Outlast

Release Date: September 4, 2013

Adventure, FPP, survival horror, horror, indie games, action adventure, very brutal, singleplayer

97%

Steam

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A survival horror action adventure game. It is the debut project of the independent studio, Red Barrels, established by veterans of the gaming industry: David Chateauneuf, Philippe Morin, and Hugo Dallaire. Outlast’s story is set in an old asylum for mentally ill, adapted, by the Murkoff corporation, into a research center. Journalist Miles Upshur gets his hands on information that strange things occur in that place.

Story
Gameplay
Technology

Outlast for PC, SWITCH and etc. is a FPP survival horror. This is a debut project of Red Barrels, a studio founded by people who had worked on such series as Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell and Uncharted.

Story

The action takes place in the United States, in asylum located in Colorado. A long abandoned building was bought by Murkoff corporation to open there a research center. In Outlast for PC, SWITCH and etc. you play as Miles Upshur, a journalist who learns about some strange things happening in the facility. To discover the truth, he breaks into the resort and discovers that apart from banned medical experiments also blasphemous rituals take place there. Without any weapons, equipped with a camera and a few spare batteries, Miles enters the building that greets him with bloody scenes of recent massacre. Someone – or something – is killing the facility’s residents and staff while the only living witnesses of these horrific crimes are too disturbed to help.

You cannot get lost playing “Outlast”, because the plot is linear. Therefore, the game does not lose its dynamic.

Gameplay

This is FPP game combining exploration of locations as in adventure games and solving puzzles with arcade elements. The action sequences include escaping and hiding from the enemies. It is recommended avoiding direct confrontation. The enemies are not only ruthless, but also quite intelligent and it takes a lot of skills to survive a meeting with them. Logic puzzles and tasks concern finding switches and valves or keys and magnetic cards.

Technology

Outlast for PC, SWITCH and etc. is inspired by works of Clive Barker and the gore aesthetics. It is packed with violence, blood, guts, severed limbs and mutilated bodies. However, the developers managed not to exaggerate. The atmosphere is created by the imagination of players – developers often do not reveal everyhing, allowing the sound effects and dark graphics do their magic.

Last updated on August 14, 2015

guide

Last Update: October 8, 2013

Outlast Game Guide & Walkthrough

This guide to Outlast is a complete walkthrough with and authorial tips on going through specific chapters. The chapters are named after the stages in the game.

Outlast Game Guide & Walkthrough

Videos and Screens

[0:53] Outlast launch trailer

[4:07] Outlast E3 2013 zwiastun rozgrywki

97%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (91,373)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Atmosphere and Immersion: Many players praised the game for its intense atmosphere, sound design, and visuals that create a deeply immersive horror experience. The setting of Mount Massive Asylum is particularly highlighted for its oppressive and terrifying ambiance.
Unique Gameplay Mechanics: The game?s lack of combat forces players to rely on stealth and evasion, heightening the tension and fear. The camcorder mechanic, especially its night vision feature, is noted as innovative and essential for navigating the dark environment.
Engaging Story: Users appreciated the story's depth and the various twists, with many finding the lore intriguing and the narrative engaging, particularly through environmental storytelling and documents found throughout the game.
Replay Value: Several reviews mentioned the game's replayability due to different difficulty levels and the enjoyment of revisiting the terrifying experience, especially during Halloween.

The main cons of the game

Repetitive Gameplay: Some players felt that the gameplay became repetitive over time, with similar objectives and encounters that lacked variety as the game progressed.
Difficulty in Navigation: Many users expressed frustration with the lack of a map and unclear objectives, leading to confusion and backtracking, which detracted from the experience.
Limited Character Development: A few reviews noted that the character development was lacking, with the protagonist and other characters not being fully fleshed out.
Minor Bugs: Some players reported minor bugs that could disrupt the experience, although these were not seen as major issues.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Combat Options: Several reviews mentioned a desire for some form of combat or self-defense mechanism, as the complete reliance on hiding and running could feel limiting and frustrating at times.
More Puzzles and Variety: Players expressed a wish for more puzzles or varied gameplay mechanics beyond just hiding and running, which could have added depth to the gameplay.
Improved Navigation Aids: A common suggestion was the inclusion of a map or clearer guidance to help players navigate the asylum more effectively, reducing the instances of running in circles.

Summary

Overall, "Outlast" is regarded as a classic in the horror genre, celebrated for its atmosphere and innovative approach to survival horror, while also facing critiques regarding repetitive gameplay and navigation challenges.

Summary generated on: November 25, 2024

8.6

GAMERS Score

Average score from 2976 votes. 125 players anticipated the game.

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GAMES

in Outlast Game Series

Game Series

Outlast Series

Launched in 2013, the survival horror series for which the main source of inspiration was the series Amnesia. Since the beginning, the brand has been overseen by the Red Barrels team, founded in 2012 by former employees of Ubisoft Montreal studio.

4 video games

Outlast Game Series