Terminal ESC

About

Terminal ESC is a single player action game. It was developed by Alpha Wave Entertainment and was released on August 7, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

No docs. No tutorial. No escape.Tackle an evolving spectrum of puzzles within a simulated computer system using only terminal commands. Inspired by a bad day with a package manager. WELCOME, [APPLICANT_NAME]This evaluation has been designed to assess your knowledge and reasoning skills, critical components for securing a position at PRAET.KEY POINTS SCORING: Achieving a high score significantly …

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

gameplay2 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and immersive puzzle experience that encourages creative problem-solving and exploration of new mechanics.
Sound design and atmosphere are exceptional, enhancing the overall experience and making it feel realistic and engaging.
The developer is responsive and has implemented numerous quality-of-life improvements, making the game more enjoyable over time.

The game lacks hand-holding, which may frustrate players unfamiliar with terminal commands or those expecting a more guided experience.
Some players may find the endgame grind tedious and uninteresting, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
The ASCII text-based nature of the game may not appeal to everyone, and it doesn't take full advantage of modern gaming hardware.

gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics and find the puzzles engaging, likening the gameplay experience to penetration testing rather than simply resolving technical issues.
- “I really like how you slowly discover new mechanics as you play, and the puzzles are really fun.”
- “The gameplay is more like doing penetration testing than fixing dependency hell.”
- “The gameplay is more like doing pentesting than fixing dependency hell.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are praised for their immersive old-school terminal aesthetic, which enhances the overall experience and puzzle-solving elements. Most users appreciate the combination of sounds and visuals, describing them as perfectly aligned with the game's theme.
- “It is also extremely immersive, with all the sounds and visuals being just right.”
- “I'm surprised there is that one negative review - presumably people who buy this game are like me, and actually really enjoy the experience and aesthetic of an old style terminal and of figuring out this kind of puzzle.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players note that while the game has some minor shortcomings, including a grindy and uninteresting final segment, the overall experience is commendable given its niche status. They recommend disabling autosave and manually saving to avoid losing progress during lengthy sessions.
- “The endgame content is excessively grindy and feels like pointless busy work.”
- “I would recommend disabling autosave and manually saving after long sessions to avoid losing progress due to crashes, especially since the final parts of the game require a lot of tedious grinding.”
- “While the game has its merits, the grind at the end is not only unnecessary but also detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers consistently highlight that the atmosphere of the game is exceptionally well-crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersion.
- “It really adds to the atmosphere, which is also spot on.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the Linux troubleshooting simulator is highly praised, with users giving it a perfect score of 10/10, indicating a robust and reliable performance without significant issues.