Don't Escape Trilogy
- July 29, 2019
- scriptwelder
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamThe "Don't Escape Trilogy" is a compilation of three point-and-click horror games. In the first game, players must secure a cabin to protect a village from themselves during a full moon. The second game has survivors fortifying a shelter during a zombie outbreak. The third game is not described, but each game features unique settings and twists. Note that no new content is added from the original versions.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The trilogy offers a unique twist on the escape genre, where players must prevent themselves from escaping rather than finding a way out.
- Each game features engaging puzzles and multiple endings, encouraging replayability and strategic thinking.
- The atmospheric graphics and sound design effectively create a sense of tension and nostalgia, enhancing the overall experience.
- The first game is relatively simple and may feel lacking in content compared to the sequels.
- Some puzzles can be overly complex or require trial and error, which may frustrate players looking for straightforward solutions.
- While the games are enjoyable, they are short, and players may complete the trilogy in a few hours, leading to concerns about value for money.
- story40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The "Don't Escape" trilogy features distinct narratives across its three installments, with the first two games offering lighter stories and the third providing a more in-depth experience filled with lore, cutscenes, and multiple endings. Players appreciate the unique twists on the escape genre, engaging gameplay, and the atmospheric storytelling that enhances the overall experience. While the first two games are noted for their simplicity, the third installment stands out for its compelling plot and horror elements, making it a memorable part of the series.
“The unique art style and out of the box story are really amazing.”
“The third game has you investigating a space mission gone awry.”
“The stories overall are decent, but part 3 is the definite standout of the three as the story is actually pretty interesting and finding out what happened is really cool.”
“The first two games are pretty light on story; there's bits and pieces of dialogue and storytelling at the beginning and at the end, but part 3 actually is pretty story heavy, with a lot of written logs and cutscenes that explain what happened.”
“There's not much to this entry, and the story is sparse, but the atmosphere in both visuals and audio is rich.”
“The story still isn't entirely fleshed out, but being able to interact with NPCs and having a 'choose your own adventure' play style really helps to bring the game to life, more than the first entry.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and pixelated, evoking a sense of nostalgia while effectively serving the gameplay. While some players appreciate the unique art style and atmosphere, others note that the visuals may feel outdated and could benefit from updates and polish. Overall, the graphics are a mixed bag, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics but potentially off-putting to those seeking modern HD visuals.
“The unique art style and out-of-the-box story are really amazing.”
“A nostalgic blast from the past with gritty, but well-designed graphics and a deceptively in-depth story, connected to the other Scriptwelder games.”
“The pixelated graphics, although retro in style, manage to impress and evoke a strong sense of nostalgia.”
“To be fair and give a word of warning, it is pretty simple graphic and gameplay-wise, with rather simple puzzles, so it may feel a bit bare-bones to today's generation.”
“Graphics are very crude and pixelated, but get the job done, though some items are hard to recognize.”
“Graphics are pixelated and most of the time grim, dark-toned.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The "Don't Escape" trilogy offers engaging point-and-click gameplay characterized by intuitive puzzle-solving and a unique time mechanic that adds tactical depth. While the graphics and puzzles may feel simplistic by modern standards, the games excel in their execution and creativity, providing a captivating experience with varied scenarios and multiple endings. Overall, the gameplay is well-received for its innovative design and nostalgic charm, making it a standout in the genre.
“Gameplay is flawlessly executed, pointing, clicking, and solving puzzles that make sense.”
“Don't Escape successfully combines nostalgia with an entertaining gameplay experience, resulting in a game that is both captivating and thoroughly enjoyable.”
“The result of this innovative reverse-open-ended-escape-room design is that each scenario is entertaining and vastly different from one another, with their own collection of different endings. Your actions are timed, so you must consider your actions carefully, making for a great gameplay experience.”
“To be fair and give a word of warning, it is pretty simple graphic and gameplay-wise, with rather simple puzzles, so it may feel a bit bare-bones to today's generation.”
“The core mechanics are inventory-based puzzles: you explore between 6 and 20 screens (depending on the game), look for items to pick up, and use those.”
“The gameplay mostly consists of exploration and puzzle-solving.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in these short games is consistently praised for its eerie and unsettling qualities, enhanced by minimalist design, effective use of sound and light, and rich visual storytelling. Players appreciate the combination of horror elements with engaging puzzles, creating a chilling yet immersive experience. Overall, the games deliver a compelling and nostalgic atmosphere that resonates well with fans of atmospheric horror and puzzle genres.
“Great and atmospheric short games, with mildly unsettling undertones and a few small jump-scares here and there (that mostly rely on lights and sound).”
“In short, the 'Don't Escape' trilogy is a prime example of how a series of no-budget indie titles can still harbor fantastic atmosphere and chilling settings.”
“The games convey a convincing horror atmosphere, and when combined with the dark design of the world, it leaves you with this weird and unsettling feeling, which honestly at times can get genuinely scary!”
“The games share a creepy atmosphere and a few gameplay mechanics, but are otherwise unrelated.”
“I recommend the 'Don't Escape Trilogy' to fans of puzzle games with an eerie atmosphere, provided that they don't mind the crude presentation.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers moderate replayability, with players encouraged to explore different endings and outcomes for a better score. While some find it highly replayable due to its multiple paths, others feel that its short length limits long-term engagement.
“I even think the games have some great replay value, because even if the ending sounds good, there might be another way you can get the same or better result, so try again!”
“It's pretty short, but there's some replayability if you're looking for the optimal endings.”
“Short games, but they have replay value, which makes you want to redo them to get a better score.”
“Not to mention the replayability, as there are so many outcomes!”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the series is generally considered serviceable, with a thematic soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere, though it is likely royalty-free. While the selection of over nine songs is appreciated, some users noted that certain sound effects, like the spacesuit hissing, could be less intrusive. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the gaming experience, despite some reservations about its originality.
“I really like the small scares that came with the 3rd in the series, and the music in all of them really set the tone for their respective settings.”
“Scriptwelder did an amazing job picking and choosing the music to use with each game, and the sound effects aren't too bad to boot; although the annoying hissing of the spacesuit in episode three could've been a lot less aggressive.”
“3 points for sounding good, 3 points for more than 9 songs, 3 points for thematic soundtrack, 1 point for being on Spotify.”
“Music (3/10)”
“While I wasn't entirely sure if the soundtrack for the first game was royalty free, I'm pretty much 100% certain most music in all three games is royalty free.”
“Sound and music are serviceable.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently described as funny, eliciting genuine laughter from players.
“Funny.”
“(laughing)”
“(laughing)”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the games are available for free on Newgrounds but are in a somewhat buggy state, featuring occasional glitches. Despite these issues, the overall experience is still enjoyable, and purchasing the collection is recommended for those interested.
“If you want to try any of these games out, they are completely free on Newgrounds in a somewhat buggy state; however, I would definitely recommend buying this collection if you are at all interested.”
“The game offers some nice graphics, although there are some ugly glitches here and there; it is pleasant all the same.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players report that grinding in the game involves repetitive tasks that can lead to hours of monotonous gameplay, focusing on optimizing movements and clicks to achieve progress.
“I have spent hours grinding over and over, staring at the same pixel-laden screens, routing out effective mouse movement and optimal clicking.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making the game more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“After countless hours of grinding, I still feel like I'm not making any real progress, which is incredibly frustrating.”
