- The Outlast Trials multiplayer supports up to 4-player online co-op, playable solo too.
- Matchmaking or private lobbies: join random Reagents or invite friends directly.
- Team roles matter: assign crowd control, healing, and scouting before a Trial starts.
- Rigs define your role: Stun, Heal, X-Ray, and Barricade each fit different team sizes.
- Communication wins Trials: callouts on enemy positions beat individual skill.
How The Outlast Trials Multiplayer Works
The Outlast Trials multiplayer is the core of the experience: up to four Reagents are dropped into Murkoff's experimental programs together, tasked with completing objectives, evading Ex-Pops and Prime Assets, and reaching extraction alive. The game launched in full on March 5, 2024 on Steam, where it holds a Very Positive rating across more than 43,000 reviews.
Video Highlights:
- Official 1.0 launch trailer showing co-op Trial gameplay
- Four Reagents working through objectives under enemy pressure
- Showcase of the Murkoff facility atmosphere and extraction loop
You can play every Trial solo, but the game is balanced around cooperative play. Enemy patrols, objective design, and revive mechanics all reward teams that coordinate. If a teammate goes down, another player can revive them — but only when the area is safe, or you risk creating a second downed Reagent.
Trials scale in difficulty regardless of party size, so a full team of four does not make a Trial trivial. Coordination, not headcount, is what improves your clear rate.
Multiplayer Setup: Getting Your Team Into a Trial
Setting up a co-op session takes only a few minutes. Follow these steps to get your squad into the Murkoff Program.
Launch and Enter the Sleep Room
After launching the game, your team gathers in the Sleep Room — the shared hub where you configure your Reagent, purchase items, and select Trials.
Invite Friends or Use Matchmaking
Invite friends directly through your platform's friend list, or use public matchmaking to fill empty slots with random Reagents. Private groups can lock the lobby.
Agree on Roles Before Entering
Discuss who carries which Rig — a mix of Stun, Heal, and X-Ray covers most situations. Confirm who handles objectives and who watches for patrols.
Stock Up on Supplies
Spend Murkoff Dollars on health items, antidotes, lockpicks, and throwables. Inventory is limited, so each player should carry a different mix.
Select the Trial and Difficulty
Pick a Trial matching your team's experience. Stick to familiar Trials when learning, and escalate to higher difficulties once your builds are upgraded.
Public matchmaking pairs you with players of varying skill and no voice chat. For harder difficulties like Program X or Ultra, a coordinated private group performs far better.
Team Roles and Rig Combinations
The strongest co-op teams distribute responsibility across Rigs. Duplicating the same Rig across all four players usually leaves a gap in coverage.
Stun Rig — Crowd Control
- Interrupts dangerous enemies
- Creates windows for revives
- Best for solo and duo play
Heal Rig — Field Medic
- Restores team health
- Saves consumable items
- Best for 3-4 player teams
X-Ray Rig — Reconnaissance
- Spots enemies through walls
- Improves route planning
- Best for new maps and objectives
Barricade Rig — Defense
- Blocks doors and access points
- Secures objective rooms
- Best for defensive positioning
| Party Size | Recommended Rig Mix | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | Stun or X-Ray | Self-rescue and information |
| Duo | Stun + Heal | Control plus recovery |
| Trio | Stun + Heal + X-Ray | Balanced coverage |
| Four | Stun + Heal + X-Ray + Barricade | Full-role coverage |
| Enemy Threat | Best Counter |
|---|---|
| Leland Coyle (stun baton) | Break line of sight, Stun Rig for rescue windows |
| Mother Gooseberry (drill) | Multi-exit rooms, split when targeted |
| Franco Barbi | Keep escape routes open, throw distractions early |
| Pusher (gas) | Leave the cloud immediately, carry Antidote |
| Berserker | Doors, obstacles, stamina management |
The Heal and Stun Rigs offer the highest overall team value, but every Rig is viable when paired with the right Prescriptions and Amps. Focus on upgrading one dependable Rig before branching out.
Co-op Trial Strategy: Objectives to Extraction
Winning a Trial as a team comes down to route planning, noise control, and timing. These are the habits that separate successful groups from wiped squads.
- Read the objective first: identify the main task and optional goals before splitting up.
- Divide without isolating: one player interacts while another watches entrances.
- Regroup after major objectives: enemy pressure often spikes between phases.
- Save Rig charges for the escape: extraction routes frequently come under attack.
- Revive safely: confirm the threat has moved on before picking up a downed teammate.
| Trial Phase | Team Action | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Scout the map, locate key rooms | Sprinting and alerting patrols |
| Objectives | Rotate roles between interaction and lookout | All four players clustering on one task |
| Mid-trial | Collect evidence and side rewards safely | Chasing optional loot into danger |
| Extraction | Move together toward the exit | Stopping in exposed areas |
After the primary objective completes, the danger does not end. Confirm every living teammate knows the extraction direction and keep moving — hesitation in open areas is the most common cause of failed runs.
Progression and Communication Goals
Co-op progression rewards efficient runs: complete objectives, collect evidence, survive, and extract. Player XP, Murkoff Dollars, Stamps, and Therapy Tokens all flow from performance-based rewards, so a steady clear beats repeated risky failures.
Co-op Team Milestones:
- Complete a full 4-player Trial without deaths
- Upgrade one Rig to a dependable level
- Assign fixed roles (control, healing, scouting)
- Learn two escape routes on each Trial map
- Clear a higher-difficulty Trial with a private group
For finding teammates, the official Red Barrels Discord hosts dedicated LFG (looking for group) channels, and communities like r/OutlastTrials are active for team recruitment and strategy discussion.
The Outlast Trials multiplayer improves dramatically with voice communication. Call out enemy positions, locked doors, and item finds — teams that talk consistently clear Trials at a much higher rate.
Multiplayer FAQ
Q: Is The Outlast Trials multiplayer co-op only?
No. The Outlast Trials supports both solo play and online co-op with up to four players. Every Trial is designed to be completed alone or with a team, though coordination makes objectives and revives significantly easier.
Q: Can I play The Outlast Trials multiplayer with random players?
Yes. Public matchmaking fills your lobby with random Reagents. For higher difficulties such as Program X or Ultra, a coordinated private group with voice chat generally performs better than matched strangers.
Q: Does having four players make Trials easier?
Not automatically. Difficulty does not scale down with more players. A four-player team benefits from shared Rigs and revives, but poor coordination can make a full squad louder and easier for enemies to track.
Q: What is the best Rig loadout for a 4-player team?
A balanced mix of Stun, Heal, and X-Ray covers most Trials, with Barricade as a flexible fourth option. Avoid everyone running the same Rig — coverage gaps are the most common cause of team wipes in co-op.
Related Content
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