Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 405 sampled Steam reviews (363 positive / 42 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Multiplayer & servers11% mention it
- Story & writing9% mention it
- Visuals & art6% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Multiplayer & servers19% mention it
- Story & writing12% mention it
- Grind & repetition12% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
90%
29 reviews
5-15h
91%
68 reviews
15-40h
86%
117 reviews
40-100h
88%
114 reviews
100h+
96%
77 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 72 | 93 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 75 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 87 | 1046 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 14, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 4869 total reviews in window · weighted 215.5 up / 25.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (61)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“While the strictly defined horror gameplay might not keep one hooked for hours-long sessions, The Outlast Trials’ style and atmosphere is worth several return journeys. It makes very few changes to the series’ usual stealthy scariness, yet the inclusion of three other players makes for a breezy version that’s pretty damn entertaining. Be aware that playing it alone makes everything take four times longer and isn’t particularly fun, but with even just one more player, some torture porny fun can be had.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Outlast Trials maintains the essence of its predecessor with frequent chases by grotesque foes. COOP mode, though less terrifying, offers its own intense, disgusting encounters. Despite the engaging gameplay, the game lacks sufficient missions even after its full release, leaving players hoping for ongoing updates to enjoy its chaotic madness fully.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As you sprint through hallways of visceral blood while being pursued by beings of pure terror, The Outlast: Trials provides a unique experience only Red Barrels is capable of delivering.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Outlast Trials is the latest chapter in the renowned horror series developed and published by Red Barrels, the Canadian studio that revolutionized the genre with its previous titles, Outlast and Outlast 2. Released in early access on May 18, 2023, and officially launched on October 5, 2023, the game is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Game as a Service formula of The Outlast Trials is challenging and punishing, but also functional and fun. Each element integrates perfectly into what is a game formula so distant from the saga's origins, but at the same time so functional.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The Outlast Trials is a great multiplayer horror game that retains the thrills and chills of previous Outlast games while adding some light-heartedness when playing with friends.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It may not be the next single player terror fans of its predecessors are looking for, but The Outlast Trials successfully translates the series' formula for a co-op setting. Hiding from gory psychopaths and utilising night vision is still the name of the game - now you simply do it alongside up to three friends online. Though silly enemy AI and some repetitive visual assets drag the experience down, The Outlast Trials is an example of a former single player game turned online title done right.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“All in all I expected more from this horror game. My nephew has raved about how good the first two were and even though this has been in EA on PC for years I was eagerly awaiting the console release. Sadly, The Outlast Trials just didn’t live up to the hype for me. With monsters that didn’t really feel scary, and maps and objectives that just start to feel repetitive really quickly, I can really only recommend this one for the real Outlast fans.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Previously released on Steam Early Access, The Outlast Trials offers exactly what you can expect from the series. Sick, agonizing horror. This time the story has been left behind, but the gameplay and atmosphere make up for the lack of a script. With a group of friends, The Outlast Trials is guaranteed entertainment for a few weeks - and it also works alone, as long as you set yourself up correctly.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Whether you're a newcomer looking to dip your toes into terror or a seasoned scarer seeking new nightmares, "The Outlast Trials" offers a playground of paranoia.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The Outlast Trials is a brutally fresh twist of the knife for the franchise. Cooperative play meshes seamlessly with the horror experience, allowing players to squad up and take on brutal trials that are as horrifying as they are fun to survive together. Solo play is more trouble for the same reward, so it's a good thing the game includes a matchmaking system. With more content on the way, it's clear Murkoff has struck gold with this new take on a loved IP!”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
INDIANTVCZ
Seasoned Gaming
Indie Games Devel
SpaceNerd.it
Total Gaming Network
Pure Xbox
Push Square
ZTGD
KonsoliFIN
SVG
Checkpoint Gaming…and 49 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Project Boneyard Patch Notes | Season 7: New Coyle Trial, New MKs, & much more!Jul 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Project Boneyard: New Coyle Map, and so much more! Coming July 14thJul 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- New Update | Prime Time Limited-Time Event, 2 New MK-Challenges & moreMay 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Project Judas - March 26thMar 26, 2026
- Project Judas Patch Notes | Season 6, New Environment, New MK-Challenges & moreMar 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- New Update | Advent of Bogomolova Limited-Time Event, New MK-Challenges & moreFeb 10, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Project Messiah Patch Notes | Season 5, New Prime Asset, New Environment & moreDec 9, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Project Messiah: Meet Liliya Bogomolova | Coming Dec. 9thDec 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Invasion - November 5thNov 5, 2025
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Invasion - October 28thOct 28, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Invasion - October 24thOct 24, 2025
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Invasion - October 23rdOct 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Invasion - October 22ndOct 22, 2025
- Major Update | New Invasion Experimental Therapy, Geister is Back & MoreOct 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- New Update | Deep Burn Limited-Time Event, New MK-Challenges & moreSep 9, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Project Diarchy - July 22ndJul 22, 2025
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Project Diarchy - July 18thJul 18, 2025
- Hotfix Patch Notes | Project Diarchy - July 16thJul 16, 2025
- Project Diarchy Patch Notes | Season 4, New Prime Asset, New Environment & moreJul 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Project Diarchy: Meet Otto & Arora Kress | Coming July 15thJul 8, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- New Update | Prime Time Limited-Time Event is Back, New MK-Challenges & moreJun 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Project Relapse Patch Notes | Season 3, New Map, New Game Mode, New Enemy & moreApr 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- New Update | Under Surveillance Limited-Time Event, New MK-Challenges & more...Mar 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Year One Anniversary & Dev UpdateMar 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Project Breach | Hotfix Patch Notes - Dec. 13thDec 13, 2024
- New Project Breach Update | Season 2, New Environment, Winter Kills and more!Dec 10, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Project Breach | The Outlast Trials Season 2 Coming Dec. 10thDec 7, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch Notes | GeisterOct 30, 2024
- New Update | Project Geister Limited-Time Event is Back with a twist!Oct 29, 2024significant · resets scoring window
…and 26 earlier patch announcements.