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The Escapists

I didn’t steal this bag of money, officer, I borrowed it. Promise.
The Escapists Game Cover
79%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, stability
90% User Score Based on 10,398 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 30 reviews

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The Escapists Game Cover

About

The Escapists is a single player tactical role playing game with a comedy theme. It was developed by foruss and was released on February 13, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"The Escapists" is a prison escape simulation game where you must plan and execute an escape using items you craft and characters you meet. With various prisons, unique escape methods, and constant updates like the festive-themed "Jingle Cells," the game offers a replayable and challenging experience. Your creativity and strategic thinking are key to your escape.

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The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
The Escapists screenshot
+14
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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,398 reviews
gameplay244 positive mentions
grinding177 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and addictive gameplay loop that combines strategic planning, crafting, and routine management, keeping players engaged.
  • The humor and lighthearted approach to the prison escape theme, along with catchy 8-bit and 16-bit soundtracks, enhance the overall experience.
  • The pixel-art graphics evoke nostalgia and complement the game's strategic depth, creating an engaging atmosphere.
  • The lack of a comprehensive tutorial and unintuitive mechanics can lead to frustration, especially for newcomers.
  • Many players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious due to significant grinding and monotonous tasks.
  • The game suffers from bugs and glitches, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to a frustrating experience.
  • gameplay
    634 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Escapists" is characterized by a blend of strategic planning, crafting, and routine management, creating an engaging yet often repetitive experience. While players appreciate the depth and challenge of escaping various prisons, many criticize the lack of a comprehensive tutorial and the unintuitive mechanics that can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a unique and addictive gameplay loop, but its reliance on trial and error and some tedious mechanics may deter newcomers.

    • “Its blend of daily routines, crafting mechanics, and stealth-based gameplay creates an engrossing and challenging environment that keeps players strategizing and adapting throughout each prison stint.”
    • “This duality of routine and rebellion adds depth to the gameplay, requiring players to manage time effectively and make calculated decisions about when to obey and when to seize opportunities.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and challenging, with a rich and deep system of ways to escape and content within the game.”
    • “The gameplay loop within each prison is still a bit too similar, and the tasks you do on a day-to-day basis within the same prison are also incredibly monotonous.”
    • “The tutorial does little to explain the game mechanics beyond the absolute basics, and it is surprisingly difficult on the first level.”
    • “There's a lot of mechanics and tips that you have to know in order to successfully escape or survive prison, but those mechanics and tips aren't really explained, and you instead have to find them out by trial and error.”
  • graphics
    477 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Escapists" feature a charming pixel-art style that evokes nostalgia and complements the game's strategic gameplay. While some players appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the visuals, others note that the graphics lack polish compared to its sequel, "The Escapists 2." Overall, the retro aesthetic is well-received, enhancing the lighthearted tone of the game despite some criticisms regarding graphical limitations.

    • “Visually, The Escapists adopts a charming pixel-art style that lends a lighthearted tone to an otherwise intense setting.”
    • “The game's retro graphics and simple visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic 8-bit games.”
    • “The pixel graphics are simple in a good way, and it just has a vibe that I haven't really gotten out of any games similar to it.”
    • “The graphics are reminiscent of classic 16-bit games, with a bit of a comical twist.”
    • “The graphics hurt my eyes on a 1080p screen; I know the game isn't built for that, but because of that factor, I found the game unplayable.”
    • “Unfortunately, the low-resolution pixel graphics are eye-blisteringly bad.”
  • story
    199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting that it lacks a traditional narrative and instead focuses on gameplay mechanics like crafting and completing repetitive fetch quests for other inmates. While some appreciate the emergent storytelling that arises from player-driven escape plans, the overall consensus is that the game does not prioritize a compelling story, making it less appealing for those seeking a narrative-driven experience.

