Outlast

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

I finally beat the game after 11 deaths total on insane mode including the DLC. 10/10 worth it.

This game is trully one of the best horror genre there is, even after 12 years.
If you have the money, I encourage you to buy it! You won't regret it!

{ Graphics }---
☑️ You forget what reality is
☑️ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☑️ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑️Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑️ Teens
☑️ Adults

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑️ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☑️ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑️ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☑️ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
☑️ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑️Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑️ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☑️ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☐ 9
☑️ 9,5
☐ 10

a horror classic, a game that it's a lot popular but i consider it underrated, this is a perfect game, that dosen't mean it's one of the best games ever, but it's a perfect game...
this game is usually seen as "cheap jumpscare and running game simulator" though it's a lot deeper than that, let's see it more detailed:
gameplay: the gameplay is very good, and it's a lot satisfying and simple, easy to play, and it works very well, there is a little exploration for secondary things, there is platforming, though very automatic uncharted like, and obviously hiding, using the camera, running... it's simple and it works well
atmosphere: this game have atmosphere, there is not a part where you see like tons of incredible atmosphere, but it has atmosphere, very good atmosphere, very solid... it's good
story: it's good, very good story...
level design: very good level design for this game, it's a game that is extremely linear but the areas sometimes can be open enough, it has labyrinthic feeling sometimes, and... the level design is very good
variety: it has variety, it's very solid but it has variety in his coherent setting
lenght: the game last 3-5 hours, it's lenght is short and it make the game feel like a movie, and it fits PERFECTLY, so the lenght is very good...

it's a 10/10 game for what he is, i really like... praise, it's iconicity and how it's good, for a linear game it has deepness, it's a really well made game

10/10 (for what he is), 8,5/10 generally...
really love this game, this review can't express much, but i really, REALLY found this game incredible... i must say that i really recongnized it's values...

Very good horror game. It has great story, jumpscares and characters. And it's scary enough.

It's short, but a great horror game with a well written story. You can complete the main story and DLC in about 5 hours. It doesn't hold back with gore and horror elements which keeps the player always wondering what is going to happen next. The Whistleblower DLC is a great addition and ties in perfectly to the main story. I'd highly recommend for anyone who enjoys the horror genre.

Playing Outlast in 2024 felt like discovering a classic. The gameplay shines with intense chase mechanics, even if the NPC AI becomes predictable over time, making it more strategic than scary. The narrow corridors and stormy sequences create an immersive, dark atmosphere, though the excessive darkness can sometimes feel frustrating.

The story is the game’s strongest point, with the mystery of Mount Massive Asylum and the sinister Murkoff Corporation keeping me hooked. While it wasn’t as scary as I expected, perhaps due to playing it late , it was still a gripping and thrilling experience.

Overall, Outlast is a must-play for its engaging story and atmosphere, even if the fear factor doesn’t hit as hard.

Rating: 8/10.

Sakit jantung kalau main. Peringatan: Wanita mengandung dilarang bermain game ini. Game ini juda tidak disarankan kepada kanak-kanak.

AMAZING game, I've replayed it at least 5 times :P Although I feel like it has a few small issues for new players. People forget to record and read the notes left by the protagonists throughout the game. I feel like this is because being with the camera down is visually more comfortable than having it up, but of course, all of these problems were already fixed with Outlast 2, although I feel like they could've reminded people more of the existence of the notes and the fact that you NEED to record because you are a journalist. GREAT GREAT GAME, WOULD RECOMMEND. A lot of blood tho!! (and organs) (and naked men)

Outlast

Score: 8/10

If you're like me then you absolutely love watching these lost place and urban explorer videos. Likely, you have also seen such a video on an abandoned hospital or perhaps even an asylum. If so, you're already pretty well prepared, because this time it's not empty or abandoned; quite the other way around. Outlast, released back in 2013 by Red Barrels delivers a combination of these sorts of videos and horror.

Taking on the role of a daring journalist, you head out to Mount Massive Asylum, out in the middle of nowhere. Armed with nothing but a whistleblower document, informing you about the horrific human experiments supposedly taking place inside the asylum, and your trusty camcorder, equipped with a night vision mode. This camcorder is the heart of the game and what makes it stand out. You will witness almost the entirety of the game through the screen of that thing, making it feel like a collection of found footage. You'll need the night vision to navigate the dark areas of the Asylum, which will burn your battery life, so collecting AA batteries is a top priority.

Outlast is less of a game and more of a test of your fight-or-flight response - think of it more as hide-and-seek game on the hardest difficulty. Except the seeker is a bloodthirsty lunatic and there is no happy ever after if they happen to find you. You can't fight back; you either run away or hide, or accept your fate, and that's where the beauty of this game lies. It lies in those hopeless moments you run away from a group of lunatics, not knowing where to go and asking yourself "what next?". It's hiding behind a desk and debating on if it's better to stay hidden or just send it. Those moments when you're perfectly thought out plan fails and the chase music starts playing, your heart pounding as you run aimlessly through the halls trying to shake off your pursuer.

The gameplay is what kept dragging me back into this horrible Asylum. The rush of adrenaline when you see something glowing in the corner of your camcorder, in the darkest possible place, and have to ask yourself if it was an enemy or nothing. This game lives from the sections of the game that are not scripted. Those sections that change every playthrough due to the AI's and your own behaviour. It's extremely immersive and strong enough to make you forget that it's all just a clever combination of 1s and 0s on a screen.

The game is split up into 3 (4, counting cutscenes) major gameplay elements.

1) Exploring
Usually the most atmospheric, and serve as breather sections. You find documents that elaborate the lore, recharge your camcorder using batteries and witness the still horrors of the asylum.

