PC, Mac, Linux
For your perspective, despite this review of Escape Simulator‘s DLC pack coming immediately after the original review of Escape Simulator on the site, there are in fact 39 new games added to my Steam account between the two. Which is my way of saying, a lack of posts does not represent a lack of working on this site. That paranoid note aside, let’s crack on and celebrate that this new collection of Escape Simulator levels is the excellent game at its finest.
If you haven’t read the review of the main game, do go do that first. That done, this is four more levels of the same, but set in larger areas, each with more to do. Rather than 15 minutes, three of the levels give a target of 30, while the last offers you an hour. (This does make the previously suggested five-hour play-time a little silly, given the timer itself only adds up to two and a half.) I finished all but one of the levels within the time limit, but didn’t rush, preferring not to put that pressure on myself.
This time things are set on a steampunky airship, each of the levels challenging you, as ever, to open a final door. But this time, on your way, you’ll be fiddling with a lot more locks, mechanisms and machines. As previously, the game has a context-specific hint system that’ll churn out images that should prompt you toward the next area of focus, or remind you of a clue you picked up twenty minutes ago that’s now become relevant. And as previously, it’s more fun not to use this, to ignore the clock, and just get on with methodically searching your surroundings.
You can, as before, play this all in co-op, which still sounds tremendous fun to me. Or a great way to have a massive argument with friends. Chatting with others in order to solve the puzzles is part of what makes real-life escape rooms so much fun, and playing these solo has made me miss that aspect. But it remains a brilliant solo experience too.
I’ll bring up something I didn’t last time: yeah, it really feels like a game that would work in VR. As a very VR-sceptic person, that’s not a thought that occurs to me often, but it feels like it would be such a good fit here. The fact is, these began life as VR games, and thankfully then switched to a regular monitor-based experience so more could enjoy them. But they still scream out for a VR port.
These extra levels are less than £4, or you can get them along with the original for a third off at under £12. That’s a really good price, not least because once you’re done there are the user-created puzzles to play too. Something I plan to dig into more at some point.
These are four fine new levels, and each a meatier chunk too. I hope the game can do well enough that Pine Studio can keep making more.
- Pine Studio
- Steam
- £4/€5/$5
- Official Site
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“39 new games added to my Steam account”
Sometimes I think you should include a ‘bad games’ digest once on a while. Or a ‘fix this please’ list if your snarky side died.
I enjoy reading your reviews but was a bit oblivious to your hard work behind the scenes. Please do remind us from time to time of the flood of games that you tested but did not enjoy enough to put on the site. At least I appreciate more the work you actually do for me more when reminded so.
Maybe even make the cut away titles a thing of its own? It’s like this beer tasting I went to years ago where the host served 5 beers he did not like himself and 5 beers he really enjoys – it can give you a lot of perspective to try something another person does not like. (I’ve never since met a beer tasting host that had the same courage… Always only beers they themselves enjoy)
Thanks for spotlighting these – steam has been popping them in my face for a while but I thought it might just be people jumping on the current ‘escape room’ bandwagon. Sounds like this is someone making the best possible version of it. Maybe something to play with my partner!
To jump on the topic of ‘all those other games’ as well, I do love a good negative review, but I probably wouldn’t enjoy writing them… at some point you get older (well, some do) and you realize that you are making someone feel awful. However – I agree it would be nice to be exposed to all the stuff you’ve been sifting.
I’m here to read about interesting games that I will probably never play, to be honest. A non-recommended game can still have lots of interesting stuff to unpack, as a reader. So, maybe there’s a way to eke out the interest without dumping on something or giving it is own article?