Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Yudt
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Survivalists play dirty in cutthroat reality competition.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Outlast
What's the Story?
OUTLAST drops 16 strangers in the remote Alaskan wilderness, where they must survive the elements to win up to $1 million. But these "lone wolves" don't compete as individuals: They split up into teams, set up separate camps, and try to work together to make it to the end. No one gets voted out. Instead, players leave the game if they decide to send up a rescue flare and quit or if they're stranded without a team. With meager resources, the players put their survival skills to the test by constructing shelters, hunting for food, and building fires to fight off freezing temperatures. Meanwhile, they strategize about how to strengthen their teams and weaken others, even if that means resorting to stealing and sabotage.
Is It Any Good?
If cutthroat strategy is your flavor of reality TV, this intense competition series provides plenty of conflict, betrayal, and clever manipulation. Although some players form genuine bonds, the "no rules" Outlast twist encourages villains to thrive. The show's stunning but dangerous setting offers a different kind of drama. Even players with exceptional survival skills crumble under the harsh conditions, and predicting who will or won't make it keeps the suspense high. Outlast borrows heavily from the classic reality show Survivor, including a nod to its tagline: "Outwit. Outplay. Outlast." Fans of that series will likely enjoy this chilly update.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lack of rules in Outlast. Is it OK to steal or lie to win if it's not against the rules of the game?
If you were on this show, what kind of people would you want on your team? What qualities make someone a good teammate?
Why do you think people become survivalists? What can we learn from shows about living in the wilderness?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 9, 2023
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Adventures , STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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