2) Chase
Intense yet scripted chases. They give you a good kick most of the time and make you feel desperate. They're extremely well made using little tricks that keep the tension high. Like climbing, squeezing through gaps, or my favorite, doors that open toward you.

3) Freeroam Objectives
Intense but sadly very repetitive. You are set out into a wider, open area with a set of goals and an enemy. Like, for example, turning the power back on, which requires switching on three seperate levers. These are genuinely great, since like mentioned before, the way these go down change practically everytime depending on your playstyle and the AI's tendencies.

Some other noteworthy things to praise are the length, story/atmosphere and especially soundtrack. The game doesn't overstay its welcome and ends in about 3-5 hours. Which is a pretty good length. It stops before it gets repetitive.

Outlast's atmosphere is crazy good. Thanks to the soundtrack and just general atmospheric work. The camcorder records every bit of dust in the air, the sounds are great, you almost always hear distant screams and cries, steps or people banging on doors. Every chapter has a distinct environment and i feel has a nice creative twist; like the dark sewers, where your every step in the water can be heard, or the prison, where you'll be nice and close to all these lunatics in their cells. Additionally, this shit is also (almost) entirely based on a true story! So if you're interested, you can do some research on the game's topics after you finish. It's worth it. And whether you are slowly stepping around the foggy courtyard, or being chased by the big fat guy, the soundtrack perfectly illustrates these moments. Seriously, the soundtrack deserves a michelin star and is overlooked so often.

Sadly, when there is no apparent enemy around, the game does rely heavily on jumpscares to keep the horror part alive. These.. are fine but a) you only fall for them once and b) they are all verryyy similar. You're almost always jumped at by a patient accompanied by an over the top scream. But it also has some genius scares that i wont go into ;).

Over all, i think even 11 years after launch it's still well worth it. Though not at full price, get it at a discount. Like most games it's usually on sale about every 1-2 months. It'll definitely keep you entertained and occupied for a while.

Check out our curator page; https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45217856-Frieren%2527s-Adventuring-Party/

Outlast is an absolutely terrifying masterpiece that sets the gold standard for survival horror. If you love the thrill of being scared out of your mind, this game delivers an intense, heart-pounding experience that will leave you shaking long after you’ve put the controller down.

The atmosphere is unmatched. Mount Massive Asylum is a hauntingly immersive setting, filled with grotesque visuals, eerie sound design, and a constant sense of dread. The game’s use of darkness, combined with the grainy night vision of your camcorder, creates an unrelenting tension that keeps you on edge from start to finish.

Outlast isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not just scary—it’s relentlessly scary. You’re constantly being hunted, and with no weapons to fight back, your only options are to run, hide, or pray you’re not found. The chase sequences are adrenaline-fueled nightmares, and the enemy designs are disturbing in the best (and worst) ways.

While the game’s mechanics are simple—exploration, hiding, and camcorder management—it works perfectly for the kind of raw, stripped-down horror Outlast is going for. The story, while unsettling and gruesome, is engaging enough to keep you pushing through the terror, even when your instincts tell you to stop.

This game is not for everyone. If you’re not into horror or don’t enjoy feeling helpless, Outlast will likely be too much. But for fans of the genre, it’s an unmissable experience.

Rating: 9/10 – Play it with the lights off... if you dare.

Outlast was absolutely insane, I loved every minute of it!
Honestly wish I could have played this game earlier, I cant believe I missed out on this. To be honest I don't really have many complaints for the game. The gameplay is typical horror walking sim that I was expecting, but it always kept me on my toes. The atmosphere in this game is honestly peak, I don't think there was one point where I felt comfortable or safe, which is also exactly what I wanted! The set-pieces aren't anything amazing, its an asylum. But for the time not a lot of games did this, so it definitely had a freshness to it that other games released afterward cant quite nail. One of the biggest pros the game had for me is how absolutely bat-shit crazy this game can get at points. Graphic blood, guts, murder, gore, nudity (its very much a sausage-fest in this game), and the sound design, voice acting and DLC only elevate the experience. This, however, is what stuck with me more over the actual story. Its not bad, and I liked the ending quite a fair bit actually (which can't be said for most horror games), but its fairly bare bones in my opinion.
Overall, I think if you have the stomach and perseverance for it, you should absolutely play Outlast.
8/10, almost got my dick cut in half.

literally too scary for me, im a bit of a chicken though, but good gameplay and amazing graphics, story is decent too.

best outlast game story telling and gameplay better then the new outlast games so far

Really disturbed so i guess it did its job. Dislike the whole camcorder feature, not tryna see all of that nothing with a hint of green glare, i do NOT f with that strongly. Characters were nice, Trager was a sweet guy would like to see him wear pants sometime and also have a hair transplant because the balding is severe. Also got pretty bad motion sickness from it so had to keep taking breaks but that's not really the games fault maybe it is though idk. Overall 6.67/10.

If your're a fan of survival horror games, Outlast is a must play. This game delivers an intense and immersive experience with its eerie atmosphere, chilling sound design, and heart pounding moments. Exploring the Mount Massive Asylum with only your camcorder for light creates a constant sense of vulnerability, making every encounter terrifying. The storytelling is gripping, and the first person perspective pulls you deeper into the horror. It's not just about jump scares--Outlast builds genuine tension and keeps you on edge from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone who loves horror or wants a game that truly tests their nerves.

Amazing game. One of the scariest I've ever played. If you play at recommended settings, the game is so unbelievably dark and stingy with NV batteries that this alone can create some of the worst anxiety I have ever had while playing a video game. Throw in a bunch of homicidal maniacs with pinpoint hearing and you have an experience that's just as hard to play as it is to put down.
9/10, genuinely incredible.

Immersive and actually scary at times. A bit frustrating to understand what you're supposed to do from time to time.