The Outlast series has terrified fans since the first game released in 2013. Developed by Red Barrels, the games can be instantly recognized by their green aesthetic and liberal use of darkness. The first game was successful and led to a sequel, Outlast 2, in 2017. Red Barrels has no intentions to end the series yet, with plans to release Outlast 3 at an undetermined date, as well as The Outlast Trials in 2022 that will serve as a prequel to Outlast 2.
Part of what made Outlast 2 good at inducing terror is its ability to make gamers feel powerless. While many titles give players the most powerful weapons imaginable and let them go crazy, Outlast 2 strips players down to the bare essentials before setting them up against all kinds of horrors. The result is an experience that makes players suffer from sweaty palms.
Dealing in Darkness
Outlast 2 tells the story of Blake Langermann, a journalist who travels to Arizona with his wife, Lynn, to investigate the murder of a pregnant woman. Things take a turn when their helicopter crashes, causing Lynn and Blake to be separated. As he searches for his wife, Blake soon finds himself in a creepy forest inhabited by unfriendly folks.
The feeling of powerlessness begins when players realize how lost they are. They find themselves in a forest with no map, and that feeling of disorientation can be frightening. The enveloping darkness makes things worse, and all they have to aid them is a camcorder that grants temporary night vision. The camcorder is powered using whatever batteries players can find lying around. However, batteries drain rapidly, meaning that oppressive darkness is always around the corner, and there is not much that players can do to prevent its return.
In Outlast 2, Players Must Run and Hide
As players search for Lynn, they will occasionally come across deranged villagers. They are part of a weird cult following the Gospel of Knoth, and believe that the end times are near. If they see Blake, they will not hesitate to hunt him down. They outnumber Blake significantly, and that makes players feel especially powerless because being spotted means certain death.
Players cannot defend themselves against the hostiles in Outlast 2. Instead, players must sneak around, hiding under beds and in closets to seek safety. There is an indescribable feeling of dread that is created when players are forced to crawl into a dumpster and hope that the footsteps nearby do not come any closer. If players are seen, the chase is on, and unless there is an exit path nearby, death is imminent.
It can be an infuriating experience to not have any weapons at hand when enemies are lurking nearby, especially when most games gradually empower players by strengthening their arsenal and making them better prepared to go against foes. However, Outlast 2 instead chooses to keep players feeling vulnerable and, in doing so, players remain constantly stressed, as the sense of being in an unwinnable nightmare scenario never ends.
The Outlast series is not for the faint of heart. When camcorder batteries are not running out, there are people ready to nail players to a crucifix. With The Outlast Trials on the horizon, there will be a new set of horrors to play through. If the game takes any inspiration from its predecessors, players will find themselves facing horrors without much to defend themselves.
Outlast 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
