The Outlast Trials makes me sick to my stomach, but that's just because it's one of the best co-op horror games

GamesHorrorThe Outlast TrialsThe Outlast Trials makes me sick to my stomach, but that’s just because it’s one of the best co-op horror gamesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Red Barrels)

A woman holding a creepy puppet

It’s been 10 months since The Outlast Trials entered early access, during which Red Barrels has thrown everything it has at players brave enough to enter the dreaded Murkoff Corporation test facility. While I may not be the ideal candidate for rehabilitation, it’s been an unforgettable experience.

With the promise of a better life, or at least some money to keep you afloat, the Murkoff test facility presents itself as a safe haven for society’s outliers who want to better themselves and become productive and valued team players. All you need to do in return is survive gruelling programs laced with violent criminals, complete all the Program X trials to get 10 release tokens, and run the gauntlet in the final mission. Trust me, it’s harder than it sounds.

(Image credit: Red Barrels)

Character scavenging as an enemy runs towards them

It may be a pain in the neck, but this seemingly impossible task is just part of the fun in The Outlast Trials. Attempting to complete the trials in the orphanage with just three teammates was probably one of the worst, most stressful hours of my life. It largely consisted of everyone running around like headless chickens, screaming down their mics while trying to solve puzzles and stay alive as one of the antagonists, Mother Gooseberry, chased us around with her puppet, which could drill a sizeable hole in our heads.

Trial and a lot of error

(Image credit: Red Barrels)

Some getting electrocuted by an enemy

Exploring the Toy Factory was undoubtedly one of the most jarring ordeals I’ve had in The Outlast Trials so far

When The Outlast Trials first entered early access, it launched with three locations: the Police Station, Fun Park, and Orphanage. These fall under programs that are lists of MK Challenges and Trials, such as transferring a subject from his cell to the electric chair while fending off murderous giants or solving small puzzles like connecting fuses or refuelling generators. It also introduced Program X, a changing seasonal stack of trials and MK challenges that, if completed, grants you freedom.

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(Image credit: Red Barrels)

A colourful bedroom

I also pride myself on the rather stylish cell which I call home. Furnished with the finest blue flowery wallpaper and bright purple carpet, along with random trinkets and posters I’ve picked up during trials, it’s certainly a sight to behold. While none of this is particularly groundbreaking or impacts The Outlast Trials greatly, it’s still a great way to unwind between all the murder and mayhem.

The launch version also presents players with a new, chilling experience. Exploring the Toy Factory was undoubtedly one of the most jarring ordeals I’ve had in The Outlast Trials so far. After crushing one subject in a trash compactor, my team and I set out to kill the deviant, escorting him through a factory full of furious killers and creepy mannequins. We completed some small puzzles and gradually ripped him apart as he was suspended in mid-air on a conveyor belt. The night ended with us taking turns flambéing the poor guy in a furnace. It was terrifying, gruesome, and twistedly fun to complete with friends. However, it’s definitely not something I would recommend doing right before clocking off for the night.

(Image credit: Red Barrels)

An enemy jumping out of a locker

I don’t have the same unbridled enthusiasm for The Outlast Trials as I did 10 months ago, though. There’s nothing I love more than co-op horror games; getting to scream and laugh at friends is all I want to do. So when I heard that Red Barrels was transforming the claustrophobic and gruesome world of Outlast into a group trauma session, I was overjoyed. I still am, but the novelty has waned over the last several months now I know what to expect.

Only one new map, the aforementioned Toy Factory, has been added in 1.0, and those of us who played during early access will have to start from scratch, so this isn’t something you can jump into right away.

I have never done anything other than scream in The Outlast Trials.

I may have wanted slightly more at launch, but there are still new MK Challenges, revamped program structures, and a new conclusion to enjoy for the time being. It’s also important to bear in mind that this isn’t the finished product. Game director Alex Charbonneau, has previously mentioned that The Outlast Trials is more of a live service game than what Red Barrels has created in the past. “This is the beginning of something new, creating an environment which is a living and breathing world," Charbonneau said during apreview event.

I loved exploring The Outlast Trials so far—the horrific gore, terrifying chase scenes, and clever puzzles all deliver one of the best co-op horror experiences around. So, for the time being, I’ll take this horror game for what it is: a strange mashup of Grand Designs, The Queen’s Gambit, and the horrific reality of what happens when a greedy and twisted corporation subverts the law and can use human test subjects.

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Trial and a lot of error#

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Trial and a lot of error

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals