There have been plenty of co-operative games released over the years, and while many are enjoyable, none have captured that magic that Valve produced with their acclaimed Portal series. Presented as a first-person shooter, Portal never once was about going around and shooting an endless wave of enemies, to eventually kill the ultimate big baddy. No, instead the franchise focused on testing players with elaborate puzzles, making them think beyond the box. They felt challenging, yet rewarding with the feeling that you just outsmarted the game in the most creative, and unexpected ways. Not to mention the co-op was just sheer diabolical, being able to torment your friends in the most humorous of ways. 

I’ve had an itch since then, one that I have never quite be able to scratc — that is until now, as a surprisingly new title from studio Coin Crew Games dubbed “Escape Academy” pits players in some rather witty and charming situations. 

Thinking Outside the Room

Now to be blunt, I’m not saying Escape Academy is on the same level of the Portal franchise. Though they both are centered around the concept of escaping a room, that’s sort of where the similarities end. However, what I am saying is that my time spent with Escape Academy could be comparable to the experience offered by Portal. 

When you first begin Escape Academy, it starts you up in a simple to solve escape room. Much like the real-world counterpart, this room is littered with clues meant to lead to the discovery of the key to escaping the room. It’s not at all complicated as the clues are laid out, almost as if someone wanted you to escape with ease. And as it turns out, they did, because shortly after escaping, you are confronted by a headmaster of a secret academy. Known as the “Escape Academy,” this organization seeks out the brightest and best minds so that they can be trained to become the next generation of spies and hackers. 

There is a plot, just don’t go into Escape Academy expecting it to be the driving force. Characters are all likeable in their own way, and the surprise twist awaiting players is a decent one, but the main focus is undoubtedly in the escape rooms themselves. Upon reaching the academy, the headmaster will task players with collecting 10 badges to prove that they have what it takes to be a master escape artist.  These 10 badges are rewards earned from completing an escape room, one crafted by the diverse cast of the academy.

While it does seem like a simple task, being that this is a video game and all, Escape Academy is able to lean in on the risky side of things. This meaning that escape rooms, though grounded to a degree, are able to get creative and up the antics. Puzzles become more elaborate, and even a bit stressful as a room gets flooded with water. It’s a nice twist that adds an excitement to the overall experience. 

And again, going back to the Portal comparison, to me, I feel that Escape Academy captures that charm. Each room felt like they were filled with a level of wit, as well as humor from the puzzles themselves. There were moments I just smirked at thinking to myself how obvious a puzzle was, only for it to turn itself upside down and begin a journey through convoluted acts. I loved every second of it, and could not wait to play the next room.

Better With Friends

Escape Academy works perfectly fine as a single-player, but seeing that this is about escape rooms, it’s definitely an experience geared towards playing with friends. All the puzzles are the same, but now you have an extra set of hands, and are working together to crack a challenge. It’s great. While you examine one clue, your friend could be off looking at another piece. Put two and two together, and there is just a fun, overwhelming feeling of joy and excitement.

In both solo and cooperative modes, there is a hint button that players can also press should they find they need a bit of guidance. I found myself using this a lot during my solo time, but with a friend, I felt a bit more compelled to solve it ourselves. It was always there, but very rarely did we actually want to use it since it was more fun solving things together. 

That’s really interesting when you think about it, and I’m sure there’s a psychological reasoning behind it. Regardless, it’s cool to see just how much co-op could influence ones playstyle.

I think Escape Academy is one of the perfect party games to play, be it local, or online. The only real complaint I do have is it’s on the short side, with a full playthrough clocking in just around four to five hours. That does make it a good length to be able to play with friends in one evening at least, but still I would have loved to see it a tad bit longer. Especially when you realize there isn’t much of a reason to go back since the rooms don’t change. At least there’s expansion packs to look forward to later this, and next year, and I know for sure I’ll be revisiting it then. Also fingers crossed that some DLC plans include a full VR mode (PLEASE!) because honestly, this game would slap as a full VR experience.

Verdict

Escape Academy was a game that certainly wasn’t on my radar, but after playing through it a few times, and with a friend, I would be delighted to say that it should be on yours. It’s a fun, witty, and charming experience that I highly recommend. So grab a friend, you have some escaping to do.

Score: 8.5/10

Pros

• Escape rooms are well thought out and provide a good amount of challenge.
• A perfect co-op game.
• Fun in both solo and co-op.
• The art direction is nice looking, but the use of lighting is fantastic in some later portions of the game. 

Cons

• Short, and doesn’t give you much of a reason to want to go back after completion.
• The story is serviceable. 

Escape Academy review code was provided by the publisher. Version tested PC. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.