Outlast

Outlast is less than a year old (if counting the original PC release) but it’s already cemented itself as one of the scariest games we’ve ever played. It’s also one of the strongest debuts from a new developer, and Red Barrels should be applauded for their effort. Outlast won't be for everyone, but if you have even an inkling of interest in the genre, then it's absolutely worth checking out. Let it be known that Outlast is a genuinely stressful and nerve-racking experience, but that’s exactly what a true survival horror game should be, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The game loses a little of its lustre towards the end, as you become a touch too familiar with the 'collect three fuses/valves/keys to continue' template applied between the jump scares, and the tedious sections where you'll have to hide under a bed and wait until the coast is clear. Thankfully, its relatively short run time means that no one section is completely overplayed.

A genuinely disturbing and terrifying game that'll have you jumping out of your seat in fright. It's a little short at around six or so hours, but the experience Outlast delivers is well worth the price of admission.

Outlast is a virtual tour through a hall of terrors. Even playing the game in full daylight makes me uneasy. However, the game's overall level design and gameplay were sacrificed at the altar of fear. If you're looking for an experience that will get your adrenaline pumping, Outlast is hard to beat, but if you’re looking for a meatier horror experience then you might want to run past this one.

Though Outlast is an indie title, it has proven that the dwindling survival horror genre still has life. It's worth noting that the blood, gore, and male genitalia may seem excessive at first, but simply serve to show the horrid conditions and treatment these inmates received and lived in, and indeed what they are capable of.

Even though Outlast relies too heavily on Hollywood tactics for its scary moments, it’s still not a bad game. There’s actually some fun in traversing the asylum with friends around, or by streaming it online via the PlayStation 4?s many sharing options. ...There’s plenty of room in the survival horror market for someone to come along and really revitalize the genre. Outlast just isn’t that game.