Outlast: Complete Survival Guide

A spoiler-light guide to Red Barrels' Outlast and its Whistleblower DLC: how the camcorder and hiding work, how to handle each major threat, the route through Mount Massive Asylum, documents and recordings for 100%, and how to approach Insane mode.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the April 2014 patch (which added achievements, Insane mode and Whistleblower support). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Status note: Outlast (September 2013) is a finished single-player game. Its last significant patch, on 30 April 2014, added Insane mode (one life at the hardest difficulty), achievements, Japanese language support and support for the Whistleblower DLC, which launched on 6 May 2014. Mac and Linux versions followed on 31 March 2015 (consoles: PS4 February 2014, Xbox One June 2014, Switch February 2018). The series continued with Outlast 2 (2017) and The Outlast Trials (2024).

Quick Start

1. You can't fight. Miles Upshur has no weapons. Your options are to run, hide and avoid being seen.
2. The camcorder is your lifeline. Night vision lets you see in the dark, but it drains batteries. Only use it when you actually need to see.
3. Pick up every battery you see. They're scattered around the asylum. On higher difficulties they're rare, so don't waste them.
4. Hide in lockers and under beds. Enemies will search nearby hiding spots if they saw you go in, so break line of sight before you hide.
5. Look behind you while you run. You can look back while running to see your pursuer. Use it to judge distance, but watch where you're going.
6. Close doors behind you. Pursuers have to open or break through them, which buys you a few seconds to hide.
7. Listen closely. Footsteps, breathing and chains tell you where enemies are. Headphones really help.
8. Your health regenerates. There's no health bar. Hits leave the screen damaged, and staying out of danger lets you recover.
9. Film to complete recordings. Certain moments and scenes add notes to the camcorder when you record them. They're needed for 100% and achievements.

Core Mechanics

Using the camcorder well

• Night vision off when you can see. Plenty of areas have enough light, so save batteries.
• Zoom to spot enemies from a distance.
• Record anything interesting. When the note icon appears, a recording has been added.
• On Nightmare and Insane, battery management is the whole game. Aim to finish each area with at least one spare.

Hiding rules

• Enemies who saw you enter a hiding spot will check it. Break line of sight first by turning a corner or closing a door, then hide.
• Enemies who lost you will search nearby. Wait until you hear them leave before you move.
• Crouching in darkness often works as well as a locker, especially with night vision to watch patrols.

Main Threats

Hostile inmates chase you as soon as they see you. Run to a door or a tight gap, break line of sight, then hide. The Walrider shows up late in the game and is tied to Dr. Rudolf Wernicke's Morphogenic Engine experiments.

Area Outline (Spoiler-Light)

Miles moves through Mount Massive Asylum in roughly this order:

1. Administration Block. Getting in. The first encounters and the first taste of hiding.
2. Prison Block. Tight corridors and cell blocks. Chris Walker is a regular threat.
3. Sewers. Dark, wet, and a big battery check.
4. Male Ward. Dr. Trager's domain.
5. Courtyard. More open ground with patrolling inmates. Stay in cover.
6. Female Ward. More hiding and puzzle sections.
7. Return to Administration. The story comes together.
8. Underground Lab. The finale and the truth about the Walrider.

Most sections include an objective such as restoring power, finding a key or reaching a floor. Look for the objective note in the camcorder if you're lost.

Whistleblower DLC

Whistleblower is a prequel that follows Waylon Park, the Murkoff software engineer who sent the email that brings Miles to Mount Massive. It overlaps with and then goes past the main game's timeline.

• New threats include Frank Manera (a cannibal) and Eddie Gluskin ("The Groom").
• It's more intense and more disturbing than the main game. Expect graphic content.
• The same mechanics apply: camcorder, batteries, hiding, doors.
• Achievements: WHISTLEBLOWER (finish the DLC) and BOWELWHISTLER (finish the DLC on Insane).

Documents, Recordings and Achievements

The other achievements (ILLUMINATED, FLUSHED, SOAKED, EMANCIPATED, GAS LEAKER, SHOCKER) have hidden descriptions on Steam. Most players unlock them just by playing through the story, so they're nothing to worry about.

Finding documents and recordings

• Documents are papers lying around. Check desks, tables and side rooms.
• Recordings require you to film specific things with the camcorder when the note prompt appears. Some are easy to miss because they're only visible from certain angles or for a short time.
• Use a checklist guide per area and sweep each area before moving on. The game saves at checkpoints, so backtracking to a finished area generally isn't possible; if you miss something, plan a collectible-focused replay on Normal.

Difficulty and Insane Mode

• Normal is the intended first playthrough.
• Higher difficulties (Hard and Nightmare) make enemies more dangerous and batteries rarer.
• Insane has no checkpoints. It's one life on the hardest difficulty. Dying means starting over.

Insane tips

• Learn every chase first. Play on Nightmare until you know where each enemy appears and where the next door or gap is.
• Save batteries. Night vision only when you have to use it.
• Avoid detection rather than outrunning enemies.
• Break line of sight every time before hiding.
• Don't rush. Wait for patrols to move away.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Hiding in view of an enemy. They'll pull you out.
• Leaving night vision on. Batteries run out fast.
• Running into dead ends. Learn each area's routes.
• Ignoring sounds. Most threats announce themselves.
• Stopping to look during a chase. Look back only while moving.
• Not closing doors. They're free time.

Advanced Tips

• Cheese pursuers with loops. Some areas have circular routes. Run a lap, then hide.
• Use vents, squeeze gaps and vaults. Route through obstacles when you can. Pursuers often lose track of you or take longer to get around.
• Collect documents on a second run. The first time, focus on survival.
• Play with headphones. The audio design tells you more than the screen.
• Know when enemies can't reach you. Some areas and cutscenes are safe, and you can use them to catch your breath.

FAQ

Can you fight in Outlast? No. There are no weapons. You can only run, hide and avoid enemies.

How long is Outlast? It's a fairly short game. The DLC adds a few more hours. Replays on higher difficulties and for collectibles add more.

Do I need Whistleblower? It's strongly recommended. It adds important story context and some of the most memorable encounters in the series.

What's Insane mode? One life, no checkpoints, at the highest difficulty. It was added in the April 2014 patch.

Is Outlast 2 a sequel to Miles' story? Outlast 2 has a new story and new characters, set in Arizona. The Outlast Trials (2024) is a multiplayer prequel set during the Cold War.

How scary is it? Very. It's known for graphic violence and disturbing content. Check the content warnings before playing.

Sources

• Outlast on Steam and Red Barrels announcements (April 2014 patch, Whistleblower, Mac and Linux release)
• Outlast on Wikipedia
• Outlast Steam achievements list