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Choose Outlast 2 for a focused, solo story about investigative journalists Blake and Lynn Langermann. Choose The Outlast Trials if you want a succession of Murkoff experiments that you can tackle alone or online with other players. The key difference is format: one is a particular investigation; the other is a repeatable, program-based horror experience.
How the two games are structured
Outlast 2: one investigation
Outlast 2 follows cameraman Blake Langermann and his wife Lynn, both investigative journalists. Their investigation into the apparent murder of a pregnant woman known as Jane Doe takes Blake into the Arizona desert. The story is built around Blake’s struggle and a specific chain of events, rather than a sequence of player-created trials. Red Barrels’ official game page lists the game’s release date as April 25, 2017.
The Outlast Trials: Murkoff’s experiments
The Outlast Trials puts players in a Cold War-era Murkoff facility, where test subjects face physical and mental ordeals. Red Barrels describes its structure as programs of trials, with character progression and a narrative introduction. In a 2021 interview, Red Barrels co-founder Philippe Morin put the distinction this way: “If the previous games could be compared to movies, The Outlast Trials is more like a TV Series.” That is a useful description of the games’ formats, not a claim that one has a better story.
The trial-based format also allows the developer to add new content over time. For example, a July 2024 update introduced a new story trial, map, Rig, difficulty settings, tasks, and Escalation Therapy variations. Those are examples of the game’s update approach at that time, not a complete description of its current content. The PlayStation Blog’s Project Lupara article describes that update.
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Can you play alone or with friends?
The Outlast Trials can be played alone or in teams of up to four, according to Red Barrels’ Early Access announcement. Its console store listings add platform-specific details: PlayStation lists online play as required and up to four online players; Xbox lists online co-op for two to four players. The sources establish that solo play is an option, but do not compare its quality with co-op.
On Xbox consoles, online multiplayer requires a separately sold Game Pass Essential, Premium, or Ultimate subscription, according to the Xbox Store listing. Requirements can differ by platform and region, so check the listing for the version you plan to play. The cited sources do not establish a multiplayer mode for Outlast 2.
Which game fits your preferences?
| Your priority | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A single protagonist-led investigation | Outlast 2 | Its official premise centers on Blake’s investigation and the Arizona setting. |
| Online cooperative horror | The Outlast Trials | Red Barrels describes teams of up to four, and console listings specify online play. |
| A TV-series-like succession of challenges | The Outlast Trials | Red Barrels explicitly contrasted its program structure with the earlier games’ movie-like form. |
| A story option with fewer enemy encounters | Outlast 2 in Story Mode | Red Barrels says the mode reduces encounters and challenges to give players more breathing room with Blake’s story. |
| Avoiding an online console subscription requirement | Check your platform and mode | Xbox specifies a separately sold subscription for console online multiplayer; confirm current requirements on your store page. |
These are format-based recommendations, not a measured ranking of which game is scarier or better. No comparative scare test is established by the cited sources.
Does Outlast 2 have an easier story mode?
Yes. In its March 27, 2018 announcement, Red Barrels described Story Mode as having fewer enemy encounters, minimal challenges, and more room to experience Blake’s struggle. The developer said it was available on all platforms. This is the developer’s description of the mode, not a measured difficulty comparison.
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Red Barrels announced digital Outlast 2 availability for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in 2017. Its official page also records a limited physical Nintendo Switch edition made available in October 2018; that historical release does not establish current retailer stock. The reviewed console listings for The Outlast Trials cover PS4 and PS5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, with a March 5, 2024 release date. Store availability and edition details can change.
The reviewed PlayStation and Xbox listings for The Outlast Trials include violence and gore descriptors, along with sexual-content descriptors. Check the rating and content information on your local storefront for the version you intend to buy, since listings and ratings can vary by region.
Quick Recap
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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.
