Outlast

One of my favourite games!!! I love the atmosphere of the game and I love how some horror elements actually shock you! When i first played and i had to hide in a locker, they were coming straight towards me but opened the locker next to me instead, i held my breath the whole time haha

Game is 13 years old but felt like a breath of fresh air to play, I absolutely loved this game and its DLC. The horror is fucking amazing and is always tense. I haven't felt this tense playing a horror game in a while

Banger, peak cinema dont play outlast though unless youre gonna get whistle blower dlc TRUST ME THEY WORK WONDERS TOGETHER its like PB&J you cant have one without the other <33

It is one of the scariest games. There is lot of jumpscardes. 10/10

A little scary, gets very tense, good ending.

Imagine Batman in this game though

Very fun and spooky and only a few jump scares, It only takes a few hours to beat

I was absolutely blown away by how good this game was and it far exceeded my expectations

The start of the iconic Outlast series and is the strongest of all of the games. This game introduces the main game play of Outlast run, hide or die. This game has a disturbing and isolating setting being set in the Mount Massive Asylum. Disturbing characters and jumpscares that will make you jump out of your seat await you when you least expect it. The game even has a follow up DLC with the whistleblower expansion that continues the terror and further solidifies this game as one of the greatest horror games of all time

very good horror game, a lot of jumpscares. 10/10 i'm a bit behind but i cant wait to buy and play number 2

Simply the best Horror Game that exists. Would've also paid more than double the price for this masterpiece.

gets boring after the 50th buttfuck sneak mission

I love this game I tried beating it on insane and as of leaving this review I am making more attempts, but I was able to beat both main and dlc on nightmare mode.

Truly terrifying. Right behind Amnesia: The Dark Descent, for me, as the most frightening game I've ever played.

take only 5 hours to complete this game and sometimes it was scary and overall game is great and i will probably play it once more

All i understood from game was that there is an asylum works in the name of charity but gains money by torturing people in their basement, develops their own technology etc.
Long story short, i wasn't bothered to read all those documents and notes.
I just focused on enjoying jumpscares, tension, violence, drama and all the other shit.
Throughout the game, not going to lie i was expecting less crazy kind of difficulties or bosses whatever you'd call them.
Well not a bad game after all yet no need to overrate.
Don't fuckin try to cut my dick again and no more naked men chasing me.

I've played this game many times and 12yrs later, it is still one of the best horror games. Can't top the terror I felt playing this, 100% recommend if you want to crap your pants :)

Interesting story, still a good graphics to this day, and good atmosphere.

Finished the game before plus the DLC, and this game is very amazing, very scary and just simply amazing. This game is the reason why i'm not scared to play horror games anymore lol. 10/10

Still as effective over a decade later as it was when it first came out

What I love about this game compared to many other survival horrors is that the main character is ballsy, whenever Miles writes in his journal he has strong conviction, is very flippant, and actually feels like a real dude in the situations he's in. The entire game is pretty heavily supported by having great character writing, many antagonists stand as memorable even now. Some of the greatest moments in the game are when you come out of an insane cutscene and realize you have to keep going after just having watched something fucking gnarly happen to you.

On subsequent replays I also have to say there are many subtle moments inbetween the typical huge scares which permeate the game. Sometimes there might be an audio cue or interaction which I never noticed on that first playthrough because it was previously so overwhelming.

I also have to add that the whistleblower DLC for this game may be hands down one of the greatest continuations of any horror game. The character's different attitude is felt in his notes and the sort of situations he gets in compared to Miles. It manages to give greater context to the first game while not being the sole focus, admittedly the ending here is incredible and does huge justice for the original ending for Outlast.

The few complaints I would have for it though would be that sometimes its overly dramatic, and there are a lot of jumpscares which feel unwarranted or thrown in as not to have too long a moment of suspense. Some objectives/gameplay contrivances are also a bit worn out by a certain point. The "activate 2-3 things across an area with an enemy inbetween" thing certainly works, and sometimes really well (big fan of the walrider section at the end) but generally by the time Chris Walker is standing between you and some water pumps in the Male Ward I've grown tired.

One final thing to add, I love how as the game goes on you deal with things which remain until the end (Getting two fingers cut off, and seeing your bloodied stumps from then on, dropping your camera, and from there dealing with the lens being cracked, and in the very end literally being dropped tens of feet onto concrete and having to hobble)

I found Outlast very thrilling, visually impressive, and pretty disgusting in the best possible ways.

