Escape Academy

For those missing the good old fashioned escape rooms of the pre-covid era, Escape Academy delivers a top notch set of puzzles in an interesting setting, which unfortunately isn't explored any deeper.

Escape Academy may be a fairly brief experience for some, then, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the puzzles here are thought-provoking and masterfully crafted. They test your ability to spot patterns and problem solve without ever being too obtuse. Throw in a surprisingly engaging story and co-op, and you have one of the most enjoyable experiences of the year so far. It might even make...

This all leads to the main drawback of an escape room, it's one of nature. Once you uncover all the secrets and solve all the problems, the experience is done. While the game does have twelve puzzles, it took me about five hours to complete. Yet the game’s relatively low price tag at $19.99, not to mention its inclusion on Game Pass, seems like a steal when you consider how good every puzzle is.

“Escape Academy delivers lovingly crafted puzzles that shine in co-op play, but it can't fully replicate the thrills of a real-life escape room.”

Despite its empty halls and predictable plot, it's a charming escape room sim that's filled with clever puzzles that reward and rarely frustrate. The entire thing can be played with a bud too, making this a brilliant co-op jaunt.

Escape Academy is a worthy escape room game with a lot of strong puzzles. It's on the short side, but there's a lot of quality on display.

Escape Academy is a marvelous cooperative experience and a fun time family activity. The story didn't do much for me, nor did the simple-minded characters, but they didn't really have to. The main attraction is the escape room format and the daisy chain of lateral thinking puzzles. They're ingeniously implemented and are best enjoyed with a group of people, mostly because they'll often see somethi...

The art style is colorful and pleasant to look at, suitably presenting the world of Escape Academy as a funky and almost comically escape-focused place. The sound design is the same, making it very satisfying to press buttons, use electronics, and fumble with objects. The voice acting is solid enough, though certain voice lines can become very repetitive as you solve certain riddles.

Escape Academy takes design inspiration from real-world escape rooms, for better and for worse.

At the end of the day, Escape Academy achieves much of what it sets out to do. Giving players and whenever possible, their co-op partners, the authentic escape room experience, cutting away the frustrations of real-life escape attempts, and focusing our attention on finding connections and solving puzzles instead. There is much satisfaction to be had whenever a tough puzzle is cracked, and while ...