The Artful Escape

 Xbox Series X
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. New Game Network
    Sep 14, 2021
    74
    The Artful Escape is a joyous intergalactic trip with an electric guitar and vibrant visuals. Like a good solo, if you get swept up in the experience, you'll forget all about its flaws.
  2. Edge Magazine
    Oct 9, 2021
    70
    For players who find themselves similarly unsure of their own identities, it could well resonate long after the amps and stage lights have been switched off. [Issue#364, p.116]
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  3. GameMAG
    Sep 19, 2021
    70
    The Artful Escape is a wonderful four-hour musical performance with some epic guitar solos and an incredible visuals.
  5. BaziCenter
    Sep 13, 2021
    70
    The Artful Escape feels like a novel written by a musician, and takes the music and electric guitar fans to a beautiful but not so perfect journey.
  6. CD-Action
    Jan 19, 2022
    60
    The idea behind The Artful Escape is great, the art style is breathtaking, while the story about coming of age, teenage insecurities and meeting expectations is told brilliantly. Unfortunately, all that doesn’t count for much when a music game has an awful score, guitar shredding quickly becomes boring and the whole thing is basic to a fault. [12/2021, p.77]
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  7. VideoGamer
    Sep 8, 2021
    50
    The lack of challenge in The Artful Escape, not just in its play but in its emotional texture, somewhat shreds the odyssey.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
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  1. Eurogamer
    Dec 14, 2021
    Ultimately you're watching a performance as much as giving one, and for a game this sly and playful, I can live with that. This is a rush, a conceit, a virtuoso doodle. It's a gas. It's a lark. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  2. Kotaku
    Sep 10, 2021
    The Artful Escape began as a fantasy of what a teenage Johnny Galvatron thought the rockstar life could look like. Instead, it serves as a psychedelic reminder. Francis needs some help from flying turtles and transdimensional brainstems, but eventually he gains freedom from his Bob Dylan-esque uncle through his own intergalactic persona. And while we can’t all just step into the cosmos to escape our troubles, one way or another, we all need to be ourselves someday, free of shadow.

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2021
27
#27 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 81
  3. Negative: 10 out of 81
  1. Adamsfamily
    Sep 15, 2021
    3
    I can hardly call it a game.You go left and right,sometimes jump and if you hold x,something moves in the background,but there isn't anyI can hardly call it a game.You go left and right,sometimes jump and if you hold x,something moves in the background,but there isn't any challenge.At the end of each level there is a boss battle,but you just have to press the glowing buttons.
    I think the creators didn't have any concept and they simply made the game colorful to sell it.    … Full Review »
  2. ColdHand
    Sep 18, 2021
    4
    By now, we're all too familiar with the Annapurna Interactive artsy (borderline pretentious) games, so it won't come up as a surprise when IBy now, we're all too familiar with the Annapurna Interactive artsy (borderline pretentious) games, so it won't come up as a surprise when I tell you "The Artful Escape" follows the usual script : almost no gameplay at all, close to no plot, no challenge and great attention paid to artistic direction. Basically, it's some sort of 5 hours interactive visual experience. Maybe it's your thing, but as for every other Annapurna games, it's unfortunately not mine.… Full Review »
  3. SuperkenGaming
    Nov 8, 2021
    7
    The Artful escape
    The power of music!
    The artful escape is a linear nearl 4 hour long narrative adventure, you’re the nephew of a legendary    The Artful escape
    The power of music!
    The artful escape is a linear nearl 4 hour long narrative adventure, you’re the nephew of a legendary musician trying to find yourself, and a night before a big gig youre abducted by aliens..
    This is a game about finding yourself as an artist.. youll go through these beautiful locations just rifting on your guitar, eventually getting to a boss battle that will have you playing a simon says like mini game.. then its off to the next area..
    This game is again beautiful, I was so impressed with the visuls nd I loved sliding down hills and the platforming here, the story however I was kinda bored of after a while, wasn’t one that really clicked with me so I didn’t care how it turned out all that much..
    But I still had this eautiful world to pull me through..
    Gameplay wise this was my favorite aspect, it was fun putting on a little rock show for these aliens before sliding through some caves.. but if this doesn’t sound like a story that intrigues you, the gameplay isn’t enough on its own to justify a playthrough..
    Overall The Artful escape is a good game..
    Not one Ill think about much going forward, but at the same time has the potential to be one of someone elses favorite games of the year,
    I give The Artful Escape
    a 7/10    … Full Review »
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