Outlast

About Outlast

Outlast dropped in September 2013 as a first-person survival horror title from Red Barrels. You play as investigative journalist Miles Upshur who sneaks into the remote Mount Massive Asylum in Colorado. The facility was reopened by the Murkoff Corporation but has gone silent. Your goal is to find out what happened there and escape with your life intact. The game launched on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac. It stands as a single-player adventure where you cannot fight back against the residents inside. You rely entirely on a camcorder with night vision to navigate the dark corridors while avoiding violent patients who hunt you down constantly.

Gameplay

You move through tight hallways holding a handheld camera that provides the only light source in pitch black areas. The core loop involves sneaking past enemies or hiding in lockers when they get too close. Running drains your stamina bar quickly, so you must manage your breath to stay quiet. There is no combat system to speak of because bullets and fists are useless against these manic individuals. You find batteries for the camera and flashlights to see further ahead while collecting documents that reveal the twisted backstory. The level design forces you down narrow paths where escape routes often disappear behind doors you cannot open. You spend most sessions holding your breath and pressing your back against walls while footsteps get louder nearby.

What Players Think

Players rate this title highly on IGDB with a score of 77.2 out of 100 based on 675 ratings. The community describes the vibe as atmospheric and creepy with five votes each for those moods. Story-driven elements also resonate well with four votes from users. Only two people called it dark while one labeled it cozy, which is an odd take given the subject matter. The average playtime suggests a focused run through the asylum without much side content. Achievements are difficult to earn since only 16.7% unlock on average across the 14 total available. The rarest achievement named "BOWELWHISTLER" has been unlocked by just 2.70% of players who have tried for it. Current prices show a deal at $2.00 on Green Man Gaming, which is a steep discount from the historical low of $3.75.

PlayPile's Take

This game works best if you want a tense scare fest without needing reflexes or aim. The $2.00 price point makes it an easy buy even though the achievement hunt will frustrate completionists who can only get 16.7% of the trophies. Red Barrels crafted a terrifying experience that relies on helplessness rather than skill checks. You should play this if you enjoy watching horror movies where the protagonist runs away from danger instead of fighting it. The short average playtime means you can finish the story in one or two sittings without burning out. Avoid this title if you need constant action or want to feel powerful against the enemies around you.

Storyline

In the remote mountains of Colorado, horrors wait inside Mount Massive Asylum. A long-abandoned home for the mentally ill, recently re-opened by the “research and charity” branch of the transnational Murkoff Corporation, the asylum has been operating in strict secrecy… until now. Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, independent journalist Miles Upshur breaks into the facility, and what he discovers walks a terrifying line between science and religion, nature and something else entirely. Once inside, his only hope of escape lies with the terrible truth at the heart of Mount Massive. Outlast is a true survival horror experience which aims to show that the most terrifying monsters of all come from the human mind.