Choose Outlast 2 for a focused, solo investigation led by one protagonist. Choose The Outlast Trials if you want repeatable horror experiments you can tackle alone or with other players online. Neither is an objective winner: the better fit depends on whether you want a single story or a succession of challenges, and what online access your platform requires.
At a glance: how the games differ
| If you want… | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A protagonist-led investigation | Outlast 2 | Its story follows investigative journalists Blake and Lynn Langermann as they pursue a case in the Arizona desert. Red Barrels’ official game page |
| Online cooperative horror | The Outlast Trials | The developer describes experiments for solo players or teams of up to four; Xbox lists online co-op for two to four. Red Barrels’ Early Access announcement; Xbox Store listing |
| A sequence of experiments rather than one movie-like story | The Outlast Trials | Red Barrels co-founder Philippe Morin described it as more like a TV series, in contrast to the earlier games’ movie-like form. PlayStation Blog interview, September 3, 2021 |
| A story option with fewer enemy encounters | Outlast 2 in Story Mode | Red Barrels says Story Mode reduces encounters and challenges to leave more room to experience Blake’s struggle. Red Barrels’ Story Mode announcement |
This is a format-based comparison, not a ranking of which game is scarier. No measured head-to-head scare comparison is established by the cited sources.
Choose Outlast 2 for a self-contained investigation
Outlast 2 centers on Blake Langermann, a cameraman, and his wife Lynn, both investigative journalists. Their inquiry into the apparent murder of a pregnant woman known as Jane Doe takes Blake into the Arizona desert. The premise gives the game a defined protagonist and investigation rather than a roster of repeatable experiments. Red Barrels’ official game page
If the story interests you but you would prefer fewer confrontations, Story Mode is the relevant option. In its March 27, 2018 announcement, Red Barrels described it as having fewer enemy encounters, minimal challenges, and more breathing room to experience Blake’s struggle; the developer said it was available on all platforms. That is the developer’s description, not a measured difficulty comparison. Red Barrels’ Story Mode announcement
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#1 Best Overall
Choose The Outlast Trials for repeatable experiments and co-op
The Outlast Trials places players in a Cold War-era Murkoff facility, where test subjects face physical and mental ordeals. Red Barrels’ May 18, 2023 Early Access announcement described players attempting the experiments alone or in teams of up to four, with a program structure, character progression, and a narrative introduction. Red Barrels’ Early Access announcement
That structure is a deliberate departure from the earlier games. In a 2021 PlayStation Blog interview, Red Barrels co-founder Philippe Morin said, “If the previous games could be compared to movies, The Outlast Trials is more like a TV Series.” PlayStation Blog interview, September 3, 2021
The game’s content can evolve: for example, a July 16, 2024 developer article described a new story trial, map, Rig, difficulty settings, tasks, and randomized trials and variations in Escalation Therapy. Those details are a snapshot of that update, not a complete inventory of what is available now. PlayStation Blog article on Project Lupara
Check online and platform requirements before buying
Trials can be attempted alone according to the developer, so co-op is an option rather than a stated requirement across all platforms. Console access rules differ by storefront: the reviewed PlayStation Store listing says online play is required and lists four online players, while the Xbox listing specifies online co-op for two to four and says console online multiplayer requires a separately sold Game Pass Essential, Premium, or Ultimate subscription. Check the current store page for your platform and region because requirements and availability can change. PlayStation Store listing; Xbox Store listing
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Platforms, editions, and content notes
Red Barrels lists Outlast 2 as released on April 25, 2017, and its announcement identified digital availability for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The official game page also records a limited physical Nintendo Switch edition made available in October 2018; that historical release does not establish current retailer stock. Red Barrels’ release announcement; Red Barrels’ official game page
The reviewed PlayStation listing for The Outlast Trials shows PS4 and PS5 and a March 5, 2024 release date. The reviewed Xbox listing shows Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S and the same date. Store prices, discounts, and edition availability are volatile and region-specific, so verify them on your own platform’s listing. PlayStation Store listing; Xbox Store listing
Rank #4
- BECOME A TEAM - Dungeons & Dragons: Trials of Tempus is a cooperative, team-based game for 2-8 players, where rival parties of Heroic adventurers battle to prove their worth and mettle in the ever-changing Battlerealms of Tempus, God of War!
- CONQUER THE TRAIL - To win, you and your party must work together to earn more Victory Points than your rivals by completing Quests and gathering Loot, and finally defeating the Trial Guardian. The party with the most Victory Points wins!
- GREAT FOR GAME NIGHT - Adventurers ages 12+ can team up with up to 8 adventurers around the game table for 30+ minutes, in attempts to defeat the trials laid before them.
- HIGHLY DETAILED MINIATURES - The Standard Edition includes 25 highly detailed, unpainted miniatures. Painted or not, they are ready for the battlefield! Fight mobs of goblins, kobolds, and bugbears. And defend yourself against ogres and constructs!
- GAME INCLUDES - 9 Map Tiles, 4 D20s, 25 Unpainted Miniatures, 1 Rule Book, 344 Cards, 333 Tokens
The reviewed Trials storefront listings identify violence and gore, with sexual-content descriptors. Read the ratings and content details shown in your own region’s store before purchase. PlayStation Store listing; Xbox Store listing
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
