Escape from Ever After

Since the release of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door in 2004, developers worldwide - including Nintendo - have been searching for the next big hit, and Sleepy Castle Studio may have found gold with Escape from Ever After. Not only is it a remarkably faithful homage to the Paper Mario games, it is also an RPG that truly delivers, boasting immense charm, a fantastic soundtrack, and vibrant worlds that hide surprisingly deep gameplay systems and strong writing beneath their cute exterior. While management notes a few minor issues such as an inconsistent parry window and somewhat repetitive gameplay, Escape from Ever After undoubtedly earns the title of employee of the month—and perhaps even of the year.

Escape From Ever After is a brisk, 16-hour Paper Mario–style RPG that the reviewer feels surpasses its inspiration through sharp, genuinely funny writing and excellent balance between combat, puzzles, and platforming. Despite a few rough edges in timing-based inputs and platforming precision, its fast pacing, forgiving difficulty, and energetic, saxophone-driven soundtrack make it a standout, must-play entry in the genre.

Escape from Ever After is colorful, traditional, and provides surprisingly interesting commentary on the power of stories. Flynt isn’t the most interesting protagonist, but he has cool companions, and his story of battling a corporation is relatable. The combat system and the presentation are both heavily inspired by Paper Mario. Players unfamiliar with that series might find it hard to love the turn-based combat, mainly because of the repetition. Exploration and environmental puzzles only partially compensate for it. Escape from Ever After has a strong core narrative idea that should be paired with more innovative gameplay for wider appeal.

Escape from Ever After takes a cautious first step, then steadily turns into a witty, character-rich RPG that knows how to have fun with fairy-tale tropes and turn-based combat. The last boss may lack punch, but the journey’s humor and combat variety make it an expedition worth taking.

Escape from Ever After is far more than a simple Paper Mario clone. It blends sharp corporate satire with challenging turn-based battles and the exploration of a diverse, puzzle-filled world.

Escape from Ever After discusses the harm that capitalism can have on whimsical, creative, wholesome ideas, such as fairy tales. It features a cast of adorable characters that need to work together to try to save a world that is slowly losing its magic. The combat may have been an issue, but the rest of this party RPG was super charming and exciting to explore. For those who love Paper Mario or cute RPGs, Escape from Ever After may just be your next favourite adventure.

Appearances aside, Escape from Ever After isn't just a Paper Mario knock-off, but a wholly enjoyable roleplaying game in its own right. If Flynt had a red cap and an airy moustache, you might've convinced me that Nintendo had made this.

While there are many layers here – it’s a Paper Mario homage, it’s an original fantasy adventure and it adapts beloved IP – each idea is given time to evolve. There’s a delicate balance required, and developers Sleepy Castle Studio and Wing-It! Creative have managed it very well indeed.

Escape from Ever After is a simple, enticing turn-based RPG with a great sense of humor. It features storybook worlds many of us are familiar with and bends them in a way that keeps the characters new and fresh. If you’re a fan of comedy, Paper Mario, or RPGs in general, you should give this a go. Whether you’re 7 or 70, there’s a good time to be had here.

Just like its literary inspirations, Escape from Ever After has found ways to not only make them lived-in but flesh them out with unique enemies and bosses.

While the gameplay follows a safe path as a faithful homage to Paper Mario, the game truly shines through its witty narrative filled with black humor and satire. Hidden behind its innocent visuals is a bittersweet 'fairytale for adults' that is well worth the experience.