The Outlast Trials marks the third chapter in the Outlast series, but it adopts a completely new approach. While Outlast and Outlast II instilled fear in many players, some even hesitated to play them. This latest installment diverges by introducing multiplayer and mission-based gameplay. Let's see how this game stood in the Trials.

Gameplay

The Outlast Trials maintains the chilling atmosphere of its predecessors. You'll navigate dark environments using night vision—either via a camera or night vision goggles—to achieve objectives while evading deranged pursuers out to harm you. The major difference here is that it's a multiplayer experience, altering how missions unfold.

Upon starting, you're in the sleeping room, a hub where you can upgrade your character and choose trials from a terminal. These trials can be tackled in any order, allowing you to join others seamlessly. Co-op play is recommended due to the lengthy trial durations. Once a trial is selected, you enter "Therapy," undergo a mind-altering procedure, and then enter the trial environment.

Each trial presents a unique goal, such as "Feed the Children" or "Destroy the Evidence." In "Feed the Children," you gather bleach to distribute to mannequin children, while "Destroy the Evidence" involves using acid to erase incriminating materials. Completing objectives triggers a frantic escape to the exit gate, all while avoiding capture.

Trials are challenging due to various enemies like Mother Gooseberry, a puppet-wielding maniac, and Leland Coyle, an electricity-obsessed ex-cop. Other threats include the Grunt, a towering human, and secondary enemies like the pusher, who sprays you with gas and has night vision, and the Skinner Man, who only appears when you’re entering psychosis from the gas..

Throughout the trials, you scavenge gear like battery packs, rig chargers, antidotes, and more to aid in your progress. Post-trial rewards include money for customization and tickets for rig upgrades and abilities, enhancing your survivability and strategic options. These upgrades range from offensive tools like stun grenades to utility enhancements like X-Ray vision and healing capabilities, making each trial more manageable.

Graphics and Audio

The game's graphics are a bit tricky to judge since most of it is viewed through night vision goggles. However, what you can see is that the character models and level designs are incredibly eerie. Mother Gooseberry is particularly unsettling, with the voice actor skillfully portraying a conversation between her and her puppet that's both psychotic and strangely suggestive. The entire game is visually creepy and unsettling, with mannequins scattered around, blood stains on the floor, and people who've "failed the trials" placed in unnerving positions.

Feedback

There is an introduction where you play single-player kind of like the old Outlast games but this acts more like a tutorial than anything. I love the old Outlast games, they were truly terrifying and I wanted that so badly from this. Don’t get me wrong, it was a ton of fun and it is creepy, it’s just not as scary as before. I guess the one thing I think would make this game better is a single player option because the trials feel impossible if you’re playing solo, yet I do know that the entire point of this game was meant to be multiplayer.

Verdict

The Outlast Trials doesn’t quite stand up to its predecessors but it did a good job at keeping the Outlast theme while implementing a new gameplay style. The game reminds me a little bit of the Saw movies, in the fact that you’re playing a game to escape, but they’re a little less brutal. It’s definitely a fun game but tagging it onto the series doesn’t do it justice because stand-alone it would’ve been great.

The Outlast Trials is available now on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PLayStation 4.