The Escapists

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 36
  3. Negative: 8 out of 36

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  1. drlowdon
    Mar 19, 2017
    6
    I imagine The Escapists is one of those titles that will greatly divide opinion. Each of the games levels (prisons) offers an intricate open world playground for players to first learn, then try to figure out how best to escape from. Other than a few hints, which can be paid for with currency earned from working a prison job or doing favours for other inmates, little to no guidance isI imagine The Escapists is one of those titles that will greatly divide opinion. Each of the games levels (prisons) offers an intricate open world playground for players to first learn, then try to figure out how best to escape from. Other than a few hints, which can be paid for with currency earned from working a prison job or doing favours for other inmates, little to no guidance is offered to the player and this freedom is both liberating and frustrating in almost equal measure.

    Trying to plan your escape whilst having to minimise suspicion by following the prisons schedule, including attending meals and roll call, gives The Escapists a unique edge but it is very easy to get completely stuck for a solution on occasions. A big part of escaping is crafting items for example. There are dozens of items that can be found/stolen from around the prison, many of which can be combined to create new weapons with which to defend yourself or items to aid in your escape. Unfortunately, even when you buy a hint as to what item to craft, there is no clue as to where and when you can use many of these items and this can lead to a lot of wandering aimlessly around hoping to stumble upon an answer (if there even is one – some crafted items aren’t even needed at times!). Further frustration is added by the fact that any keys moulded only have a set number of uses, should you use them on a couple of doors that don’t aid your escape you’ve basically wasted your time and have to go through the whole process of stealing and moulding the key all over again. At one point I even ended up stuck inside a room (why give the keys an odd number of uses!?) and was forced to reload the whole day.

    Patience is certainly going to be needed get the most out of The Escapists, and I imagine many will find it all a little too frustrating (as I did), but those willing to spend the time learning the games systems and the layouts of the prisons will find there is plenty to enjoy here.    … Expand
  2. torrent
    Nov 6, 2016
    6
    Good concept but the execution is clunky and can be frustrating - from what I've read this seems to be a cut back version of what is available on the PC. The crafting system is too primitive - most items are useless. The skill system is tedious and the control scheme is either the product of a sadist or a retard. Seriously... Trying to fight with another inmate? No bother, the "action"Good concept but the execution is clunky and can be frustrating - from what I've read this seems to be a cut back version of what is available on the PC. The crafting system is too primitive - most items are useless. The skill system is tedious and the control scheme is either the product of a sadist or a retard. Seriously... Trying to fight with another inmate? No bother, the "action" button automatically knows to start digging your own grave with that spoon you had in your inventory - off to solitary for you! Trying to pick up that toothbrush? Not a problem, the "action" button knows you were going to use it as a weapon anyway and goes right ahead and punches that guard in front of you - more solitary, yay! Oh look some duck tape to repair my shovel - WRONG - the "action" button knows when it's time for air and digs upward towards the guards quarters. This is an open letter to Team 17 - please shoot whoever is responsible for this!… Expand
  3. Jaymeson
    Jul 6, 2022
    7
    A really fun logic puzzle escape game. Not much to say besides it's fun and cheap

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Sep 9, 2015
    79
    The Escapists is an amusing prison break simulation, which can get frustrating when you have no idea what to craft next. [Sept 2015]
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 30, 2015
    70
    Irresistible concept. [July 2015, p.92]
  3. Gaming Age
    Jun 29, 2015
    42
    In The Escapists' defense, I guess, there are plenty of people for whom "being insanely hard" is a pretty attractive value proposition. And for those people, there should be more than enough here to love. For anyone else, though, this will just offer dull, endless drudgery, and that's precisely as fun as it sounds.
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