- The Outlast Trials on PC runs through Steam, supporting solo play and up to 4-player co-op since its March 2024 launch.
- Core loop: complete objectives, use stealth, manage noise, and extract alive as a Reagent.
- Best beginner Rigs: Stun for crowd control, Heal for team recovery, X-Ray for scouting.
- Progression tip: finish main objectives efficiently instead of farming random encounters.
- Enemy rule: break line of sight and hide rather than outrunning Prime Assets.
The Outlast Trials PC: Getting Started
The Outlast Trials on PC is a cooperative psychological horror survival game developed by Red Barrels, officially released on March 5, 2024. You play as a Reagent trapped in the Murkoff Corporation's Cold War-era brainwashing program, completing dangerous Trials alone or with up to three teammates. The Steam page shows more than 43,000 user reviews with a Very Positive overall rating, making it one of the most popular co-op horror experiences on PC.
Watch the official launch trailer for a quick look at what awaits inside the Murkoff facility:
Video Highlights:
- Official Version 1.0 launch trailer from Red Barrels
- Showcases the co-op Trial loop and key environments
- Introduces the Reagents and the Murkoff experiment setting
- Highlights enemies, night vision, and extraction gameplay
Key PC Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release Date | March 5, 2024 (Version 1.0) |
| Early Access Start | May 18, 2023 |
| Player Count | Solo or up to 4-player online co-op |
| Developer | Red Barrels (Montreal, Canada) |
| Steam Reviews | 43,000+ reviews, Very Positive |
| Supported Languages | English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and more |
Download the game directly from the official Steam store page. For news and announcements, follow the Red Barrels official site and join the official Discord for team-finding channels.
How to Play: The Core Trial Loop
Every Trial follows a repeatable structure. Master these fundamentals before attempting higher difficulties.
Choose a Trial and Read the Objective
Select a Trial from the available programs and identify the main objective plus optional tasks before entering. Learn the locations of key rooms, locked doors, and hiding places so your team never repeats completed work.
Search for Resources
Explore side rooms for batteries, healing items, antidotes, bottles, bricks, and lockpicks. Inventory space is limited, so carry a mix of defensive, healing, and utility items that support the current objective.
Move With Stealth
Crouch, control your noise, and close doors behind you to delay pursuit. Break line of sight and use lockers, beds, and darkness rather than sprinting blindly through unknown corridors.
Complete Objectives as a Team
Divide responsibilities without becoming isolated: one player interacts with the objective while another watches entrances. Regroup after major objectives and revive teammates only when the area is secure.
Manage the Final Escape
Enemy pressure often spikes near extraction. Save Rig charges, distractions, and healing items for the final route, and confirm all living teammates know the exit direction.
New players frequently waste stamina on long straight-line sprints. Prime Assets like Leland Coyle punish open corridors hard. Instead, use corners, doors, and loops to break line of sight and reset the chase.
Rigs Tier List and Builds for PC Players
Rigs are your active support tools and the backbone of any loadout. Here is how the four core Rigs compare on PC.
Rig Comparison Table
| Rig | Tier | Role | Best For | Key Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stun Rig | S | Crowd control, emergency escape | Solo, duo, high-pressure objectives | Requires good timing |
| Heal Rig | S | Team recovery, sustained survival | Duo and 4-player teams, long Trials | Weak during active chases |
| X-Ray Rig | A | Information gathering, route planning | Solo, learning new maps | Less direct protection |
| Barricade Rig | A | Area denial, defensive positioning | Duo and 4-player teams, objective defense | Needs advance planning |
Recommended Builds
Silent Infiltrator
- Rig: X-Ray
- Amps: Noise Reduction, Incognito, Slide
- Items: Bottles, Antidote, Lockpick
- Best for: Solo or duo stealth on Normal to Psychosurgery
Emergency Rescuer
- Rig: Stun
- Amps: Strong Arm, Last Chance, Self Defense
- Items: Bricks, Antidote, Health item
- Best for: 3-4 player rescue roles on Hard to Program X
Field Medic
- Rig: Heal
- Amps: Hide and Heal, Prescription, Regeneration
- Items: Health items, Antidote, Bottles
- Best for: Sustained team support on Hard to Ultra
Invest Therapy Tokens in one dependable Rig and a small set of Amps that match your role. A fully upgraded stealth, healing, or rescue setup performs better than several half-finished builds.
