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 room genre, where players must barricade themselves instead of escaping.
- Each game features clever puzzles and multiple endings, encouraging replayability and experimentation.
- The pixel art style and atmospheric sound design effectively create a nostalgic and eerie experience.
- The first game is relatively short and simple compared to the sequels, which may leave some players wanting more.
- 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 can be completed quickly, leading to concerns about overall value for those seeking longer gameplay.
- story54 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The "Don't Escape" trilogy features distinct stories across its three games, with the third installment being the most narrative-rich and visually impressive, offering deeper lore and multiple endings. While the first two games are lighter on story, they still provide engaging atmospheres and unique twists on the "don't escape" concept. Overall, the storytelling is simple yet effective, with compelling plot twists and a nostalgic charm that resonates with players.
“The storytelling of all the games is simple but incredibly well executed, considering the medium they're in.”
“Each story presented in the game adds a unique twist to the 'don't escape' concept, offering a fresh experience despite the shared format.”
“The third one just takes the cake: the lore and the plot twists.”
“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.”
“The story seems simple at first, but as you collect and read the logs, it all becomes somewhat more convoluted.”
“There's not much to this entry, and the story is sparse, but the atmosphere in both visuals and audio is rich.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a pixelated art style that evokes nostalgia and complements its eerie atmosphere, though some players find them basic and occasionally difficult to interpret. While the visuals are charming and effectively contribute to the game's unique storytelling, they may feel simplistic and outdated to those accustomed to modern HD graphics. Overall, the graphics are a mixed bag, with some praising their retro appeal and others noting the need for updates and polish.
“The pixelated graphics, although retro in style, manage to impress and evoke a strong sense of nostalgia.”
“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 graphic style of the game is very pixelated, and a graininess is applied to the images to evoke a found footage horror feel with eerie ambient sound to accompany it.”
“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.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the "Don't Escape" trilogy is characterized by its innovative time management mechanic, which adds a layer of tactical decision-making to the traditional point-and-click adventure format. Players must navigate inventory-based puzzles and explore various environments while managing limited actions within a time constraint, leading to multiple solutions and consequences for their choices. While the graphics and puzzles may feel simplistic by modern standards, the series is praised for its engaging mechanics and captivating atmosphere, making it a standout in the genre.
“They’re all novel and evocative premises, and Scriptwelder utilizes an interesting mechanic that makes the games more flexible and open-ended than most point-and-click adventure games.”
“You don’t need to solve all puzzles nor may you want to do so, since some may carry grave consequences. Puzzles may have multiple solutions or orders and are all intuitive; you most likely won't find anything you may consider 'moon logic' in this collection. To top it all off, your actions are timed, so you must consider your actions carefully or a defeat condition will be reached. All of that makes for a great gameplay experience.”
“Don't Escape successfully combines nostalgia with an entertaining gameplay experience, resulting in a game that is both captivating and thoroughly enjoyable.”
“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.”
“[u]Episode 3[/u] was interactive and entertaining, but it was my least favorite one because it felt like it worsened mechanics introduced in episode 2, and because it dragged on for too long.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in these games is widely praised for its unique blend of pixel art, unsettling undertones, and effective horror elements, creating a rich and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the innovative design and detailed spritework that contribute to a creepy yet engaging environment, making each installment feel distinct while maintaining a cohesive eerie vibe. Overall, the games are celebrated for their ability to evoke strong emotions and tension through their atmospheric storytelling and sound design.
“I love the style and atmosphere of Scriptwelder games.”
“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.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the games is generally considered serviceable, with some reviewers appreciating its thematic relevance and variety, noting that it enhances the overall atmosphere. However, there are concerns about the use of royalty-free tracks, which may detract from the uniqueness of the soundscapes. While the sound effects are mostly well-received, some specific elements, like the spacesuit hissing, have been criticized for being overly intrusive.
“The art and music really fit the three themes, and I had a blast finding out the solutions.”
“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.”
“Music (3/10)”
“3 points for sounding good, 3 points for more than 9 songs, 3 points for thematic soundtrack, 1 point for being on Spotify.”
“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.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers moderate replayability, with some players noting that while it is short, there are multiple endings and outcomes to explore, encouraging players to replay for better scores or different results. However, others feel that the replay value is limited, suggesting it may only be enjoyable for a brief period.
“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, so they make you want to redo them to get a better score.”
“Not to mention the replayability, as there are so many outcomes!”
- 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 mouse movements and clicking strategies.
“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.”
