The main character in Outlast, a first-person survival horror game, is kept in the eerie, dilapidated hallways of Mount Massive Asylum, a mental health facility. The game puts players in the shoes of Miles, an investigative journalist who gets a message/tip from an anonymous source that something horrifying is happening at the asylum. Miles is armed with only a simple, basic camcorder (which, incidentally, has night vision, which is both terrifying and fantastic when you want to capture things, ROFL). Immediately as Miles (the character you are portraying) enters the building, he acknowledges he is in over his head.

Under the care of the Murkoff Corporation (from their asylum, that psychiatric hospital that you are exploring), Miles unveiled the dark history of the Murkoff Corporation as he continued to investigate and explore the blood-stained, horrific, and terrifying corridors. The Murkoff Corporation was an incredibly powerful and corrupt company that made illegal experiments on patients under its supervision. A particular experiment was the creation of the Walrider, a malevolent, ghost-like entity, through a process referred to as Project Walrider that utilizes nanotechnologies and mind-control research based on the work of a German scientist named Dr. Rudolf Wernicke, who you end up finding in an underground laboratory where it appears that he committed suicide by self-harm due to the fact that he was being tested too much.

Ultimately, Miles suffers severe injuries and can do little else but hope for survival, but unfortunately, he eventually becomes a host for the Walrider himself. In the concluding moments, as Murkoff's troops arrive, they attempt to manage the disorder caused by witnessing the events unfold. Ultimately, Walrider uses Miles' body to slaughter them, leaving the player feeling haunted, shocked, and terrified.

The reason I believe players should play this game is because the horror experience is truly outstanding. Outlast does not depend on intense combat (in which there are absolutely NO intense combat elements whatsoever). The game highlights and shows vulnerability, presenting your only choices as LITERALLY to RUN, HIDE, or DIE. This sense of helplessness increases anxiety and plunges players into a real state of fear and terror, causing them to be frightened and screaming.

The environment is overwhelmingly frightening. The employment of darkness, restricted sight, and dependence on a night-vision camcorder generates an intense feeling of claustrophobia. The audio design—spanning from far-off cries to abrupt bangs—maintains tension consistently. The music, in my opinion, makes it 10x worse because the music makes you panic.

The story unfolds slowly through discovered documents, subtle visual hints, and haunting voice performances. The story doesn’t provide easy answers—players have to assemble the truth themselves, enhancing the mystery and encouraging exploration. Individuals like Chris Walker (the enormous, formerly intimidating ex-military Variant) and the unnaturally courteous Twin siblings are deeply unsettling. Their chase sequences and bizarre designs are LITERALLY unforgettable. These foes are not simply monsters; they're mournful leftovers of Murkoff’s cruelty. The camcorder (that the player has) has a mechanic that not only enhances gameplay but also strengthens the narrative. Each frightening instant is captured, transforming the game into a mock found footage movie. It blurs the distinction between player and protagonist, rendering the horror more intimate.