The Escapists: The Walking Dead
The Escapists: The Walking Dead
Game
Game2015
The Escapists
Developer Mouldy Toof Studios
The Escapists is a strategy game developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and following a Steam Early Access release in 2014, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It was released on iOS and Android in 2017. A Nintendo Switch version of the game containing all downloadable content was released in 2018. The game was launched on the Epic Games Store on 23 September… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
197 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
87
LovedLoved
136 positive · 21 negative
95% range 80–91%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 136 | 21 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 6 | 4 | 24 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
9,390 of 10,463 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
88% recommend · 131 yes, 18 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 149 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (14,631 of 16,220 positive).
Players praise the game's creative prison-break puzzles and the tension of planning an escape. [1][2][3] Several players note the game lacks tutorials and can be frustrating without guides. [4][3][5]
Liked
Representative posts
- [13]
honestly just play the escapists 2, the first game is incredibly tedious.
- [2]
Nothing will ever match the fear and excitement felt during your first escape attempt in The Escapists. You've spent hours gathering resources and plotting an escape for it to all come down to 1 moment, and what a moment that is. There's also a brilliant soundtrack and great pixel art. It kinda makes me want to go to prison... Wait, forget I said that... The only negative I can give is that the game feels repetitive …
- [7]
the escapists is pure chaos blended in strategy. trial and error is important. you think you’re being smart and progressing, then suddenly the world is against you and decided to f*ck you up anyway. it’s dumb, tense, and hilarious in a good way. once you figure out how the game works, it would be a satisfying gameplay loops, if looking at the game's guide section is your forte. 7/10
- [3]
The Escapists is a genuinely clever prison-break puzzle game that rewards patience and creative thinking, but be warned — it does not hold your hand after the tutorial, and you'll likely spend hours figuring out basics that the game never tells you. Once it clicks though, the satisfaction of chipping through walls, forging keys, and timing your escape around guard rotations is unlike anything else. The grind for …
- [1]
The concept of prisons as a whole, that dangerous and dysfunctional society of criminals and crooks being managed with a heavy-handed approach by officers of the law in a facility designed to hold them securely with airtight security, invites a level of curiosity rarely seen in other premises as no doubt such TV series as 'Prison Break' and 'Orange is the New Black' highlight to great effect. Naturally I first came …
Summarised from 34 of the 187 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
The Escapists sits at 87% positive across 157 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The Escapists received generally positive reviews, with Windows and Xbox versions holding scores of 71 out of 100 and 74 out of 100 respectively on review aggregator website Metacritic..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 197 · most liked firstVideo game dump for the holidays!. Comment below what game you would like to receive. And remember, kindness and manners go a long way. Thank you. **Video games up for grabs** *All keys activated via Steam* --- The Escapists - Duct Tapes are Forever (DLC) The Escapists - Escape Team (DLC) The Escapists - Fhurst Peak Correctional Facility (DLC) Abalone Talisman - The Highland Expansion (DLC) --- **Claimed** ~~Scribblenauts Unlimited~~ ~~Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY~~…
neutral · AI labelView post →Let's talk about Alien Breed.  Today, I finished Alien Breed 2: Assault, the second game in the second Alien Breed trilogy. But before I get into that, I want to take a moment to talk about the pedigree of the entire Alien Breed series. Now, if you’re American, you might have no idea what I’m talking about. But if you owned an Amiga—something far more common in Europe—you probably have fond memories of Alien Breed.…
neutral · AI labelView post →Free Play Days: Game Pass members can jump into The Escapists 2 and Young Suns this weekend, while all players can enjoy PGA TOUR 2K25 and The Division 2, no membership needed. news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/0...