    • “The escapists is a really fun prison simulator in which you are a prison inmate and try to plot your escape.”
    • “But by giving you the tools to craft your own escape and leaving you alone to sort it out, The Escapists is one of those classic hands-off games that encourages you to create your own story and incredible moments.”
    • “This game is incredible... the framework is there, establishing the base of what can be a thrilling experience.”
    • “The story elements didn't keep me engaged.”
    • “Overall: for a 'cheap' little game, with rudimentary graphics, gameplay and little-to-no story, this is a slam-dunk.”
    • “It is a bit repetitive and there isn't a real focus on story at all but hey, that may be the point.”
  • grinding
    194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, which many players find tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the challenge and the satisfaction of executing escape plans, the overwhelming consensus is that the grinding mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment, making the gameplay feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience. Players recommend the game primarily to those who enjoy grinding, but caution that it may not appeal to everyone due to its monotonous nature.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Graphics: fun, pixelated, not hard on the eyes; gameplay: tedious, but not too tedious.”
    • “There's a lot of grinding while you desperately try to track down the right person...it quickly starts to feel like a big chore, especially as you have to do it day after day.”
    • “Instead of focusing on planning and escaping, you’re stuck in an endless cycle of grinding for the same easily-breakable items over and over.”
    • “The game starts off fun for the first 1-2 prisons, but gets really tedious and frustrating after you've played it a bit.”
  • music
    191 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and nostalgic 8-bit and 16-bit soundtracks, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the variety of tracks associated with different in-game activities and prisons, although some express disappointment over the lack of unique music for specific events. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “The soundtrack and sound effects are minimalist but effective, reinforcing the game’s mood without overwhelming the player.”
    • “The sound design was also top-notch, with catchy 16-bit songs that kept me entertained throughout the hundreds of hours of gameplay!”
    • “I cannot harp enough about how fun and iconic this game's soundtrack is along with everything else about it.”
    • “Complete with a nigh useless tutorial level, lack of widescreen correction upon fullscreen, a monotonous uninspired soundtrack, no controller support and the inability to remap item buttons, the only thing I'll be escaping from is the frustration, depression and needless distaste that comes from playing this game.”
    • “The music is serviceable, and that's about it.”
    • “The music is repetitive; I had to turn it off and pick my playlist.”
  • humor
    150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and lighthearted approach, featuring funny dialogue, absurd situations, and dark humor that adds a unique charm to the prison escape theme. Players enjoy the comedic interactions between inmates and guards, as well as the game's ability to create hilarious scenarios through its gameplay mechanics. While some find the dialogue repetitive, the overall consensus is that the humor significantly enhances the fun and replayability of the game.

    • “It's one of my all-time favorite games to play with friends, whether we're digging tunnels, distracting guards, or simply laughing at how badly everything goes wrong.”
    • “Dark humor galore: from prison slang to bizarre escape attempts, the game revels in its twisted sense of humor.”
    • “The escapists is a wonderful little game that hilariously simulates the dull & habitual routines of prison life.”
  • replayability
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with players enjoying the variety of escape methods, community-created content, and the ability to challenge themselves in different ways. Many reviews highlight the endless possibilities offered by the prison editor and user-generated maps, contributing to a sense of infinite replay value. However, some users note that once the initial prisons are completed, the replayability may diminish for those seeking new content.

    • “Endless replayability: different prisons, challenges, and DLC keep you coming back for one more daring breakout.”
    • “The game is very fun and addictive, while having a huge replay value since you can escape a prison in so many different ways.”
    • “The final point that makes it replayable is obviously the workshop; people are making prisons daily that it's almost infinite replayability.”
    • “Assuming you do though, this game doesn't have a lot of replay value; it was designed so players progress through prisons, so you will not have a lot of hours in any given prison unless those hours are spent grinding and developing an escape arsenal.”
    • “The problem with this game is you beat 1 or 2 prisons and then it starts to lose replay value very quickly.”
    • “I would not recommend this game; it does not have much replay value and is pretty high priced for what it is.”
  • stability
    99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many users reporting a variety of bugs and glitches, ranging from minor graphical issues to more disruptive gameplay problems. While some players find these bugs to be minor and not significantly affecting their enjoyment, others express frustration over persistent issues that can lead to game-breaking scenarios. Overall, the game is described as "buggy," but many still appreciate its fun gameplay despite these technical shortcomings.

