The Outlast Trials

Based on an actually scary and not entirely fictitious tale – it’s easy to spot some influences here and there, minus the supernatural elements – The Outlast Trials is an unexpected but successful entry in one of the best horror series of the last decade. If you are wary of the multiplayer focus, don’t be, as these trials are great for atmospheric solo runs and gruesome sights that are not for the faint of heart, so do yourself a favor and become a human guinea pig if you like shocking experiences.

The Outlast Trials has been around for a while, but it is one of the best multiplayer horror games you can play today on consoles. Get ready for spooky season and consider diving into this fun and immersive experience. Make sure to bring up to three friends to enjoy it to the maximum!

The Outlast Trials sticks with a strong foundation that hasn't changed much since Early Access.

Despite its focus on co-op, The Outlast Trials presents a strong early showing through its early access release. It runs well, has an interesting setting and story, and the co-op can be incredibly fun if you play it with the right group. The only downside is that jump scares might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Red Barrels' third Outlast game is a departure in many ways, but remains memorable for its twisted villains and the grotesque world they inhabit.

It’s probably for the best, though, because if Mother Gooseberry and her sinister duck puppet have anything to say about it, my dental hygiene will be top-notch in no time.

At times, it does feel like Outlast Trials is trying too hard to be shocking. It soon becomes less frightening and more silly. The sadistic mutants become predictable but this doesn't detract from the fun of it all. When playing with a team you get a unique experience I haven't had with other multiplayer horror games.

Ultimately, The Outlast Trials finds itself in a bit of an awkward spot. It doesn’t quite hit the mark as a single player game, though playing alone is where the true horror lies. Play it with others, and while you’re likely to have more fun, it comes at the expense of atmosphere and scares. For many though, repetition is likely to be the biggest issue with The Outlast Trials; sneaking around in the dark is only fun for so long, after all. Still, that’s not to say this experiment is a total failure — it has a lot to offer for those who do find enjoyment in its grotesque endeavors.

Converting a traditionally single player IP into one meant for multiplayer too is a process with just as many hits as there are misses, so developer Red Barrels will be delighted it's landed on the right side of history. With up to three friends along for the ride, The Outlast Trials is a slightly different ballgame to its offline counterparts, but it retains enough horror to appeal to those fans picked up through entries past.

The Outlast Trials is excessive and frantically enjoyable - but can occasionally tip over into frustration more than fear.

The Outlast Trials is a cool idea, a spin-off that funnels players through a gauntlet of twisted levels with a gameshow/Saw movie vibe. However, as good as it all looks and sounds, with plenty of levels and tons of customisation to dig into, the core gameplay here is just way too bland and repetitive, it's in no way scary, and the only real fun to be had is in getting a bunch of pals together to laugh at your misfortunes and all of the violence that ensues.

The Outlast Trials takes Saw's death traps and combines them with illegal government experiments in a shocking first foray into multiplayer for the series.