Last Updated on 19 November, 2025
You have decided to play Outlast. You now step into the shoes of Miles Upshur. Miles works as an investigative reporter. He possesses a brave spirit, or perhaps he just lacks common sense. He enters the game armed with the most powerful weapon known to man. You might guess a gun or a knife. You would be wrong. He carries a camera. In the grand scheme of survival, nothing screams “Help!” quite like zooming in on your impending doom. This guide teaches you how to survive. It will also help you avoid excessive screaming or crying as you make your way through the game.
Table of Contents
- 1. Setting the Scene: Mount Massive Asylum
- 2. Controls: How to Function While Panicking
- 3. Survival Tip #1: Batteries Are Your New Best Friend
- 4. Meet the Locals: Who Wants to Kill You?
- 5. Hiding Spots: It Is Not Cowardice, It Is Strategy
- 6. Survival Tip #2: When In Doubt, Scream
- 7. Progressing the Story: Why You Want to Suffer More
- 8. The Ending: You Did It, But Also You Didn’t
- 9. Final Thoughts: Therapy Not Included
Setting the Scene: Mount Massive Asylum
Welcome to Mount Massive Asylum. The name sounds like a nice place. You might imagine a wellness retreat. Perhaps you picture an old folks’ home complete with bingo nights. You would be wrong. The reality resembles your worst nightmare wrapped in barbed wire. The establishment serves this nightmare with a side of trauma.
You must complete a checklist before you enter. First, make sure you lace your running shoes tight. You will sprint often. Second, double-check your camera batteries. They drain faster than your enthusiasm after you enter the asylum. Finally, take a deep breath. Enjoy the fresh air while you can. Inside the building, the air mostly smells like fear. It also smells like unwashed lunatics.
Controls: How to Function While Panicking
Outlast kindly provides you with basic controls. Do not get too comfortable. You will not fight your way out of any situation here. This game exists strictly as run-and-hide territory.
WASD / Left Stick
Use these inputs to move your soon-to-be-doomed self around the environment.
Shift / Left Bumper (Sprint)
Use this to sprint. You will do this more often than you would like to admit. Think of sprinting as your only method of self-defense.
Ctrl / Crouch Button
Use this button to sneak around like a terrified raccoon searching for safety. This function proves good for hiding under beds. You can also use it to hide inside lockers. It helps you pretend you did not see whatever just jumped out at you.
Camera Button
Whip out your camera with this control. Shaky night vision proves very helpful when you find yourself alone in the dark. Also, remember your role as a journalist. Documenting your fear ranks higher in importance than actual survival.
Survival Tip #1: Batteries Are Your New Best Friend
Your camera’s night vision acts as your lifeline in Outlast. However, batteries power this feature. The game scatters these batteries around the asylum like rare Pokémon. They usually hide in inconvenient places. You will often find them in the very room you do not want to enter.
Watch your screen closely. When it starts flickering, take it as a sign. It means you are about to die. Alternatively, it means you ran out of battery power. We do not know which option is worse.
Battery Management 101
Follow these rules for success. Do not use night vision unless you literally trip over corpses in the dark. When you feel doubt, reload your battery. Do not let the game catch you in the dark while you fumble with the “reload battery” button. You do not want to look like it is your first day on Earth.
Meet the Locals: Who Wants to Kill You?
This place contains many charming individuals. They possess distinct personalities. One common goal unites them. They all want to kill you. Here are a few faces you will meet.
Chris Walker
Chris Walker resembles a gentle giant. He looks like he bench-presses school buses for fun. His hobbies differ from yours. He enjoys breaking down doors. He also likes ripping off heads. You might hear the phrase “Little Pig.” If you hear this, do not think you are suddenly in Charlotte’s Web. You are about to die.
The Twins
Imagine what is worse than one creepy, naked guy with a machete. The answer is two creepy, naked guys with machetes. These twins want to kill you. They also want to eat your liver. Consider them the welcoming committee for Outlast.
Dr. Trager
You will find Dr. Trager to be the friendliest face you meet. He offers free “surgeries.” He loves to perform impromptu amputations. His bedside manner is nonexistent. Your chances of survival around him remain slim.
Father Martin
Father Martin looks like the one guy who could potentially help you. However, he will not help. He stays too busy preaching cryptic messages. He seems nice at first. Then you realize his grand plan involves you going deeper into this asylum.
Hiding Spots: It Is Not Cowardice, It Is Strategy
Fighting back is not an option in Outlast. You will not throw hands. Instead, you will throw yourself into lockers. You will dive under beds and squeeze into dark corners. You must be strategic about your hiding places. Chris Walker will gladly rip you out of a locker like a sock from a drawer if you act too predictably.
Here is a ranking of hiding spots. The scale ranges from “Maybe I’ll Survive” to “Oh No, I’m Dead.”
Lockers
This represents the classic choice. Every scared gamer runs here. Just make sure you pick a good one.
Under Beds
This strategy works. However, try to hold your breath. Screaming while under a bed defeats the purpose of hiding.
Crouching Behind Furniture
Okay, now you are just desperate.
Survival Tip #2: When In Doubt, Scream
We do not say that screaming will actually help you survive. However, it might make you feel a little better. Furthermore, no one in the asylum will hear your real-life cries over their maniacal laughter anyway. Look on the bright side. Your screaming could scare off your cat. It might even impress your neighbors with your lung capacity.
Progressing the Story: Why You Want to Suffer More
The game rewards you every time you accomplish an objective. You guessed it. The reward is more horror. If a door looks important, it is locked. If a hallway looks inviting, it is a trap. Perhaps you must squeeze through a narrow passage. You can bet something horrible waits for you on the other side.
Always make an assumption. Assume that pressing a button triggers something, flipping a switch summons someone and picking up an item attracts attention. Someone wants to chase you down like you stole their lunch money.
The Ending: You Did It, But Also You Didn’t
We will not spoil too much. Reaching the end of Outlast feels like finishing a marathon. Imagine a marathon where the finish line is on fire. The track consists of nightmares. The prize is not great. You will be alive. However, you might not feel too good about it.
Final Thoughts: Therapy Not Included
You have reached the credits. Consider this a victory. However, the game likely left a mark on your psyche. You might sit under your desk in shock right now. Alternatively, you might feel brave enough to start the Whistleblower DLC immediately. This choice suggests you lack a survival instinct. The horror does not truly end here. The asylum always holds more secrets. Dark corners always hide more threats. Maintain your night vision. Keep your running shoes tight. You will face the darkness again soon.
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