    • “Great! All I have to say is that there are no glitches in the game.”
    • “I love it! No glitches, fun gameplay, and hard challenges.”
    • “Runs great, no lag.”
    • “And this game is really buggy.”
    • “There are so many bugs, glitches, or just missing things.”
    • “Very buggy for me, it looks really fun but hasn't been a great moment...”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is a blend of nostalgic pixel graphics and catchy music, creating an engaging yet relaxed environment that contrasts with its darker themes. Players appreciate the immersive prison setting, which enhances the strategic gameplay and clever challenges, while also evoking a range of emotions from fun and lightheartedness to oppressive tension. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to draw players into the experience, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The nostalgic aesthetic complements the game's strategic depth, creating an accessible yet engaging atmosphere.”
    • “The music is catchy, the guard dialogue is very fluid and atmospheric, and the pixel graphics suit the cartoonish combat and lighten what would otherwise be a very dark theme.”
    • “I have been dreaming about a game like this; it gives you a very nice feeling when playing in the prison atmosphere, sticking to the schedule, even learning some of it and trying to make friends around and not getting caught by the guards while trying to escape in multiple ways.”
    • “The atmosphere is oppressive and reminded me of the time I was in a mental hospital in real life.”
    • “Such an amazing game, it combines skills and resourcefulness to an unforgiving atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is also off.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with experiences ranging from tears of sadness due to loss of hard-earned items to heightened anxiety during tense escape sequences. The game's ability to evoke such intense feelings contributes to its overall immersive experience.

    • “This game made me cry, five stars.”
    • “This game has actually made me feel anxious, and gotten my heart beating at times!”
    • “☐ heartbreaking”
    • “The story was heartbreaking and left me feeling empty.”
    • “I expected an emotional journey, but it fell flat and felt forced.”
    • “The characters' struggles were supposed to be moving, but I found them unrelatable and shallow.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has drawn criticism for intrusive pop-up ads that appear every time players access the main menu, likened to aggressive tactics from mobile games. This approach detracts from the overall experience, as players feel overwhelmed by constant advertisements rather than enjoying the game.

    • “Quite honestly, I'm tempted to remove it simply because of the pop-up every time you reach the main menu advertising their DLC.”
    • “These are terror ad methods from the mobile market!”
    • “If you really must add advertisements to the main menu, put them into the background where I can ignore them, but don't shove this obstructive popup in my face every single time I enter the menu.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly even on low-end laptops, and delivering good performance across various systems. While it generally performs well, some users note occasional slowdowns, which they attribute to their own hardware limitations rather than the game's design. Overall, it offers a fun experience with impressive graphics and sound.

    • “Very fun, cheap, and it runs smoothly on terrible laptops!”
    • “The game has great music, and good performance on any computer.”
    • “It has amazing graphics and it runs smoothly, except sometimes, but that's just because my computer is slow, so it's not their fault.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers feel that while the pixel graphics are charming, the character development suffers from a lack of detail and variety, particularly due to the presence of duplicate characters. Many suggest that the addition of a custom character designer could significantly enhance the game's appeal and depth.

    • “Even though it's pixel graphics, it could use a more detailed character designer, even for the other inmates, as there are always duplicates of people.”
    • “What would actually make the game really great is a custom character designer.”
    • “Even though it's pixel graphics, it could use a more detailed character designer, especially for the other inmates, as there are always duplicates of characters.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of unique traits and backstories for the characters, which made them feel one-dimensional.”
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68%Critics’ scoreBased on 30 critic reviews
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11h Median play time
23h Average play time
20h Main story
44h Completionist
4-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 49 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Escapists is a tactical role playing game with comedy theme.

The Escapists is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 20 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 44 hours to finish. On average players spend around 23 hours playing The Escapists.

The Escapists was released on February 13, 2015.

The Escapists was developed by foruss.

The Escapists has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

The Escapists is a single player game with local co-op support.

Similar games include The Escapists 2, Prison Architect, Thief Simulator, Youtubers Life, Prison Simulator and others.