game, the visual details are gruesome and sadistic, which feels like the unique signature of the series that makes it stand out from other horror games.

The sound is also well-crafted and the experience on PS5 is highly immersive. Even if you’re still playing alone, I also recommend bringing your best headphones for The Outlast Trials, as therapy will work much better on you that way!

The Outlast Trials was reviewed on PS5.