Summary
The Outlast Trialsis the third mainline title in the survival horror series. When the firstOutlastarrived on the scene, its atmosphere-based scares and pure survival gameplay easily made it a hit among many.Outlast 2brought even more stealth-based scares to the forefront, butThe Outlast Trialsintroduced a brand-new approach to the franchise.
Instead of the usual single-player run-and-hide mechanics thatOutlasthas become known for,The Outlast Trialsbrought the series' first multiplayer entry into the spotlight. Fully launched in March of this year, the co-op installment serves as a prequel to the horrifying franchise as players are subjected to inhumaneCold War-era experiments. Despite the chilling tone and fresh take the game offers,The Outlast Trialsmay be better left as a test instead of a direction for the franchise to follow in the future.
The Outlast Trials is a Thrilling Experiment, but Doesn’t Hit the Same Notes of Its Predecessors
Making the Move From Single-Player to Multiplayer Was a Bold Risk
Outlasthas solidified itself as a single-player series, at leastbeforeThe Outlast Trials. Armed with only a camcorder and the will to survive, players had to fight their way throughOutlastandOutlast 2while the puzzle pieces of a larger story eventually fell into place. It was an effective white-knuckle experience.The Outlast Trialsalso brings some great trials and narratives, but there is something missing with the lack of single-player.
Overall,The Outlast Trialshas received mostly positive feedback. Strong Steam reviews make it clear that the game still manages to highlightthe best ofOutlastin a multiplayer setting. However, there is also the question of just how sustainable a multiplayer approach is for the franchise’s future. It’s hard to imagineOutlastcontinuing as solely a multiplayer-focused experience. Since the games began with the aim of bringing singular, single-player horror stories to life, the next game in the series may be best served returning to form.
Despite the game’s success and positive reviews, it doesn’t seem likeThe Outlast Trialshas managed to get the same buzz as its predecessors. This could partially be due to the fact thatThe Outlast Trialsisn’t as scaryas the first and second game. The firstOutlasttitle was unlike anything else in the genre at the time, but there are plenty of co-op horror games that can feel likeThe Outlast Trials. Games likeDead by DaylightandPhasmophobiahave staked their claims as top dogs in the genre, and those are difficult contenders forThe Outlast Trialsto compete with.
The Outlast Franchise Should Return to the Basics
The Outlast Trialshas proven to be a fun experiment for developer Red Barrels. However, it ultimately doesn’t feel strong enough to bring the franchise forward. If Red Barrels is aiming to extend the series with a fourth installment, a return to the single-player gameplay might reignite excitement in the series.The Outlast Trials' turn to a live-service modelwas due to players enjoying the approach. Taking player response into consideration is great, butThe Outlast Trialsultimately feels more like a one-off title. It’s possible forThe Outlast Trialsand a fourth chapter to co-exist together, and this is a likely route for Red Barrels to take.
Despite there not being any confirmation ofa newOutlastgamein the works, it doesn’t seem completely out of the realm of possibility.The Outlastgames have grown a solid following, andThe Outlast Trialshas even brought some new players into the fold. Red Barrels' multiplayer experiment has offered a fun alternative to the original games, but a new installment embracing the established features that madeOutlastso special in the first place could prove to be more successful.
The Outlast Trials
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Barrels invites you to experience mind-numbing terror, this time with friends. Whether you go through the trials alone or in teams, if you survive long enough and complete the therapy, Murkoff will happily let you leave… but will you be the same?Set in the era of the Cold War, human guinea pigs are involuntarily recruited by the good folks at the Murkoff Corporation to test advanced methods of brainwashing and mind control. In a world of distrust, fear, and violence, your morals will be challenged, your endurance tested, and your sanity crushed. All in the name of progress, science, and profit.Ultimately, your goal is to complete Murkoff’s therapy and earn the right to be released back into society. In order to do so, you must complete the Trials and the MK-Challenges.Trials are immersive story driven therapies that take a certain time to complete. Mk-Challenges are shorter therapies occurring in modified or redesigned section of an existing map.
