The Escapists 2

The Escapists 2 is a highly engaging sandbox strategy and role-playing game developed by Moldy Toof Studios and published by Team17. Released in 2017, it is the direct sequel to the successful The Escapists. The game maintains the series’ signature blend of meticulous planning, resource management, and playful 2D pixel-art graphics, but dramatically improves the experience by introducing the highly anticipated feature of multiplayer gameplay.

The core objective remains the same: you are an inmate in a high-security prison, and your singular goal is to break out. This requires adherence to the strict daily schedule while stealthily gathering resources, crafting tools, and coordinating your escape plan.

Deeper Prisons, Deeper Mechanics

The Escapists 2 introduces a wider variety of dynamic and challenging prisons, each with unique routines, security measures, and escape routes. The environments are no longer just static buildings; they now include multi-story prisons with staircases, vents, and rooftops, adding a vertical dimension to the escape planning:

• New Prisons: Locations range from standard brick-and-mortar facilities to highly unconventional settings like high-speed prison trains and deep-space penal colonies, each demanding entirely different strategies.

• Daily Schedule: Success hinges on mastering the routine: attending roll call, mealtimes, and mandatory exercise. Missing an activity or being caught with contraband alerts the guards and increases the heat level, making escape significantly harder.

• New Combat System: Combat is revamped from the original, introducing a faster, more tactical system where inmates can lock onto targets, block, and utilize new attack combinations, making confrontation with guards more viable but still risky.

 Crafting and Contraband

The lifeblood of an escape is the crafting system. Players must secretly acquire common items from their surroundings—like socks, spoons, filing cabinets, and duct tape—and combine them to create essential contraband tools:

• Tools: Everything from plastic keys and sturdy pickaxes to electric drills and powerful cutting instruments must be crafted using recipes often discovered through hints or experimentation.

• Disguises: Creating convincing guard outfits or doctor scrubs is crucial for moving through restricted areas unnoticed.

• Hiding Contraband: The risk of a surprise cell search is constant. Players must creatively hide their contraband in desks, under beds, or even in toilets, all while the clock is ticking.

The Multi-Tool: Co-op Escape

The introduction of Co-op Multiplayer (both split-screen and online) is the game's greatest addition. Up to four players can collaborate on an escape plan, which requires intricate coordination:

• Distraction and Execution: One player can start a riot to distract guards while another cuts power to a critical fence.

• Shared Effort: Players can pool resources to craft a complex item faster or use their combined strength to move heavy objects.

Whether playing solo or with friends, The Escapists 2 offers a satisfying and often hilarious challenge of breaking the rules within a highly structured environment.