The Outlast Trials is exactly what gaming needed at this point in time. Not only as a new game in a sea of dying games and recycled ideas, but as a refreshing example that there are developers and publishers out there creating NEW IP, NEW Genres of Games, and they aren't afraid to be the first in a particular space. Outlast Trials is something of a marvel to me. I played it for 65 hours in a 5 day period without even trying, and I don't even know why in particular it draws me in, as I have historically not been the biggest fan of most "horror" in general.

At a base level, the co-op horror game has been done before, and some of them are even pretty good! But nothing has ever been done like this. This isn't just a horror game that ALLOWS co-op, but a game designed from the bottom up for it with engaging interactions between players. Every single layer of this game is a delicious treat of endorphins and dopamine from the engaging and suspenseful gameplay to some of the best customization options I have ever seen in a co-op game. You earn EVERYTHING in the game just by playing with no option to use real money on anything, and you receive a random cosmetic reward every time you complete a mission. Every time you play the same levels it feels like a completely different experience, and the bones that make up the game itself are rock solid.

The leveling/perk system in this game is FANTASTIC. There is always something to unlock or buy for your kit/character, and every single upgrade has a tangible impact on the way you play the game. There are different types of gadgets you can bring called "Rigs" which allow you to choose how you prefer to play and it adds to the already unmatched replayability by allowing your squad to run different combinations of loadouts. In regards to performance, after 100 completed trials I have never once ran into a bug, glitch, or disconnect at all and the one time a friend did disconnect mid game due to internet instability, they were able to rejoin flawlessly with 0 impact on our run. The graphics are immersive, and the options extensive with Ray Tracing support already optimized on launch. The controls feel intuitive, despite having no real precedent, as this game is completely independent of the other Outlast titles.

Overall, I find the premise of this game hard to explain because there is no comparable. I HIGHLY recommend trying out this game with you and your friends, and it even holds its own as a solely single player experience once you figure out the levels. It may be somewhat shocking and scary the first couple times you play as it is a Horror game, but once you learn the mechanics you will be itching to get back in it and hone your skills against all odds regardless of whether or not you scare easily.

11/23/23: Nominated Outlast Trials for my GOTY.

The Outlast Trials is exactly what gaming needed at this point in time. Not only as a new game in a sea of dying games and recycled ideas, but as a refreshing example that there are developers and publishers out there creating NEW IP, NEW Genres of Games, and they aren't afraid to be the first in a particular space. Outlast Trials is something of a marvel to me. I played it for 65 hours in a 5 day period without even trying, and I don't even know why in particular it draws me in, as I have historically not been the biggest fan of most "horror" in general. At a base level, the co-op horror game has been done before, and some of them are even pretty good! But nothing has ever been done like this. This isn't just a horror game that ALLOWS co-op, but a game designed from the bottom up for it with engaging interactions between players. Every single layer of this game is a delicious treat of endorphins and dopamine from the engaging and suspenseful gameplay to some of the best customization options I have ever seen in a co-op game. You earn EVERYTHING in the game just by playing with no option to use real money on anything, and you receive a random cosmetic reward every time you complete a mission. Every time you play the same levels it feels like a completely different experience, and the bones that make up the game itself are rock solid. The leveling/perk system in this game is FANTASTIC. There is always something to unlock or buy for your kit/character, and every single upgrade has a tangible impact on the way you play the game. There are different types of gadgets you can bring called "Rigs" which allow you to choose how you prefer to play and it adds to the already unmatched replayability by allowing your squad to run different combinations of loadouts. In regards to performance, after 100 completed trials I have never once ran into a bug, glitch, or disconnect at all and the one time a friend did disconnect mid game due to internet instability, they were able to rejoin flawlessly with 0 impact on our run. The graphics are immersive, and the options extensive with Ray Tracing support already optimized on launch. The controls feel intuitive, despite having no real precedent, as this game is completely independent of the other Outlast titles. Overall, I find the premise of this game hard to explain because there is no comparable. I HIGHLY recommend trying out this game with you and your friends, and it even holds its own as a solely single player experience once you figure out the levels. It may be somewhat shocking and scary the first couple times you play as it is a Horror game, but once you learn the mechanics you will be itching to get back in it and hone your skills against all odds regardless of whether or not you scare easily. 11/23/23: Nominated Outlast Trials for my GOTY.