Outlast

Insane mode is difficult because there are no saves or checkpoints available. If you die it’s back to the beginning to do it all over again. Luckily the game isn’t all that long and there are only a few tricky parts that are not so tricky once you know what to do. For this reason I strongly recommend leaving your insane playthrough for a second or third run. Reason being is knowing where to go and what to do makes this achievement considerably easier. 

Insane also limits your battery capacity (not an issue if you are also going for "ENERGIZER") and enemies will react to you quicker and more often. If there are any parts of the game you found difficult on your first playthrough then I strongly suggest using chapter select to practise and get a feel for those areas before attempting them on insane. 

There are a few tricks that may save your life or at least give you some breathing room. Tight spaces like crawl holes and thin sections you need to squeeze through protect you from being chased as enemies can’t follow you. However, just be sure not to get too close as enemies can reach in and kill you. Also remember that you can always run faster than enemies so if you came face to face, run. While running, always close doors behind you as this can buy you extra seconds and is useful when you run into a room to hide because if an enemy sees you hide they will still kill you. Another trick to keep in mind is that most areas that are either open or have multiple doors leading into them can be used to lure an enemy in, maneuverer around them and then double back. 

Above all else, take your time. Unless you are in a situation where you need to run to survive like the medical bay before the doctor or the underground section, you can move at your own speed. Even if you are in a room with enemies, hide and plan your approach. There will be nothing more frustrating than thinking you will risk a move only to die. Enemies like the big enemy and the Doctor make plenty of noise as they move around so listen to where they are if you can’t directly see them.

The following are sections which may prove difficult:

*NOTE*: These ways are not the only way to make it through alive, so if a solution works better for you then stick with it.

Restoring Power in the Basement - The trick here is to wait until the enemy is patrolling the main room before going after the breaker. Once you hit the breaker either wait until he checks out the room and leaves or try and make it past him in the hallway. If you do get caught out you can try and run past him in one of the rooms, make it back to the main switch and then to the exit. You may get hit once and as long as you don’t get yourself trapped you will survive as it will take two hits to bring you down.

Follow the Blood – After opening the door to the security room, run all the way back down the hall to an area with some holding cells and lockers. Hide in the locker (be sure to shut the door to the room) and wait until the enemy leaves the room. He will leave the section and allow you to head to the security room to hit the switch. After this, the second enemy who was standing in the blood soaked room you pass will come for you. Hide in one of the lockers and when he's not between you and the door, run. 

The Two Brothers – This isn’t all that tricky but if you take too long you will instantly die. Once you enter the door to the shower block you will begin down a corridor near some broken windows. Obviously the path is to jump out the window but if you take too long to do this you will die.

Pile of Bodies – Once you are blown out the window from the explosion and are back on your feet, hide under the bed in one of the rooms and wait for the enemy to move past you. Once he’s moved on, make a run up the stairs and around the outside of the prison block. At the top level be sure to turn left and through the tight gap otherwise going straight ahead will trap you. 

Drain the Water – This part isn’t too bad because you can always run back to the start and squeeze in the gap as the enemy won’t follow you. The enemy seems to always take the path to the left when he is patrolling so this will allow you to drain the pipe on the right. If by chance you are spotted going down this path, run into the pump room, close the door and either hide in the lockers or in the corner of the far side of the room.

From here follow the enemy without alerting him to the second pump and when he turns left near the crawl space in front of you, go through it and then through the tight gap to your right. On your way back, again be quiet and move slowly. You should be able to hear if he’s close because the chains he’s wearing will rattle. If you are spotted, either run back to the safety of the tight gap or if you can, run to the newly drained hole and climb the ladder.

Flooded Room – The easiest way to avoid dying here is to stick to the outside of the room while moving left towards the light coming from the hole in the ceiling. You should be able to climb on the broken walkway and then turn around to jump to the ladder before the enemy gets close. 

The Doctor – This section is tricky but you have plenty of places to hide if you are spotted. 

The tricky part comes with having to move the two trolleys out of the way of the door. When you first climb through the ceiling vent and drop down, quickly run to your left and move the first trolley out of the way to avoid moving it later. With the second trolley you need to time your movements with the doctor’s. When he walks down the corridor towards the trolley you previously moved that’s when you have enough time to move the second trolley out of the way. Once you have the key hide under one of the beds in the open room you previously passed through. Once you have a clear shot to the door, run back to the security room and through the door the Doctor broke through, then back to the elevator. 

The Sprinklers – There is only the one big enemy here but you have one tight gap you can always take cover in if you are spotted. Once you first enter this room head right and activate the first pump. The enemy will enter the room with the clothes bins but if you stay in the lockers at the end of the room you will be safe and he will turn around and walk back out. Getting to the second pump isn’t too difficult as you can always circle around the middle room and take cover in the tight gap. Getting back is a little difficult as you need to time your movements with the enemy’s so you aren’t spotted. Just move slow and if in doubt wait or backtrack to the safety of the gap.

Outside Area 1 – After heading through the outside area for a while you will enter a large open area with a big enemy patrolling the grounds. You should be able to hear him from the chains that rattle. The easier thing here is to hug the walls to your left and then make a run for the stacked pallets. Again this is a case of practise makes perfect so if you are unsure of where to go I strongly recommend a few practise runs first. 

Outside Area 2 – The next enemy you encounter will be near a gazebo at the end of a long narrow section which leads back into the asylum. The easiest way to avoid death hear is to be spotted so you are chased, run back to the gazebo and circle round making sure you are followed, then double back to the exit.

The Fuses – This part is probably one of the hardest as it does take a certain degree of luck. There are three rooms, each one containing a fuse which you need to visit. One room contains an enemy who will not react until you pick up the fuse. Leave this room for last. If you are following the roadmap and leaving your insane playthrough for a later playthrough then you will already know the rooms and the layout. Luckily the first enemy you encounter will take two hits to kill you so you do have some breathing room if you mess up, but you still need to be careful. The best approach is to hide after grabbing the first fuse then sneak past the enemy and back into the main room where you need to insert the fuses. from here go to the second room and then to the third room with the enemy waiting in it in one go. 

From there you can run back to the main room with the locked door and if you are being chased, continue on to the stairwell. Running back to the stairwell is something of a safe zone as the enemies won’t chase you past a certain point. It is also worth noting that if you are being chased into one of the fuse rooms, if you close the door behind you, you have enough time to move the trolleys in front of the door and ensure the enemy doesn’t follow you in.

Two Enemies from the Prison Block – Once you reach the top floor you will make your way to a double set of doors and they will open to reveal the two machete wielding enemies from earlier. Before you reach the double doors however, on the right hand side of this area there are another set of double doors near the room with the candles. If you open the door to the right only and then trigger the enemies, you can back track to these doors. The enemy who goes down this path will try and open the door on the left (his right) when he triggers the opening animation you can run straight by him. 

Dropped Camera – This part relies on you knowing where to go so learn the path and as soon as you grab the camera retrace your steps. 

Long Hallway – As you make your way back to the admin area you will find yourself in a long corridor and the big enemy at the far end knocking down a door. You need to quickly run until you see the door on your left that is slightly open. Head through and into the vent.

Cinema – After grabbing the key, the double doors will open to reveal an enemy. Simply hang back and move around him. There is plenty of room in this area to get past him.

Underground Area – This is mostly a case of running flat out and knowing where you’re going. The only areas that may prove tricky are after turning the life support valve, but as long as you keep running you will be fine. The other is the upper levels where you need to disable the electrics. The jump will kill you if you jump too early plus there is a tunnel that is in darkness and has obstacles in it. Be sure to not get caught on them as this will allow the wallrider to catch you.