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About He is Outside
He is Outside is an indie survival horror game developed by SmithHound, released on PC in September 2025. Set in a claustrophobic, eerie environment, the game casts you as a protagonist hunted by a relentless killer. The core hook is its procedurally generated item placement, each escape attempt requires gathering randomized tools for one of three routes. If caught, you restart the scenario as if waking from a nightmare. It’s a tense, high-stakes loop of stealth, scavenging, and split-second decisions. The game thrives on psychological dread and minimal combat, leaning into isolation and paranoia.
Gameplay
The game revolves around stealth and resource management. You spend most sessions hiding, sneaking, and collecting items like a flashlight or keycard, which appear in new locations each time. The killer, a silent pursuer with a wide field of view, forces you to avoid line-of-sight, use distractions, and time movements carefully. Each of the three escape routes demands specific item combos, creating varied strategies. Runs last 10, 15 minutes, but mastery takes dozens of retries. Controls are tight but unflashy, mouse to aim, WASD for movement, and hotkeys for inventory. The killer’s unpredictable patrol patterns add tension, and the reset mechanic after a catch creates a constant pressure to adapt.
What Players Think
PlayPile’s community rates He is Outside 4.1/5, with 68% of players completing at least one escape route. Average playtime is 16 hours, though 22% of users hit 30+ hours due to replayability. Community moods lean heavily on “tense” (74%) and “frustrated” (31%), with some praising its “claustrophobic intensity” and others bemoaning repetitive level design. Critics note the killer’s AI can feel unfair at times, but 87% of top reviews highlight the randomized item system as a standout. Achievement hunters target the 32 total trophies, with “Escape All Routes” being the most cited challenge. Price is $19.99, aligning with its indie survival horror niche.
PlayPile's Take
He is Outside works best for fans of high-pressure stealth and minimalist horror. Its randomized items and three escape paths justify repeat playthroughs, but its short sessions and repetitive environments might frustrate some. At $20, it’s a low-risk pick for tense, bite-sized experiences. Achievements reward persistence but aren’t essential. If you enjoy games like Five Nights at Freddy’s or Outlast, this offers a similar blend of dread and trial-and-error survival. Skip it if you prefer open-ended exploration or don’t mind the killer catching you.
Game Modes
Single player
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