Escape Simulator
{{Short description|2021 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Escape Simulator
| image = Escape Simulator cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| developer = Pine Studio
| publisher = Pine Studio
| series = Escape Simulator
| engine = Unity 3D
| platforms = Linux, MacOS, Windows, Meta Quest
| released = October 19, 2021
| genre = Puzzle
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Escape Simulator is a first person puzzle video game developed by Pine Studio and released on October 19, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/escape-simulator-pushes-out-a-new-trailer-release-date/|title=Escape Simulator Pushes Out A New Trailer & Release Date|first=Gavin|last=Sheehan|date=September 19, 2021|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|access-date=October 30, 2021|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208100039/https://bleedingcool.com/games/escape-simulator-pushes-out-a-new-trailer-release-date/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2021/10/24/112979.html|title=脱出ゲームを作ろう！協力マルチプレイも可能な『Escape Simulator』【爆速プレイレポ】|website=Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト|date=24 October 2021|access-date=31 October 2021|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208100039/https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2021/10/24/112979.html|url-status=live}}
Gameplay and development
The game is based upon real-life escape rooms, where objects can be taken, inspected and broken and the objective for the player is to figure out how to escape the locked premises. Development took slightly less than two years. The game can be played cooperatively online with up to 10 players, and also comes with a tool which allows for the players to create their own rooms. More than 3,000 rooms have been created.{{Cite web|url=https://www.netokracija.com/pine-studio-escape-simulator-184829|title=Video igra Escape Simulator samoborskog Pine Studija u par dana uprihodila 4 milijuna kuna!|date=October 27, 2021|access-date=October 30, 2021|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208100040/https://www.netokracija.com/pine-studio-escape-simulator-184829|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse/?appid=1435790&requiredtags%5B0%5D=Room&actualsort=trend&p=1|title=Escape Simulator Steam Workshop|date=October 6, 2023}}
Sales
In less than a week since its release, the game reportedly sold 50,000 units the revenue of four million HRK. By May 2022, within seven months of its release, Escape Simulator had accumulated sales of 2,000,000 units.{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1435790/view/3707084314064092099?l=english|date=Oct 19, 2023|access-date=Oct 19, 2023 |title=Escape Simulator - Dev update: Two years of Escape Simulator already?! 😱 - Steam News }}
Additional content and DLC
Post-release, Escape Simulator has continued to receive multiple updates, including additional free rooms and many tweaks and added features for the in-game Room Editor. Escape Simulator also received three paid DLC packs, the Steampunk DLC, and the Wild West DLC, and the Magic DLC. Additionally, a free DLC called the Portal Escape Chamber DLC also launched on September 7, 2023. This DLC is based on the renowned Portal series and was officially approved by Valve Corporation before its release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/videos/escape-simulator-official-portal-escape-chamber-dlc-trailer|title=Escape Simulator - Official Portal Escape Chamber DLC Trailer|date=September 7, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=August 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812114800/https://www.ign.com/videos/escape-simulator-official-portal-escape-chamber-dlc-trailer|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 82/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/escape-simulator/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Escape Simulator PC Critic Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=September 4, 2024}}
| rev1 = GameByte
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}
| rev2 = Screen Rant
| rev2Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}
}}
Escape Simulator received "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Screen Rant described it as a great way to experience an escape room digitally, calling it an "enjoyable experience" and giving it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/escape-simulator-game-review/|title=Escape Simulator Review: A Great Escape|date=October 19, 2021|website=ScreenRant|access-date=October 30, 2021|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208100039/https://screenrant.com/escape-simulator-game-review/|url-status=live}} GameByte praised the cooperative gameplay, saying "Much of the fun comes from playing the escape rooms with your pals."{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamebyte.com/reviews/escape-simulator-review/|title=Escape Simulator Review [PC] Brimming With Potential|date=October 6, 2023|website=GameByte|access-date=October 6, 2023|archive-date=March 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328061548/https://www.gamebyte.com/reviews/escape-simulator-review/|url-status=live}} The A.V. Club considered the game "genuinely thrilling" and the closest thing gaming has to an actual escape room.{{Cite web|url = https://www.avclub.com/what-game-are-you-playing-this-weekend-escape-simulator-1848435279|title = Escape Simulator is a near-perfect substitute for the real thing|website = The A.V. Club|date = 28 January 2022|access-date = 30 January 2022|archive-date = 30 January 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220130101819/https://www.avclub.com/what-game-are-you-playing-this-weekend-escape-simulator-1848435279|url-status = live}} The Gamer named it as one of the best multiplayer games to play without a microphone.{{Cite web|url = https://www.thegamer.com/multiplayer-games-solo-no-mic-voice-chat-off/|title = The Best Multiplayer Games with No Need for Voice Chat|date = 2 November 2021|access-date = 3 November 2021|archive-date = 3 November 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211103091704/https://www.thegamer.com/multiplayer-games-solo-no-mic-voice-chat-off/|url-status = live}} The Escape Room Artist team mentioned that it felt close to a real-life escape room game and listed it as one of their recommended online escape games.{{cite web |author1=Andrew Reynolds |title=Room Escape Artist's review |url=https://roomescapeartist.com/2021/12/24/pine-studios-escape-simulator-review/ |website=Room Escape Artist |publisher=Livid Robot, Inc |access-date=17 March 2022 |date=24 December 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119235330/https://roomescapeartist.com/2021/12/24/pine-studios-escape-simulator-review/ |url-status=live }} John Walker, in an article published on Kotaku, praised how well the first person perspective is combined with the realistic physics, saying it offers a far more tangible feeling of playing an actual escape room.{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Walker |title=This Is As Close To A Real-World Escape Room As You'll Find |url=https://kotaku.com/escape-simulator-room-pine-studio-review-indie-pc-co-op-1848993246 |website=Kotaku |date=30 May 2022 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=2 June 2022 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208100039/https://kotaku.com/escape-simulator-room-pine-studio-review-indie-pc-co-op-1848993246 |url-status=live }} Comic Book Resources called it a wonderfully charming game, praising its easy-to-use editor.{{cite web |last1=Creswell |first1=Jacob |title=Escape Simulator Is the Perfect Puzzle Game for Secret Hunters |url=https://www.cbr.com/pine-studio-escape-simulator-perfect-puzzle-game-secret-hunters/ |website=Comic Book Resources |date=22 May 2022 |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604073649/https://www.cbr.com/pine-studio-escape-simulator-perfect-puzzle-game-secret-hunters/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://escapesimulator.com/ Official website]
- [https://pinestudio.com/games/escape-simulator/ Pine Studio Official website]
- [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1435790/Escape_Simulator/ Escape Simulator] on Steam
- [https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/escape-simulator/6960826027306377/ Escape Simulator] on Meta Quest
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