Hallucinatory Therapy Amplifies the Worst Outlast Has to Offer
Indie horror developers Red Barrels have treated fans of The Outlast Trials to a chilling Halloween surprise with their limited-time event, PROGRAM GEISTER. The update adds fresh horrors and unique rewards as players are thrown into new, terrifying trials where hallucinations, confusion, and imposters push cooperative horror to its limits. The event, which began on October 29, runs through two distinct parts, with Part 1 ending on November 12 and Part 2 starting immediately after, concluding on November 26.
If you’re eager to experience new scares and earn exclusive in-game rewards, now is the perfect time to dive back into The Outlast Trials, especially with the game currently discounted by 33% across major platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox.
PROGRAM GEISTER: Halloween-Themed Terror, Evolved
PROGRAM GEISTER is designed to inject even more tension and fear into The Outlast Trials’ immersive world of survival horror. In this new mode, the sinister Murkoff Corporation—infamous for mind-control experiments based on real-life brainwashing tests from 1950s Montréal—has introduced fresh “therapies” to test on the facility’s unfortunate inhabitants. These therapies involve increasingly hallucinatory states, designed to confuse and disorient players even as they navigate life-threatening trials. From violent imposters who mimic teammates to enemies set on high alert, every moment of PROGRAM GEISTER is a heightened nightmare.
Here’s a rundown of the new features players will encounter in PROGRAM GEISTER:
- New Tasks and Rewards: Players must complete challenges divided into two parts, each offering Event Tokens, Stamps, and a random Geister item. Progressing through Part 1 unlocks Part 2, which brings tougher obstacles and more exclusive loot.
- MK-Challenge: Eliminate the Past: This new objective has players frantically shredding documents that reveal Murkoff’s dark history. These documents are vital to escape but guarded by hostile forces, forcing players into intense sequences.
- Enhanced Jumpscares: As players’ sanity declines, they’ll have more frequent, harrowing encounters with the infamous Skinner Man, who appears at just the wrong moment, amping up the psychological dread.
- Sleep Room Minigame: For a brief respite from the horror, Murkoff offers “Tennis,” the first digital video game they designed, exclusively available to PROGRAM GEISTER participants.
- New Event Cosmetics: With event currency earned during PROGRAM GEISTER, players can unlock unique cosmetics for their characters and the Sleep Room—adding even more customization options for those brave enough to participate.
New Trial Variants: Enhanced Horrors and Hallucinations
PROGRAM GEISTER also introduces unique variations to existing trials, bringing fresh challenges that change the dynamics of survival within the game.
- EXTRACT ORGAN SAMPLES: Players now need to locate deceased Reagents to harvest organ samples, but this macabre task comes with more deadly encounters and limited time.
- HALLUCINATIONS: As Murkoff’s therapy takes hold, players experience terrifying visions. Are they just side effects, or something far worse? These hallucinations blur the line between real threats and imagined fears, making players second-guess every shadow.
- MORE IMPOSTERS: PROGRAM GEISTER includes a new twist with more imposters who mimic teammates’ appearances and nameplates, heightening mistrust among friends. These enemies blend in with the group, attacking when players least expect it.
- NO PLAYER NAMES: In the more challenging “Intensive” and “Psychosurgery” modes, player names are hidden, making imposters harder to detect and creating moments of heart-pounding confusion.
- ENRAGED ENEMIES: Enemies are on heightened alert in Intensive and Psychosurgery trials, which means players must use every stealth tactic and communication skill to avoid detection.
With these variations, PROGRAM GEISTER proves itself as one of The Outlast Trials’ most formidable updates, pushing players to rely on teamwork while facing amplified tension, unique hallucinations, and unpredictable encounters.
Limited-Time Rewards and the New “GEISTER” Event Catalog
Through the PROGRAM GEISTER event, The Outlast Trials introduces an array of collectible rewards that give players new ways to customize their characters and living quarters. By participating in PROGRAM GEISTER tasks, players earn Event Tokens and Stamps, which can be spent in the exclusive “GEISTER” Event Catalog. This new catalog includes cosmetic items for characters and upgrades for the Sleep Room, providing stylish (and eerie) ways to personalize their in-game experience. Given the popularity of cosmetics and DLC items in the gaming world, many fans are excited about the prospect of more DLC content from Red Barrels in future updates, offering even greater character customization options.
About The Outlast Trials: A Unique Survival Horror Experience
For those unfamiliar with The Outlast Trials, it’s the latest entry in Red Barrels’ critically acclaimed horror series, adding a fresh cooperative twist. Set in 1959 during the Cold War, players take on the role of involuntary participants in Murkoff’s brutal experiments, undergoing nightmare-inducing trials in an underground facility. Team up with up to three friends, solving escape room-style puzzles while evading deadly threats in a horrifying atmosphere of psychological dread.
The Outlast Trials combines elements of survival horror and online co-op, setting it apart from other horror games. By blending team-based mechanics with stealth and escape-room elements, players must work together under pressure, especially with PROGRAM GEISTER adding new dynamics that will test any team’s cohesion and resolve.
Final Thoughts on PROGRAM GEISTER
PROGRAM GEISTER is a thrilling addition to The Outlast Trials, bringing players deeper into the immersive and terrifying world of Murkoff’s experiments. From added jumpscares and hallucinations to imposters and exclusive rewards, it’s the perfect Halloween event for those who relish a good scare. With Red Barrels continuing to provide engaging new content, we’re optimistic about what the future holds for The Outlast Trials—and wouldn’t be surprised if more limited-time events, cosmetics, and DLC make their way to the game soon.
Whether you’re new to The Outlast Trials or a seasoned survivor, now is the time to dive into PROGRAM GEISTER, experience the terror, and earn rewards before the event ends.