Outlast 2 is a first-person psychological horror game developed and published by Red Barrels, and it serves as the sequel to the critically acclaimed Outlast. Released in April 2017, the game takes players on a terrifying journey through a remote desert in Arizona, following investigative journalist Blake Langermann and his wife Lynn as they uncover the disturbing secrets of a religious cult. The game builds on the elements that made the original Outlast so successful—intense atmosphere, limited combat options, and a narrative steeped in insanity—while expanding its scope, visuals, and complexity.
In Outlast 2, players assume the role of Blake Langermann, a cameraman who is working with his wife Lynn on investigating the mysterious murder of a pregnant woman known only as Jane Doe. Their journey takes them via helicopter to a remote region in Arizona, but things quickly spiral into chaos when their chopper crashes under mysterious circumstances. Blake awakens alone, injured, and with his camera as his only tool. From there, he begins his frantic search for Lynn in an environment that’s as disorienting as it is hostile.
Unlike the Mount Massive Asylum setting of the first game, Outlast 2 takes place in a sprawling, rural environment. This change in scenery is both visually striking and thematically significant. The game's setting feels vast and open yet claustrophobic, thanks to narrow mountain paths, dense forests, dark caves, and decrepit buildings. This creates a haunting atmosphere of isolation and vulnerability. The contrast between wide outdoor areas and cramped indoor spaces is used brilliantly to evoke dread and unpredictability.
One of the most chilling aspects of the game is its religious undertone. The primary antagonists are members of a doomsday cult led by the self-proclaimed prophet Sullivan Knoth. Knoth's followers believe that the end of days is near and are convinced that Lynn is pregnant with the Antichrist. This belief sets off a chain of events marked by ritualistic violence, torture, and madness. The cult itself is fractured, with rival sects and splinter groups, adding layers of complexity to the conflict. Blake's journey through this cult-ridden landscape becomes not just a rescue mission, but a descent into a nightmare fueled by fanaticism and paranoia.
