Game Review: Escape Academy

Released: July 2022

System: Xbox Game Pass

Genre: Puzzle

My Rating: 3/5

I currently base my reviews loosely around the CAWPILE system developed by Book Roast on YouTube. I modify the categories depending on the format of the story I’m reviewing.

My star ratings are purely by my opinion and not measured by any particular metric.

SPOILER WARNING: This review will contain spoilers! Proceed with caution!

Summary

Welcome to Escape Academy. Train to become the ultimate Escapist. Solve Puzzles. Hack Servers. Meet the Faculty. Brew the perfect cup of tea.

Characters

Silent protagonist is meh in this case. Some games manage to make them fun or interesting. I think this one could have benefited from more… personality. The rest of the characters are fairly animated and interesting. Our little rival is kind of a side thing, it didn’t really bear heavily on the story for most of the game. Eel looks cool until he becomes suspicious.

Atmosphere

It’s a puzzle school. It works for what it is, fun and colorful.

Game Mechanics/Gameplay

For the most part it handled okay for the puzzles. However! The camera movement was awful, even with me adjusting the sensitivity. I don’t know why they made it so jerky and hard to control (perhaps it was originally meant for PC?). There are times where there needs to be a little more direction on what you’re supposed to be doing or where you’re supposed to go. Maybe a proper diary or something, especially if you have to leave the game and come back another day.

Plot

The plot was okay. The came could definitely use more story substance (there is some grace to be had in that I do believe this is an indie title and there’s only so much you can do with a small team). For what it is, the plot works well enough. Also… are there more than the 2 students? We never see even a jpg of other students. Only when you hear the cheers during the rival thing is there a hint of a full school. Each shift that was more story focused was a bit jarring.

Intrigue

I was curious what happened to the headmaster and what Eel was up to. Also, the puzzles at the very end weren’t very good. Unclear directions and such.

Logic

It plays and feels like an escape room, as it should. It follows the rules of escape rooms, which can occasionally be obtuse.

Enjoyment

It’s mostly fun, until the puzzles got a little too obscure. Could’ve been better, could’ve been worse. Maybe add in a difficulty choice? As for re-playability, I don’t really feel a pull to play it again.

Would I Recommend?

Yes. If you like puzzles and escape rooms, this is a pretty good choice. Despite the bits of jarring or lack of direction, I was able to figure out the puzzles (maybe had to look a few up, but not all of them).