Outlast

Outlast is a series of survival horror computer games developed by the independent Canadian studio Red Barrels. Most games in the Outlast series are single-player survival horror experiences with a first-person perspective. Unlike many games in the genre, the player character in Outlast games is unarmed and cannot fight enemies; instead, they must run and hide from them. The primary tool at the player's disposal is a video camera with night vision mode, which allows for making recordings and navigating dark environments. The camera consumes batteries that must be found within the game world. Outlast and its expansion, Whistleblower, focus on human experiments and attempts to control the human psyche, inspired by the real-life Project MKUltra. In Outlast 2, religious themes take center stage, although they were present in the previous games as well. The games are characterized by "helplessness scenes"—moments where the player character is captured by an antagonist and subjected to some form of torture. For example, in Outlast, Dr. Trager straps the protagonist to a wheelchair and cuts off his fingers with rusty scissors. In Whistleblower, an insane patient lays the naked protagonist on a saw table with a circular saw and attempts to cut off his genitals. In Outlast 2, the protagonist is crucified.