A Way Out

A game that takes what came before and redefines what is possible in co-operative storytelling, with a level of detail and polish far beyond what could be expected of a small team.

83%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, stability

88% User Score Based on 32,902 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 40 reviews

Platforms

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About

A Way Out is a single player and multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by Hazelight Studios and was released on June 18, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In "A Way Out" , play as either Leo or Vincent, two prisoners who must work together to escape from prison in this exclusively co-op adventure. Experience a unique, emotional story that can only be played with two players, as you navigate through a thrilling escape and beyond. Choose between Leo, the hardened inmate, or Vincent, the determined newcomer, and see how their reluctant alliance unfolds.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 32,902 reviews

story6.2k positive mentions

replayability74 negative mentions

story
10,810 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The story of "A Way Out" is widely praised for its cinematic quality and emotional depth, following the intertwined journeys of two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, as they escape and seek revenge. While many players appreciate the engaging narrative and unexpected plot twists, some criticize the linearity and predictability of the story, noting that choices often lack significant impact on the outcome. Overall, the game is recognized as a unique co-op experience that effectively combines storytelling with gameplay, making it a memorable adventure for players.
- “This game has a lot of cool cinematic shots and provides a rich backstory and depth for the characters.”
- “The story is gripping, with moments of action, stealth, and emotional scenes.”
- “A way out is a brilliant co-op experience with an emotional story at its core.”
- “The story devolves into a generic lackluster revenge arc with zero depth and two unsatisfying endings.”
- “The plot twist near the end makes no sense at all.”
- “The story is ridiculous & full of plot holes.”
gameplay
3,894 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The gameplay of "A Way Out" is characterized by its unique cooperative mechanics, requiring players to work together through a variety of tasks, including quick-time events, stealth, and action sequences. While many players appreciate the engaging story and emotional depth, they often note that the gameplay can feel simplistic, linear, and heavily reliant on cutscenes, with some describing it as more of an interactive movie than a traditional game. Overall, the experience is enhanced by the split-screen format, which allows for simultaneous perspectives, but the limited gameplay duration and repetitive mechanics have led to mixed reviews regarding its replay value and overall challenge.
- “The split-screen gameplay is clever, letting each player experience different perspectives.”
- “The cooperative gameplay challenges you to navigate difficult areas and solve puzzles together, which delivers an experience that's both thrilling and rewarding.”
- “The unique requirement for teamwork to progress the narrative not only enhances the gameplay but also deepens the bond between players.”
- “The gameplay is clunky and feels lacking in almost all ways.”
- “There is very little actual gameplay.”
- “The prison break that I thought was gonna be the majority of the game is barely an hour of gameplay.”
graphics
1,430 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The graphics of "A Way Out" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the game's stunning visuals and attention to detail, particularly in character models and environments. While some noted that the graphics may feel dated compared to newer titles, they still contribute to an immersive storytelling experience. Overall, the game's graphics are generally considered good, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative, despite some criticisms regarding occasional inconsistencies and performance issues.
- “This game is amazing, from the gameplay to the story and the graphics, it is a masterpiece. This game rivals Red Dead Redemption 2 with its story and gameplay.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics, combined with the strong voice acting, creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you into the world of Leo and Vincent.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the story draws you in like nothing else.”
- “Horrible graphics, terrible mechanics, boring plot and unskippable cutscenes really make this game painful to play.”
- “But the graphics are too old... this game is too slow for me.”
- “The graphics are awful, the animations are awful, and the choices you make don't matter until the very end with a dumb plot twist.”
emotional
1,316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "A Way Out" is widely praised, with many players reporting that the game made them cry, particularly due to its gripping narrative and unexpected plot twists. The cooperative gameplay enhances the emotional experience, as players form strong connections with the characters and each other, leading to a deeply immersive journey filled with moments of both joy and heartbreak. Overall, the game is recognized as a powerful emotional rollercoaster that resonates with players long after they finish it.
- “A way out is a brilliant co-op experience with an emotional story at its core.”
- “The game excels in its storytelling and emotional depth.”