neutral · AI labelView post →Game Reveal! Plan. Craft. Escape. Repeat. Welcome to The Escapists 3! 🏃💨 Escape once more in 2027 on PC & consoles. Watch the official Triple-i Initiative trailer: youtu.be/xl_dBtp2PKQ
neutral · AI labelView post →i played the 360 version as a little kid after watching jacksepticeye play it and wondered why my game was so different
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The concept of prisons as a whole, that dangerous and dysfunctional society of criminals and crooks being managed with a heavy-handed approach by officers of the law in a facility designed to hold them securely with airtight security, invites a level of curiosity rarely seen in other premises as no doubt such TV series as 'Prison Break' and 'Orange is the New Black' highlight to great effect. Naturally I first came across playing the role of the warden via a similar game, Prison Architect, and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Personal Rating: Very Positive (90%) This game would be great if I wasn't so bad at it lol. The goal is simple: escape from prison while pretending to be the ''Model Prisoner''. Complete routines, but also make your own. And while the game looks simple, both by gameplay and graphics, the gameplay (especially the crafting system) CAN get your head spinning if you can't remember recipes, and the pixel graphics just feel right to it. I recommend the game, but never (and I mean NEVER!)…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game helped me escape prison 🚨 #FREETHEOPPS
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just went through what's on sale, I didn't verify the release dates or anything. Kerbal Space Program is a great time. It's the kind of game where it either grabs you and doesn't let go, or you'll drop it pretty fast. I liked Sunless Sea, but then you really just have to give a game an Eldritch aesthetic and I'll probably be there for it. The Escapists is a neat game to play with some friends. Fallout 4 has some flaws, especially if you're a fan of the previous games, but it's a decent…
neutral · AI labelView post →i named one of the old balding characters pyrocynical and i was running around beating the ♥♥♥♥ out of him and then stealing his clothes and flushing them down the toilet and it was making me laugh so hard i almost pissed myself
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really helped me get practice for when they get me for tax evasion
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Escapists 2. no its not bad or nothin. it ran like shit on my laptop (one that ran isaac decently!!!) and was the only game that i genuinely actively did not enjoy at all after checking it's everything out.
negative · AI labelView post →This game is the reason why i downloaded steam at first. Never thought that the escapist series would be great. The first was masterpiece but could need some improvements. And the sequel is even better with the coop mode. Thanks Team 17 you made two of the best game i've ever played :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nothing will ever match the fear and excitement felt during your first escape attempt in The Escapists. You've spent hours gathering resources and plotting an escape for it to all come down to 1 moment, and what a moment that is. There's also a brilliant soundtrack and great pixel art. It kinda makes me want to go to prison... Wait, forget I said that... The only negative I can give is that the game feels repetitive after the 6 main prisons, but it's still nice to have bonus prisons.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →great if you like retro games, but get escapists 2 if you want something easier and more polished (i still like this one more though)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →honestly just play the escapists 2, the first game is incredibly tedious.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Thank you iRaphahell and avg cel mic for showing me this masterpiece of a game 10 years ago
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In comparsion to mobile version this one is even worse! Terrible interface, unfinished tutorials, absolutely disgusting fullscreen mode. I regret buying this with all the DLCs.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game deserves a remaster since forever, i'd recommend anyone to play console version instead, if you have a chance
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Although I really try to love this game, I just cannot recommend this due to the gamebreaking glitches and completely unexplained mechanics.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Low prices end GOG ? Yea nah, not really. Sorry but their UI is kinda shitty, hasn’t improved in years, they don’t have a client of Linux, they take 30% just like Steam, and from my experience easily 25% of recent games there get updates far later than Steam, if they ever receive them… The Escapists is a good example of that.
neutral · AI labelView post →One of the most overlooked indie games and that is so unfortunate. It's impressive how much of this game can be described as a "stress simulator" yet it still manages to be loads of fun.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Thank you to everyone who popped into todays stream of The Escapists Santa's Sweatshop DLC, it has been good to get back on this game I miss it 😭 such good fun we raided @aerlyagraphics.bsky.social whos playing some Teamfight Tactics while doing art commissions too
positive · AI labelView post →29. The Escapists / The Escapists 2 reason: i used to watch this guy named paulsoaresjr play the first game all the time n i got my mom to buy ts as a lil kid 😭 second game was really fun to play with friends
positive · AI labelView post →Following the announcement of The Escapists 3, you can now read Stefan's preview of how the game handles the jump to 3D. www.thesixthaxis.com/2026/10/09/h... #gaming #videogames #gamenews #theescapists3
neutral · AI labelView post →i have genuinely played this game since it came out
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game isn't very fun, the gameplay loop and mechanics are the same ones that are expanded upon in the sequel, but here they're just super bare bones. The art style and music are really basic and uninteresting, trying to make progress is a chore, npcs are stupid as hell and there is basically no explanation on what certain items do. Another issue would be the combat and stats in general, when you lock on to someone to fight them your guy will just attack automatically when he's in range…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →game is rage bait supreme. its ALMOST what you want it to be but never actually is. gaurds annoying as hell. less of a puzzle more like pacman
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Don't get me wrong, I like this game. I enjoy how you get the freedom of how you can approach the game. From iron fisted escapes to the silent and unseen, this game can be quite a fun time. That said, I cannot recommend this game to anyone else because... THE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE BEHIND A DAMN PAYWALL!
