The Outlast Trials drops huge free update and gets 60% off Steam sale

The Outlast Trials is a co-op horror game you owe it to yourself to try. Boasting a 93% Steam user score from more than 57,000 reviews, it's a beloved prequel to some of scariest, nastiest videogames around. Like the earlier Outlast entries, you've got to creep around dilapidated buildings, complete objectives, and avoid bloodthirsty killers. There is a twist, though: you can play The Outlast Trails either solo or in a group. Developer Red Barrels has also been generous with free updates, giving you new monsters to face and tests to overcome. Now's the ideal time to give it a try, too, with the latest season launching alongside a steep 60% off sale.

It's the height of the Cold War, and a shady megacorp known as the Murkoff Corporation is in the middle of trials that'd put MKUltra to shame. As one of many prisoners inside the company's secret facility, you're forced to help test its myriad methods of mind control. It just so happens that these trials also involve murderous failed test subjects, and they don't play nice. Though if they did, this one probably wouldn't have found its way onto our best horror games list. Either alone or with friends, your only hope of survival is to complete any challenge The Outlast Trials throws at you.

Now that Season 4: Project Diarchy has arrived, you've got a lot to sink your teeth into. The Shopping Mall is a new trial environment combining blood-soaked hallways with old, rundown stores. The walls are even lined with creepy cardboard people and mannequins, meaning you'll always do a double-take when you see a shadowy figure.

The mall is also home to the game's newest adversary. Otto and Arora Kress combine two deranged killers into one, and that means they pack double the punch. The twins are fused together, giving them a distinct 360-degree advantage over any situation.

The new season also comes with another story trial, which are the game's more focused activities that give you lore on Murkoff. The latest is called 'Kill the Politician,' which Red Barrels says tasks you with the "noble goals of civic duty." You also have two extra MK-challenges, which remix how you play the Shopping Mall map with different starting points and objectives.

To round out Project Diarchy, Red Barrels has revamped the Rebirth system. This is essentially The Outlast Trials' version of a prestige mechanic, which gives you one of the game's endings whenever you complete it. The Rebirth system will now offer you two different paths: original Rebirth for solo players, and Communal Rebirth for co-op play.

The new Rebirth drops you into a random trial with three unique Variators, which all add an extra layer of challenge. Mirror Variators shift the perspective of all trials, Rebirth Variators give you two secondary objectives on top of the regular trial, and Classified Variators are completely randomized.

The Outlast Trials Season 4: Project Diarchy is live right now. You can also snag the game at 60% off until Monday July 21, so expect to pay $15.99 / £13.40 until then. Just head here.

We've also got list of all the best co-op games and multiplayer games if you fancy getting spooked with friends.

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