- “The emotional depth of 'a way out' is evident from the outset, as it explores themes of betrayal, redemption, and the complexities of human relationships.”
- “Boring story, extremely linear gameplay with predictable dialogues incorporating every single prison break cliché and a cringe plot twist.”
- “Boring story and there is no 'gameplay'.”
- “2/10 pretty bad game voice acting, not so good gameplay, boring storyline, and some bugs here and there with audio and visuals.”
humor
584 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "A Way Out" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting its blend of intentional and unintentional comedy. Many reviews praise the game's funny dialogue, quirky character interactions, and amusing mini-games, which create memorable moments of laughter, especially when played with friends. While the narrative can be serious, the humor often shines through, making it a fun and engaging co-op experience that balances heartfelt moments with lighthearted antics.
- “Unintentional comedy: sure, it's a gritty prison break, but there's something hilarious about failing the same co-op task over and over.”
- “It’s heartfelt, it’s hilarious, and it’s full of moments where you’ll either be screaming in frustration or laughing so hard you’ll fail the mission.”
- “The dialogue is sharp, often humorous, and sometimes deeply touching, providing a rich narrative experience that is rarely seen in cooperative games.”
- “This game is so bad that it's good. The story is ultra predictable, but to a point where you don't know what's coming next because your mind refuses to believe that things will be as obvious as they end up being. I don't think it's supposed to be funny, but my friend and I were laughing the whole time we played due to the dumb stuff your characters are saying.”
replayability
350 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
60%
21%
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many players noting that while it offers a compelling story and some decision-making, the impact of choices is minimal and the experience is largely linear. Most reviews suggest that it can be enjoyed once or twice, particularly with different friends, but the short playtime (around 6 hours) and lack of significant variations in outcomes reduce the incentive for multiple playthroughs. Many recommend waiting for a sale due to its brief duration and limited replay value.
- “The variety of gameplay challenges and scenarios keeps the experience fresh and engaging, making 'A Way Out' highly replayable, especially with different partners.”
- “With mandatory collaboration, intense action, and replayable choices, it stands as a standout title in the action-adventure genre.”
- “Overall the game has great replayability, since it gives you important choices that affect the story (sort of like Heavy Rain), and there's also the achievements.”
- “Limited replayability: once you've unraveled the narrative twists, there's not much incentive for a second playthrough.”
- “The biggest issue I have is a lack of replay value and a sense that the choices you are presented with don't affect the story in a meaningful way.”
- “Overall a decent playthrough with a friend if you catch it on discount, but I wouldn't recommend at full price as it's only like 6 hours to play through and offers little replay value.”
music
342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the emotional depth and cinematic experience of the story. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is well-composed and complements the game's atmosphere, although some found it less memorable or repetitive at times. Overall, the music is considered a significant aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive storytelling and character development.
- “This emotional resonance is further amplified by the game's stunning visuals, immersive soundtrack, and impeccable voice acting, which bring the characters and their world to life in a truly captivating manner.”
- “The music is well-suited to the game's tone, effectively setting the mood for each scene and enhancing the overall cinematic experience.”
- “Furthermore, the soundtrack deserves special mention, as it masterfully complements the game's emotional highs and lows, adding depth to the storytelling.”
- “Soundtrack sounds average, nothing too distinguishable, helps pulling your heart strings during scenes.”
- “Especially since the big action part at the end of the game has no epic soundtrack to go with it, no thumping action-thriller theme, just generic ambient 'easy listening' background music, this was a little jarring, at least to me.”
- “Only half-decent takeaway from the game was the music... the little that there was.”
stability
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and connectivity issues, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users experienced smooth gameplay, others faced significant troubleshooting challenges, including crashes and unresponsive controls. Overall, the game's technical issues detract from the experience, but it remains enjoyable for those willing to navigate the problems.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “The visuals are great, the game looks awesome and runs great as well.”
- “I played it with someone who has it, runs great.”
- “Just spent hours troubleshooting it without success.”
- “When you're not stuck on loading screens, the lackluster gameplay and technical glitches make any potential fun vanish.”
- “Game is buggy; you get to a scene where you get bit by a dog and tap 'E' to escape, and it just does not allow escape. Tried multiple ways, troubleshot, game reset, PC reset. Good game but did not let me advance.”
grinding
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
66%
32%