Enemies and Escape Strategies
Knowing how each threat patrols and attacks is the difference between extraction and failure.
| Enemy | Type | Threat Pattern | Escape Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leland Coyle | Prime Asset | Stun baton, close-range, punishes open areas | Break sight around corners, use doors and loops |
| Mother Gooseberry | Prime Asset | Drill weapon, pressures objective rooms | Use rooms with multiple exits, split briefly |
| Franco Barbi | Prime Asset | Powerful close-range weapon in narrow spaces | Keep an exit route, throw distractions early |
| Pusher | Special Ex-Pop | Gas attack that impairs players | Exit the cloud immediately, save stamina, use Antidote |
| Berserker | Special Ex-Pop | Aggressive melee, punishes low stamina | Hide and break sight before committing to run |
| Big Grunt | Heavy Ex-Pop | Strong melee, controls key routes | Use wide loops and keep doors between you |
| The Skinner Man | Psychological | Hallucination-like disruption during stress | Stay calm, keep your route, reach a safe room |
Never trade damage for progress against Prime Assets. Murkoff's experiments are designed so that avoidance, sound management, and route planning outperform confrontation every time.
XP, Currency, and Progression Guide
The fastest long-term progression comes from efficient Trial completion, not random farming. Here is how each resource works.
| Resource | How It Is Earned | Main Purpose | Efficiency Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player XP | Objectives, evidence, survival, extraction | Raises player level | Master one map before rotating |
| Murkoff Dollars | Trial completion, performance rewards | Purchases and preparation | Buy survival items before cosmetics |
| Stamps | Progression and event rewards | Special reward purchases | Save a reserve for rotating events |
| Therapy Tokens | Player progression | Unlocks Rigs, Amps, prescriptions | Focus on one role first |
| Trial Rating | Objectives, damage taken, deaths | End-of-trial reward quality | Escape alive over perfect ratings |
Major Update Timeline
| Date | Event | Player Impact |
|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2023 | Early Access Launch | Core co-op stealth-horror loop established |
| March 5, 2024 | Version 1.0 Launch | Expanded progression, more Trials and endgame |
| 2024 onward | Seasonal Programs | Rotating event rewards and limited-time activities |
| Ongoing | Balance Patches | Enemy, item, and Rig changes; check patch notes |
A consistent completion with moderate performance levels you up faster than repeatedly failing while chasing a perfect rating. Escape first, optimize later.
Your First Week Checklist
First Week Goals for PC Reagents:
- Complete your first Trial on Normal difficulty
- Unlock and upgrade one Rig to a usable level
- Learn the layout of the Police Station map
- Practice breaking line of sight against Coyle
- Complete a 4-player co-op Trial with voice communication
- Rescue a downed teammate using a Stun Rig window
The Outlast Trials does not run a permanent public redemption code system. Official rewards come through seasonal events, developer promotions, and community campaigns announced via the Steam news page and official channels. Avoid unofficial code lists that promise free items.
Q: Is The Outlast Trials on PC single-player or co-op only?
Both. The Outlast Trials supports solo play and online co-op for up to 4 players through Steam. Solo runs are fully playable but demand stronger stealth and stamina management since you cannot rely on teammates for revives.
Q: Which Rig should a new PC player unlock first?
Stun Rig is the safest first choice for solo and duo players because it creates emergency escape and rescue windows. If you mostly play with a consistent 3-4 player group, Heal Rig offers excellent sustained team value.
Q: Can I outrun enemies in The Outlast Trials?
Generally no. Prime Assets like Leland Coyle and Franco Barbi punish straight-line sprints. The reliable strategy is to break line of sight, use doors and obstacles, and hide until the patrol moves away.
Q: Are there active redeem codes for The Outlast Trials?
No. The game does not use a permanent public redemption code system. Rewards arrive through seasonal events and official promotions, so follow the Steam news page and Red Barrels announcements for legitimate claim methods.
Q: What is the best way to earn XP and currency quickly?
Complete the main objective efficiently, grab optional evidence only when the route is safe, and extract alive. A steady completion rate outperforms risky attempts at perfect ratings or searching every room while exposed.
Related Content
Explore more The Outlast Trials platform guides or head back to the The Outlast Trials Wiki homepage for the latest coverage.