What are the pros of Outlast?

Exceptional horror atmosphere and genuine, high-intensity scares.. The Whistleblower DLC is highly recommended as an essential companion to the main story.. Effective 'helpless' mechanic where the lack of combat heightens the tension.. Strong protagonist characterization and narrative for a horror title.. Stellar graphics and visual presentation that hold up well over time..

What are the cons of Outlast?

Repetitive gameplay loop centered on running, hiding, and fetching items.. The ending is frequently described as abrupt, confusing, or unsatisfying.. Heavy reliance on jumpscares can feel predictable or overwhelming to some.. Enemy AI can occasionally be janky or break the immersion..

Outlast

Hell is an experiment you can't survive in Outlast, a first-person survival horror game developed by veterans of some of the biggest game franchises in history. As investigative journalist Miles Upshur, explore Mount Massive Asylum and try to survive long enough to discover its terrible secret... if you dare.

96%

Overwhelmingly Positive

DeveloperRed Barrels

PublisherRed Barrels

Release DateSep 4, 2013

$14.99

Peak Players11.7K

Metacritic80

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows · macOS · Linux

Action

Adventure

Indie

AI Review Summary

Outlast is a definitive survival horror experience widely praised for its intense atmosphere and terrifying sense of helplessness. While its hide-and-seek gameplay loop and narrative ending are polarizing, it remains a high-impact title that is considered essential for fans of the genre.

Pros

Exceptional horror atmosphere and genuine, high-intensity scares.95%
The Whistleblower DLC is highly recommended as an essential companion to the main story.85%
Effective 'helpless' mechanic where the lack of combat heightens the tension.80%
Strong protagonist characterization and narrative for a horror title.75%
Stellar graphics and visual presentation that hold up well over time.70%

Cons

Repetitive gameplay loop centered on running, hiding, and fetching items.85%
The ending is frequently described as abrupt, confusing, or unsatisfying.75%
Heavy reliance on jumpscares can feel predictable or overwhelming to some.70%
Enemy AI can occasionally be janky or break the immersion.60%

Notable Mentions

The game is a landmark title in the 'YouTube horror' era of the early 2010s.
Contains significant amounts of graphic nudity and gore.
The main game and DLC can be completed in approximately 4-5 hours.

Confidence: 53%

Based on the 174 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Jul 17, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

333

Peak · last 90 days

1.1K

All-time peak

11.7K

Price

Current price

$14.99

Lowest tracked

$3.74since Jan 11, 2026

Review Sentiment

Launch week

—

Last 30 days

96%

All-time positive

96%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews138.4K

Positive: 133.5K (96%)Negative: 4.9K (4%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

11h

Avg Playtime at Review

90%

Credible Reviews

Outlast