As someone not really into many horror games, I really liked the presentation and style of Outlast with its reliance on dim lighting, night vision filters, and first-person limitations allowing various surprises. The gameplay was quite simple as there aren’t that many actions you can perform as the player, but the settings and problems you need to figure out kept things interesting and intense for me.

For a game released in 2013, Outlast’s graphics are stunning. Even now, the small visual details hold up remarkably well. The night-vision feature is particularly impressive, as it not only illuminates dark areas but also adds a sense of blur and gives the characters’ eyes an eerie, glowing quality that is both haunting and effective. Although not perfect by today’s standards, the visuals still look fantastic, especially when viewed outside of compressed internet streams. I remember initially seeing trailers and reaction videos back in 2013 and thinking people were overselling the game’s visual appeal, but playing it myself, I can see why it impressed so many.

The settings of the game worked very well in giving the graphics many good reasons to creep you out. From dark elevator shafts and flooded basements to blazing fires and blood-soaked hallways, the game leverages its creepy settings to create a constant sense of dread. The sound design is just as effective, and using headphones enhances the experience. It makes you feel like you’re trapped in a never-ending Halloween haunted house that just won’t let up.

The plot and lore are definitely on the wild side, but given that horror often thrives in the realm of imagination, it worked for me. By the end, I was satisfied, even if I didn’t delve into multiple playthroughs to uncover every secret or backstory element. That said, I can see how some players might be drawn to revisit the game in search of more hidden details.

I also enjoyed the Whistleblower DLC, as it felt like a nice compact extension of the base game, so I recommend giving that a try if you were considering it as well.

Overall, I really recommend Outlast. A first playthrough all these years later really surprised me. The shock value, the intensity, and the overall atmosphere made for a memorable playthrough. It’s definitely worth your time.

Absolutely Best Horror Game I ever played
all aspects of the game really captures the horror of mental asylum and brainwashing experiment really awesome game
I played it a lot and still didn't get bored for playing it
Highly recommended if you like horror games 👍😎

fun and scary. i grew up watching videos of thsi game and im really happy to be playing it

I love the story,love the textures,and I just love the idea of it.

JUST BUY IT

One of the best horror games i have ever played, i played this game with my girlfriend and she enjoyed it too. Even though we were side by side, we got scared on some parts lol

Best horror game ever created, i will always purchase a Red Barrels product this game is absolutely incredible

One of the best horror games I ever played. I liked it how this game will always keep you on your toes with its horrific environment. This game is also really great on how you can find lore on your ways of trying to get out.

11/10 can't wait to play Outlast 2

Outlast remains the origin point for many horror games and is worth playing even now. The hunt for batteries is constant and while I understand its value mechanically I can still dislike it.

Outlast is a heart-pounding, nerve-shredding horror game that excels in every way it needs to. From the moment you step into the shoes of investigative journalist Miles Upshur, you’re thrown into a nightmare. The atmosphere is dark, oppressive, and utterly terrifying—every shadow feels like it could hide something waiting to pounce.

The gameplay is all about tension and survival. You’re unarmed, and your only tool is a night-vision camera, which adds a constant sense of vulnerability. The way light and darkness play off each other keeps you on edge, and every corner feels like it could hide something horrific. The enemies are relentless, and the game doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to its scares.

What makes Outlast so effective is its pacing. It builds slowly, increasing the dread with each passing moment. You never know what’s around the corner, and that’s what keeps you hooked. The jump scares are brutal, but it’s the slow-burn tension that really gets under your skin.

If you’re a fan of psychological horror and want a truly terrifying experience, Outlast delivers in spades. It’s dark, intense, and one of the best horror games out there. Just make sure you play with the lights off.

The best horror game I have ever played. The only negative thing I can say is that I feel as if there's too many moments where you think you will die/get hurt but get saved at the very last second.

Even after all this time, this is still the best horror game out there, I have no idea how many times I've played it, I've lost count, this game doesn't disappoint not even after the 10th playthrough.

shi scared the HELL out of me a couple times even on my 2nd playthrough after a few years so worth playing and the DLC was freaky asf i did NOT expect allat lol. Top 5 horror games fs

This game is a roller coaster of pure terror for 99.5% of the game, almost the greatest horror game of all time.

