The Escapists 2 Reviews
It's a game behind the times, from the way it plays to its awkward design choices, and its weak performance and optimisation on consoles is further cause for frustration. For those willing to put themselves through an unbalanced learning curve there is some enjoyment to be had on the far side, but beyond the fleeting charm of some of the levels, the rest of the experience falls flat.
An interesting idea that quickly dives into repetition and not even repetition I can enjoy. Just watch Prison Break instead of playing this game, you’ll get more out of it.
The Escapists 2 is a worthy sequel to the original game. It features co-op missions, a lot of escape options and interesting puzzles. If you liked the first game, you should try this one.
Review in Russian | Read full review
With a delightful pixel-style that fills the screen with details, it'll be hard to take your eyes off the screen as you make your way through all the different prisons on offer. Most of us might never have the, uh… joy… of breaking out of prison, but The Escapists 2 does a swell job of showing us just how entertaining it can be!
The Escapists 2 is a well-made sandbox game and a fun continuation of the series. While the title gives you a good amount of freedom and tools to spend your time in fun ways, it can also get rather repetitive and overwhelming. The Nintendo Switch version mostly runs well, although the two-player limitation on local play is disappointing.
Although not playing the original, The Escapists 2 is still an enjoyable game, especially if you don't have a lot of time on your hands as it can be played in spurts with how the game and save mechanics work, each day lasting around fifteen minutes. However, the first prison you play through might take a while to escape if you're not familiar with how the game works. Though the tutorial level does help out a bit, there were still some things I didn't know about that would have made things a lot easier my first time playing.
The Escapists 2 builds upon its predecessor rather impressively. While the crafting expansion can lead to confusion when trying to plot your escape. Still, it's a fantastic improvement on The Escapists and well worth your time.
The Switch version of The Escapists 2 is the best way to experience the new title from Mouldy Toof Studios. The game is basically the same as the one already released on PC and console, but it better suits the idea of a "touch and go" approach. There are some small smudges here and there, but the online multiplayer is a real treat.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Scoping out a new prison for its vulnerabilities and formulating a plan to carry out is a great time, but getting to those thrilling moments of misadventures are often plagued with days of scavenging, looking for those one or two materials I desperately needed and as the tedium began to set in, I wasn't looking for a way to escape from the prison but rather from this cycle of boring, repetitive gameplay.
All in all, The Escapists 2 does a decent enough job in providing that Shawshank Redemption fix you’ve always dreamed of. So much so that when you do finally make it out, you will probably fall to your knees while staring at the stormy sky in relief. Naturally, this game isn’t going to be for everyone as it can be quite intimidating for beginners. It may also test the patience for those who lack it or are initially looking for a quick fix. In all fairness, it is prison after all. It was never going to be a walk in the park. Now shut up and eat your porridge.
Escapists 2 is a worthy successor to the first game. The simulation is very addicting, with challenging maps, great customization options, and multiplayer modes that are a blast. Remember that patience is a must in Escapists 2, and it will be frustrating if a simple mistake wipes out your hard work.
With it's sandbox style approach to escaping at time you might find yourself flapping in the wind and unsure what to do next. The pacing of the game has been improved since the first one too much less waiting around. The 16bit style of of graphics have also been improved the game overall looks and plays great.
"Grab a friend and find a way out."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
SUMMARY The Escapists 2 has a fantastic premise and builds upon the original game, playing on the go is a great way to play and there are some great moments however I feel as though it gets a bit bogged down in menus and systems. The developer has missed the opportunity to give us a bit more back story for the character we play for each prison. Nevertheless its a creative and expressive game worth picking up if you like a sandbox game.
The Escapists 2 brings a demanding, free-roaming sandbox gameplay to the Nintendo Switch. With varied maps and almost complete freedom to wander around, the game also features a very high difficulty level and is certain to strike an impact with fans of the style, even if those looking for a more action-oriented experience will come out a bit frustrated.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Escapists 2 is a solid package that expands upon the concepts of the original game in meaningful ways and it performs very well on the Nintendo Switch.
Ultimately, The Escapists was such a success because it was fun, entertaining, and smart. You could perhaps argue that the sequel doesn't do enough to build on the foundations of the first, but that's only if you don't use the multiplayer options. Those alone breathe fresh air into the whole experience, and, as I said at the start, the Nintendo Switch hardware itself is just perfect for Mouldy Toof's endlessly entertaining vision.
Those looking for a unique challenge and that have a group of friends willing to pick it up as well could find themselves with hours upon hours of laughs.
The Escapists 2 is a management-strategic game that improves some aspects of the predecessor and adds a successful multiplayer component.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Escapists 2 has an undeniably solid premise for a game and features a downright charming visual style and soundtrack but the monotony of its restrictive gameplay will probably make you feel like a prisoner yourself whenever you play it.