The Escapists facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Escapists |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Mouldy Toof Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Team17 |
| Designer(s) | Chris Davis |
| Engine | Unity Clickteam Fusion |
| Platform(s) | Windows, OS X, Linux, Switch, PlayStation 4, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android |
| Release date(s) | Windows, Xbox One
|
| Genre(s) | Strategy, role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Escapists is a fun strategy game where you play from a top-down perspective. It was made by Mouldy Toof Studios. After being available early in 2014, the game fully launched in 2015 for computers (Windows, macOS, Linux) and game consoles (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4). Later, it came out for phones and tablets (iOS, Android) in 2017. A special version with all extra content was released for Nintendo Switch in 2018. In this game, you pretend to be a prisoner. Your main goal is to escape from different prisons, which get harder as you go!
Many people liked how much freedom the game gave them to try different ways to escape. However, some found it tricky to learn at first. A new game, The Escapists 2, came out in 2017.
Contents
How to Play The Escapists
In The Escapists, you take on the role of a prisoner. Your mission is to break out of six main prisons. These prisons range from pretty easy to super tough. When you escape one prison, the next one unlocks. There are also extra prisons you can get as downloadable content (DLC). You can play these in any order you like.
When you start, you pick your character's name. You can even name other prisoners and guards! The game begins on day one, with your character waking up in their cell. You can find or steal items to help you escape. You can also craft new items by mixing two or three things together. For example, you can mix toothpaste and talcum powder to make putty. This putty can be used to make a copy of a key.
You can also do favors for other prisoners. If you help them, they will give you money. The amount of money depends on how much they like you. Favors can be simple, like finding an item, or more complex, like distracting guards.
Improving Your Character
To get better at escaping, you can work out and read books in the library. This helps you improve your character's stats. Stats like strength, speed, and intelligence make you better at different tasks. Higher stats mean you have a better chance of escaping.
Every prison has a daily schedule. This includes meals, work, exercise, and showers. You can skip meals, showers, and exercise without much trouble. But you must attend all roll calls! If you miss a roll call, the prison will go into lockdown.
You need to be careful to hide any illegal items, called contraband. Guards will regularly search your desk. If they find contraband, they will take it away. You will also be sent to solitary confinement, which means you are locked away by yourself. Any damage you made, like chipped walls or broken vents, will be fixed.
Escape Methods
There are many ways to escape from prison! You could cause a big disturbance, sneak through vents, dig tunnels, or even climb over roofs. Each prison has different security features. These can include electric fences or very tall, strong walls.
You will often need different items to win a fight with other prisoners or guards. There are many types of items you can use, from a guard's baton to a plastic fork.
Making and Releasing The Escapists
The Escapists was the second game made by Chris Davis. He worked on it mostly by himself. Chris raised money for the game through Kickstarter in 2013. This allowed him to work on game development full-time. For this game, Chris teamed up with Team17, a game publisher. Team17 helped make the game better and brought it to the Xbox One.
The game was inspired by an old game from 1984 called Skool Daze. Chris wanted players to try things out for themselves. He made the hints and tutorial very limited. He hoped that finding solutions on their own would make players feel a greater sense of success. To get ideas, Chris watched prison films and learned about real prison escapes.
The game was first released for Steam Early Access in August 2014. This meant players could buy and play the game while it was still being made. Their feedback helped Chris improve the game and adjust how hard it was. Chris said that the players "made the game into what it is." The full game came out in February 2015.
Extra Content (DLC)
There are five extra content packages, called downloadable content (DLC), for The Escapists.
- The first DLC was "Fhurst Peak Correctional Facility." It was first a bonus for early players. It became a DLC because many people wanted it.
- The second DLC was "Alcatraz." This prison is based on the famous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. It came out in April 2015.
- "Escape Team" was the third DLC, released in June 2015. In this one, you can play as four different prisoners instead of just one. These characters are based on the TV show "The A-Team."
- The fourth DLC, "Duct Tapes are Forever," came out in November 2015. It has a James Bond theme. You play as a super-spy trying to escape from a bad guy's secret hideout.
- The fifth DLC, "Santa's Sweatshop," was given away for free in December 2015.
What Came After: Spin-offs and Sequels
The Escapists: The Walking Dead is a special game that combines The Escapists gameplay with characters and places from The Walking Dead comic books. It was released between 2015 and 2016.
Another spin-off game is The Survivalists. In this game, you have to survive on a deserted island. It was announced in 2019 and came out in 2020.
A sequel to the original game, called The Escapists 2, was released in August 2017. This new game added multiplayer, meaning you could play with your friends! It came out for computers and consoles first. Later, it was released for Nintendo Switch in 2018 and for phones and tablets in 2019.
