You know that sort of award bait where a loveable (usually non-human) character dies in a naked attempt to pull on the audience’s heartstrings? And you know how cynical viewers usually dismiss it as cheap psychological manipulation, but occasionally a work will emerge that’s so well-formed that it manages to evoke powerful emotions regardless? The Outlast games are basically that phenomenon taken to the darkest possible extreme. They’re so relentlessly crass and horrific, predatory of some of the easiest universal fears, that they should just roll off my back as unintentional parody. Instead, they freak me the hell out. Both games now share the distinction of being the only titles to make me legitimately jump in fright (usually I just inhale sharply and recoil from the screen), and while that alone doesn’t make Outlast 2 a great game, it certainly warrants a recommendation for horror fans.

Even...