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun to play in the modern day but it's not 2015 anymore. It's clearly dated. If you want it pick it up on sale but the asking price of eighteen dollars makes me unable to recommend it for the sheer greed. It's been a decade, drop the base price.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gameplay is too fast. Talking, interacting, dialogue, it all takes time and this game has no chill, none. Hours pass by as you blink. Characters blip across the screen, running running running, always running. If you're looking for a chill game about quietly building a plan to escape a prison, this isn't it. This game is designed for speedrunners.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the escapists is pure chaos blended in strategy. trial and error is important. you think you’re being smart and progressing, then suddenly the world is against you and decided to f*ck you up anyway. it’s dumb, tense, and hilarious in a good way. once you figure out how the game works, it would be a satisfying gameplay loops, if looking at the game's guide section is your forte. 7/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i mean it's ok but it's no The Escapists 2
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You might need some patience to play this - it's not particularly action-packed - but the point is the buildup and it does that perfectly. Definitely would rate it at like 8/10 or more, personally.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely goated game. Its super old, yes, but its gameplay is fun, and just the right level of challenging. Although do consider getting it on sale because $20 is ABSOLUTELY ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ WILD
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →2010s gold standard
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This Game Is PERFECT WOULD 100% RECOMMEND!!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I used this as a how-to on how to escape from a real prison. Unfortunately, real people are smarter than the security guards in this game... I still escaped though, they just caught me three days later when I did the exact same crime
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →childhood game. QUITE delectable
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →they ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ saw through the walls how does that happen
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very fun and interesting game to run through although it does take some time to get through.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Feel like 99% of the time there’s a Walking Dead crossover with something, it’s the show version. and if the comic version ever gets rep’d, or a game of its own, it’s shit like The Escapists or mobile slop. Fuck off, man lol #blutoid
neutral · AI labelView post →Next game in my back log is The Escapists. I feel like the endpoint that fetches the leaderboard may no longer be there 😅
neutral · AI labelView post →Had a swell time with Kuraichan-tan (@kakurai.neocities.org) battling the rain🌧️ ☔ We even beat the game too ^_^ Thanks for watching guys 💜 We raided @sirhellscythe.bsky.social who's playing The Escapists. Make sure to check them both out! 😁
neutral · AI labelView post →I think my only actually-bad gaming experience was The Escapists 2. It ran like hot ass on my laptop, and i didnt realize "Wait, this isnt even my kind of game in the first place!" until way after the refund period had passed.
negative · AI labelView post →The green hair is not enough, today I'm channeling even more of my inner Jacksepticeye (one of my fave content creators out there) and playing a cult classic! 🚨 #TheEscapists by @Team17 ⌚ 9pm CEST 🔗 twitch.tv/murderveggie
neutral · AI labelView post →Super creative! This game is very creative! Gameplay looks pretty simple, but it's actually really hard. Without a guide or searching the internet, it'll take you hours just for the first level (which, before starting, says is "very easy". Imagine how hard other levels will be). Took me around 4 hours just for the first level - that is, with some googling and using guides. There are lots of ways to escape from what I could see. Or maybe first level was advanced tutorial as to what items there…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i tried breaking out of prison in real life and this game didnt help.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →if u have the pacience its really fun
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →344. Hitman: World of Assassination Hitman falls into the same category of games as The Escapists - games with amazing tutorials that teach you the ins and outs, but then just kind of drop you into it and leave you floundering. I would like a little more handholding in the early game please!
neutral · AI labelView post →Always watch so many youtubers playing this for years and years and I finally decided to give it a go for myself. Despite the hundreds of hours of gameplay I had watched it still took me far too long to escape my first prison, but thats a me issue - not a game issue. Classic fun game with so much to offer.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I could very well be wrong, but isn't the (I think) 2 game series "The Escapists" made using the same style or something? Trading the frontier building for a solid goal of "escape the situation you're trapped in."
neutral · AI labelView post →No notes, just a great game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A puzzle game that I did not find interesting or enjoyable. It's quite popular though, so you might. Try it, but only on sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While the sequel is a huge improvement over the original, this game is still fun.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Play this game, its fire. Stop playing the music the good vibes, no joke mate!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I would say that it's a fun game, and it is, but its also very technical and difficult, even the very easy level of center peaks is hard for me, I don't know if that's just because I'm bad at the game, but...
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →center perks needs a nerf :D
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Remember the old times when i was a kiddo playing in that masterpiece and also who was running away from guards for having stolen the god d*mn keys and it kinda evoked the senes of nastolgia when i ran it. Btw i'd not recommend stealing anything so recklessly and mindlessly as i did back there, however nothing has really changed ever since, off the top of my head. Definitely worth playing it for a couple of hours not necessarily playing a long session but in my case i've only managed to play…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i tried to pour molten chocolate on a cop in real life, im now locked up in HMP irongate
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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