The Outlast Trials expands the famous horror franchise with a full co-op mode, entering early access on May 18, 2023. Unlike the first two games, it features cooperative play, though it can be finished solo if desired. This guide covers all the essentials: how to curb psychosis, how to unlock and choose starting skills, and which paths work best for different playstyles.
How to play online co-op in The Outlast Trials
First you need to complete a short training. Afterward you will reach a room called the Bedroom. There you can locate a terminal to connect to the server, invite a friend, and adjust settings. To join any team, select the Search for a group option. Up to four players can participate in co-op.
How to earn ten Liberation Tokens in The Outlast Trials
Liberation tokens unlock access to the final test, which concludes the main story arc. Start by completing the workout and finishing the first three programs. Each program grants one token. When program X challenges become available, you will receive one token for each completed challenge. In total, there are nine rooms to complete.
How to slide (sliding) in The Outlast Trials
Sliding is a quick way to gain distance and escape when pursued. This ability is unlocked by purchasing the corresponding recipe, which becomes available from the nurse after the initial conversation. To activate sliding, hold the crouch key (default is C). The recipes are outlined below.
The main tactic is stealth
Move quietly to conserve precious resources. Circle around enemies, wait for them to pass, and hide in cupboards when needed. The X-ray ability helps you see enemies through walls and obstacles, which is especially helpful in solo play.
Noise from objects like hanging cans or shattered glass can betray your position. Touching them draws attention. You can also throw improvised items to distract foes and redirect them away from your path.
Many enemies have poor night vision. Staying in darkness and moving through shadows helps you stay unseen. The night fighter is an exception, but he is vulnerable to blindness.
Learn the routes of opponents
Understanding enemy paths supports any stealth plan. If you know where a foe is headed, you can choose a different route or lay a trap to blind them and slow their progress.
Playing with friends is easier than playing solo
Single-player and co-op deliver distinct experiences. In solo play you must solve every puzzle and separately manage threats. Friends can lend a hand in tough moments, and diverse skill upgrades let you combine abilities. It helps to assign roles in advance: one player marks consumables with X-ray, another blinds or stuns foes, and a third handles healing. Still, solo play can be scarier for some players, and that may be part of the appeal.
Develop your hero to fit your tactics
The game offers combat, stealth, and support options. X-ray reveals consumables and their locations to teammates, Blindness helps trap enemies, and anesthetize disables foes. It’s wise to invest in one skill path first and then consider a second. This approach shines in team play when duties are shared.
Charge your tools and carry a spare battery
Items should be kept with high charge to ensure they work at decisive moments. Carry a Spare battery as well. Batteries appear in cupboards, boxes, and drawers, randomly placed like other consumables. The X-ray skill can be a constant aid on the mission.
Don’t forget to collect documents
Each test requires more than escape: you must gather evidence proving the company’s guilt. It’s easy to overlook while dodging foes, so take time to explore. In doing so you’ll also pick up valuable consumables that can save your life when it matters most.
Inspect locations carefully and move deliberately
Test sites are full of traps, noise-makers, and lurking enemies. Don’t sprint to the finish line. Listen, look for hazards under your feet, and take your time exploring. This patience pays off, especially during evacuation when the goal is simply to reach the extraction point without drawing every foe to you.
Running recklessly during evacuation can draw enemies and lead to dire consequences.
How to find and why to use the antidote
Psychosis is a dangerous state triggered by poisonous gas and other hazards, including failed lock-picking attempts and mines. When psychosis climbs too high, a powerful foe called the Skinner appears. It is nearly impossible to hide from this monster, and it will chase you while draining vitality.
The antidote is the best way to restore mental health. It can be found in first aid kits and cupboards or looted from fallen enemies. If you don’t have antidote, you must flee from the Skinner and wait for psychosis to ease, though this wastes valuable time and leaves other dangers on the map.
Buy recipes
Recipes grant passive bonuses that apply for the entire run once acquired. They aren’t all available immediately; progression is needed—reach Therapy on level 3 and talk to the nurse. A list of recipes appears here. Each recipe slightly improves performance, and together they raise survival odds significantly.