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that grinding in the game is excessive and often tedious, with many players feeling it requires a significant time investment, likening it to needing "a second life." While some mention that the game avoids wasting time on grinding or boring dialogues, others find the gameplay mechanics and tasks repetitive and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are enjoyable elements, the grinding aspect can be a major drawback for many players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “Frustratingly, almost every part of the storyline that would have been interesting to play is glossed over, and the focus of the character-moving gameplay is almost entirely on tedious tasks.”
- “Every time you think something exciting is about to happen, it lasts for an average of 10 seconds and you are back to spectating, or 'playing' some pointless grinding slog like making friends with your useless kid, looking for sticks in the woods, or picking up bedsheets.”
- “Very tedious mechanics and all the characters act incompetently.”
character development
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, allowing players to become deeply invested in the protagonists' journeys and relationships. Many reviews highlight the well-executed backstories and character arcs, which contribute significantly to the overall narrative experience, despite some criticism regarding the ending. Overall, the game's storytelling and character interactions are considered its standout features, making it a compelling cooperative experience.
- “The character development is well-executed, and players become emotionally invested in their journey as they uncover each other's backstories and motivations.”
- “I bought this to play with my cousin and we ended up crying at the end, the character development was so good it got me and my cousin so attached to the characters.”
- “The character development is top-notch, allowing players to truly invest in the protagonists and their shared goal of escaping prison and seeking revenge.”
- “The supposed character development was completely lost on us; if there was any, we didn't pick up on it.”
- “Character development is non-existent.”
- “The transition between scenes feels like the creators thought of the set pieces first and then hastily glued them together with no regard for reasonable character development.”
optimization
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
50%
13%
The optimization of the game received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid performance and smooth gameplay, while others reported issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor multiplayer performance. Overall, optimization ratings varied from 7 to 10, indicating that while many enjoyed a seamless experience, others faced significant technical challenges that detracted from their enjoyment.
- “Optimization - 10/10”
- “Game has amazing graphics, story is simply on point, and amazing optimization, would I recommend?”
- “Performance is perfect, game runs on max settings at 90-100fps easily, played on 5800x, 2070s, 32gb @3440x1440.”
- “I genuinely believe this to be the worst game I have ever spent money on, and I genuinely feel bad for the developers of this game because they will never be hired by another company after this load of poor performance.”
- “Had a decent time playing, except for random stuttering.”
- “However, very poor performance of mandatory EA Play multiplayer.”
atmosphere
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The atmosphere in "A Way Out" is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by detailed graphics, strong voice acting, and a compelling soundtrack that complements the tense narrative. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend cinematic storytelling with engaging gameplay mechanics, creating a gripping environment that keeps them invested throughout. Despite some critiques regarding visual fidelity and occasional bugs, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The tense atmosphere of the game keeps you on edge until the very end.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics, combined with the strong voice acting, creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you into the world of Leo and Vincent.”
- “The sound design in 'A Way Out' is top-notch, with realistic sound effects that enhance the immersion and atmosphere of the game.”
- “The story is silly, the voice acting is bad, the atmosphere is not engaging.”
- “It is clear this game is a predecessor with a completely different story and atmosphere and with less sophisticated graphics and game mechanics.”
- “Plot twist ruined the whole story (and previously built up atmosphere) for me.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game is praised for its lack of monetization strategies, featuring no DLC, microtransactions, or in-game purchases, which is a notable departure from typical EA practices. However, players must install the Origin launcher, which is criticized for being cluttered with its own microtransactions and ads. Overall, the absence of monetization elements enhances the gaming experience, allowing players to enjoy the story without distractions.
- “EA made a game without microtransactions.”
- “An EA game without microtransactions.”
- “This game was amazing, no in-game purchases or loot boxes.”
- “Also, please note that you need to install the Origin launcher for this game from EA, which is completely filled with microtransactions, adverts, and required updates every time you want to launch the game.”
- “One will go through an emotional rollercoaster of sorts, as new bits of backstory are revealed, leading to one hell of a climax. Not to mention, this is an EA game, without any microtransactions whatsoever.”
- “This game was amazing, with no in-game purchases or loot boxes.”