AND THEN AT THE VERY END IT GOES INTO SOME WEIRD SUPERNATURAL/COSMIC/SCI-FI BS, COMPLETELY

A game released on 2013, and on 2025, this is still one of the best horror games of all fucking time, if you really want to have a bad time, this game might be for you :)

This is the scariest game I have ever played as it is the only game I know where the Cameraman isn't immortal

really a good game i have played even tho its quite an old game the camera filter really gives the true horror element to it. the story is quite good and i recommend this who wants to play horror games.

If you start just running you can beat the game. If not, it is a pure PTSD simulator!! LOVE IT!

Jogo muito bom ao mesmo tempo bem claustrofóbico.

Went in a reporter, came out a lunatic...

The insane difficulty play through was one hell of an experience. It only took me about 6 or 7 hours to complete the game in normal for the first time, bare in mind, this was with zero knowledge and experience of the game. It then took me another 14 hours to just be able to finish the game in insane mode.

I'm actually really grateful that we don't have the energizer achievement on Steam like they have it on the consoles cause completing the game in insane mode was torture enough. But man, I gotta tell you, the level of euphoria and relief felt after finally finishing the game in insane mode was on a whole other level. Not a lot of game experiences could give that kind of feeling, the only think I can think of is the Skull Storm achievement in Inscryption that could give a similar effect.

Was the addition of insane mode to an achievement necessary? Absolutely not. Though I'm really glad I got this game and played it, but knowing that you'll have to experience something nearly twice as long and probably harder in Outlast 2 to get the insane achievement, you couldn't pay me to have Outlast 2 in my library where it could ruin my achievement completion percentage. Outlast 1? Absolutely recommended! Outlast 2? Don't even think about it unless you hate every fiber of your being.

main story really traumatised me, fat guy and the doctor are in every corner of my mind, i cant get them out
as for the dlc: still playing it, and its just worse than the main story

so ye, 10/10 game

страшновато, але дуже заспокоює подушка шо ти як помреш, возродишся на ключовому моменті і нічого не втратиш. ну ігра базова, хароша. є моменти коли нпс просто не дають пройти далі, бо ходять туда сюда як кончені, перекривая прохід

This game has a special place in my heart. It was practically my introduction to horror games. The first playthrough was suspenseful and terrifying, as you wonder what's around the next dark corner. And the soundtrack only adds to the suspense. Definitely recommend you play this game (and the DLC) if you are a survival horror fan.

The game starts great with a lot of suspense and creepy moments but the further you go the more annoying and sometimes boring it becomes, so by the end you finish it to just finish and finally be done with it.

The Whistleblower DLC on the other hand is more dynamic, less hiding and more running and exploring with decent scary moments. I liked DLC way more than the original game.

Still recommend it for the experience.

It was horrifying. Everything in the game was turned against you. No weapons, no light only night vision that need bateries, enemies are hunting you, that terrifying fat guy, you are absolutely alone, you found a key? No it will fall to the basement and now you have to spend another hour running from psychos to get that key. As a horror this game did its job perfectly. Adrenaline filled terrifying experience. Recomending 100% and the price is valid

Seriously, the best horror game you will be able to play, recommended!

Really good game, in fact its amazing. I own the game now on steam and on Xbox, and it never gets old, great replay value and tons of scary chase sequences and jump-scares. The story is also great, and it continues out through the DLC and Outlast II, check those out if you liked this one.

Absolutely one of the best horror games on Steam in 2025.


Red Barrels managed to create some of the best horror games out there, TWICE.
The team behind this game deserves more credit than they get.

This game has kept me shitting myself and yelling for SEVEN YEARS, and managed to stand the test of time for nearly TWELVE!

10/10 Amazing Horror Game! Great work Red Barrels!

A wonderful horror game, really scary, a lot of plot, and a lot of everything. I really recommend playing this masterpiece!

Incredible game; terrifying for the first few playthroughs and fun to speedrun thereafter. The mechanics are minimal and refined with responsive controls. Enemy AI is smart and fair. Graphics still hold up and it's surprisingly well optimised. Collectable achievements suck without a guide.

Overall: 9/10.

Decided to play in 2025 without knowing the story still somehow and this game was lots of fun! I now see how many of the games that I have played previously have taken so much inspiration from here and I find that this game not only invented most of these mechanics and concepts that I have seen used so much but also executed them perfectly. I got every achievement in the main game and the whistleblower dlc and I am about to play the sequel which i know nothing about and I'm thrilled to experience it. If there was one thing I could change it would be to add an option to skip cutscenes after beating the game once. Also in the end credits they misspelled "functionality" in one spot :)

Even after playing this game multiple times and achieving 100% completion, it still gives me the creeps. 10/10