Prison Escape Simulator Review (PC)

It wasn’t the triumphant climax that I envisioned, escaping the confines of a cell block with a teaspoon and a half-used roll of toilet paper, nor was it even the slightest bit glamorous, tunneling through infinite mounds of dirt and debris with makeshift dynamite and an old rag for a trowel. I can’t even say that it was reminiscent of The Great Escape, or even that it was an exhibition that was capable of stealing the thunder from beneath Steve McQueen’s monolithic repertoire of memorable moments. Heck, if I had a choice in the matter, I’d have made it so that even Shawshank Redemption had something to quake in its boots over. But the sad reality is, Prison Escape Simulator gave me nothing of the sort; it made it impossible to claim bragging rights over the warden, or even a sense of victory over the correctional system.

Like I said, it started out with a roll of toilet paper and a false sense of security. The idea was simple: dig a hole beneath the concrete floor, and make a tunnel that would eventually lead to salvation. It should’ve been a straightforward feat. And yet, with thanks to the corruption that bled through the prison system, and not to mention the glutinous inmates who made each and every attempt to thwart the process and send me back to square one, it was like finding a needle in a haystack—like exchanging forty-eight pieces of toilet tissue for a tenth of a toothpick. It was impossible. It was endless. And in spite of everything, it was never enough to stop me from wanting to do it all over again. Go figure.

Nothing to See Here, Folks

Prison Escape Simulator isn’t a game that needs a proper introduction, for it is, quite simply, a first-person ball-and-chain simulation game where you, a desperate inmate who yearns for freedom, are given the opportunity to fly the coup and emerge from the shackles of a correctional institution. To accomplish such a monumental feat, the player must divvy up their time and resources in order to juggle four tasks: digging a hole in their prison cell with whatever tools they can find; bartering with the guards and other inmates to unlock better equipment and resources; training at the gym to develop greater strength and endurance stats; and kitting out their cells with cosmetics to prevent the routine inspections from “accidentally” unveiling any suspicious activity.

If you’ve played A Game About Digging a Hole, then you ought to know the drill. In a similar situation to that, here you find yourself chained to a trowel and a small mound of dirt. With each passing evening, you have the chance to exchange an in-game currency for better digging tools, and then use said tools to dig a little deeper into a seemingly bottomless cavern.

Of course, there is a bit more to it than that. For example, on some days, you may have to accrue enough “cash” to purchase a better toilet—the equivalent of a bucket for the sand that you amass from digging. In other cases, you may have to train your body to be able to endure lengthier shifts of digging. And then there are the other tasks that require your attention — shopping for posters, rugs, and other worthless decorations, for example. So, a little more complicated than A Game About Digging a Hole, all things considered.

Digging for a Better Tomorrow

The core gameplay loop here is simple, if not a tad monotonous, what with the frequent roadblocks that make it so that you have to source new ways to make the tiniest bit of progress. Thankfully, there is some level of primal satisfaction that comes with the act of making gradual changes to your cell and the hell in which you spend your time. The AI is a little janky, I’ll admit, but the process of escaping the pit in which you call home does feature a couple of solid incentives—a fairly sizable wheel of tools, cell decor, and progress-based milestones, for instance. As I said, it can be somewhat difficult to find a foothold and follow through on your goals. But even with a predictable schedule and a lot of grinding, it does offer enough perks for you to chase en route to that ever-elusive golden gate.

Like a lot of indie simulation titles, Prison Escape Simulator does feature its fair share of technical burdens and the one or two graphical bugs. Although not quite as intrusive as a lot of its kin, it does foster a couple of problems—one issue, in particular, that resulted in the game crashing and giving me no option but to restart and jump back in. A small setback, for sure, yet one that sadly sullied an otherwise smooth and oddly enjoyable experience.

Verdict

Prison Escape Simulator isn’t about to put a candle to Shawshank Redemption, but it’ll certainly make the likes of A Game About Digging a Hole think twice about its matchmaking capabilities. Although still in receipt of its own litter of downfalls and technical mishaps, the core gameplay is still surprisingly enjoyable, if not a bit repetitive and dull on the rarest of occasions. But that’s the thing with simulation games that wear their heart on their sleeves: you sort of know what to expect without having to lift the lid. Here, things aren’t anywhere near as complex as they are in cult games like Prison Architect or The Escapists. That said, at no point does it strive to belittle its competitors; instead, it generate a simple gameplay loop, and then just rolls with it, warts and all.

While it is incredibly unlikely that Prison Escape Simulator will overthrow its competition with its relatively basic premise and somewhat limited gameplay elements, I’d like to think that it has the potential to appeal to a much, much wider audience, particularly those who have an interest in escapology and painfully dull chore core work. Could it be a better game? Absolutely. Though, for what it does bring to the table, I’d say that there’s enough here to warrant a few hours behind bars. If, however, you would much rather go for the full stint in prison, then you might just struggle to find enough to keep you entertained in this particular correctional facility. Sorry, folks.