Escape First 2
Genres: Puzzle, Horror, Mystery, Adventure
Play modes: multiplayer, singleplayer, VR
Release Date: 20-6-2019
Rating: 3/5
Developer: OnSkull Games
Our verdict
5.5/10
- Difficulty: Hard
- Players: 1–6
- Playtime: 2–4 h
Escape First 2 is a three-room escape game from OnSkull Games that runs in VR or on a regular desktop. The rooms are a follow-up to the clown circus, a medieval torture chamber, and a doorless bathroom inside an escape room factory. Up to six players can work as one team, or race each other in a versus mode where everyone is locked in alone. It is aimed at groups who want a co-op puzzle night, with or without headsets.
Player opinion is split almost down the middle. Fans enjoy the three distinct settings and the tougher puzzles compared to the first game, and say a room takes about 40 minutes with friends. Many others call the logic obscure, with red herrings and hints that just repeat themselves instead of helping.
The biggest complaint is bugs. Reviewers report items falling through the floor, unresponsive locks, shared items in co-op, and a long-known soft-lock in the bathroom room that forces restarts. A few players had a clean run, so patches may have helped, but the risk is real. Buy it only on sale, for a group that already liked the first game and has patience for walkthroughs.
Pros
- Three very different rooms: circus, torture chamber and factory bathroom
- Up to six players in co-op, plus a solo-race versus mode
- Playable in VR or with keyboard, mouse or gamepad
Cons
- Many reports of game-breaking bugs and soft-locks that force restarts
- Puzzle logic often feels obscure, with unhelpful hints
- Multiplayer is unstable and the server list is empty
About
Escape First 2 is the second installment in the Escape First series (I realise how weird that sentence sounds!). It contains three different escape rooms that you can play either alone or with friends, and is also available in VR.
Psycho Circus Cont.
You managed to escape the clown’s quarters, but you are not free yet. Did you think it would be this easy to escape? The show must go on and you are the exhibit! Think and act fast in order to escape the circus, we all know that clowns don’t like other people touching their stuff!
The Torture Chamber
A medieval dungeon, filled with torture devices, prison cages and not many prisoners left. Hearing screams from the room next door, you know you don’t have much time left until the guards come for you. The doors are locked, is there another way out?
Behind the Scenes
While visiting an Escape Room Factory, you black out and wake up in the bathroom. However, there is one thing about this room that does not seem right, it has no doors or windows! How did you get here and more importantly, how will you ever get out?Features
- Single Player, Multi Player & VR Escape Room/Puzzle game
- Virtual Reality supported
- Average duration: 2.5 hours
