Escape Academy is a creative and pleasantly puzzling game that escape room fans and puzzle fanatics will love. While it can occasionally be a bit obtuse, most of the puzzles are fun little challenges, even if the story isn’t as memorable as it could be.
Escape Academy
Developer: Coin Crew Games
Price: $20
Platforms: PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
As someone who’s never done an escape room, I’ve been curious to see what they’re like. When Escape Academy appeared in my inbox, I realized I could have that experience without having to go out of my home. Overall, it’s pretty rad, and people who are fond of puzzles will have a great time with most of the challenges.
You play as the newest recruit for the titular Escape Academy. After a quick test at a totally unassuming escape room facility, you’re off and on your way to solving all sorts of eclectic riddles to escape a variety of different traps and rooms. There are plenty of different themes, puzzles, and challenges throughout the game, which keeps it fresh. It’d be easy for this kind of game to become frustrating and boring quickly, but this one mostly avoids those pitfalls.
Occasionally, a puzzle won’t be especially clear in what a certain graph or chart will mean. There’s a handy hint system that certainly reduces the frustration in these parts, but diminishes the pride of solving a puzzle on your own. Most of the puzzles are clear about the information presented to you, making the majority of the game come down to your own wits.
The variety of different puzzles and rooms to escape from impressed me, as they not only fit the story but changed up the gameplay substantially. One room has you opening doors to ascend as water fills each room, while another has you remotely directing another escapist as they navigate a prison.
The story can be fun, but for the most part, the characters and plot are very forgettable. This isn’t a major deal, as you’re likely not here for the story, but a more compelling plot could have taken the experience to the next level. Still, it gives you decent enough excuses to partake in fun little escape rooms, and that’s really all it had to do.
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.
The Final Word
Escape Academy is a unique and satisfying escape room-esque game that puzzle fans will truly dig. Some voice lines can be repetitive, and the puzzles can be a bit unclear on occasion, but otherwise, it’s a strong and delightfully puzzling adventure.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
