Parents' Guide to

Escape Academy

By David Chapman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Fun, one-off adventure makes for a great escape.

Game Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows 2022
Escape Academy packshot

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

moviesaurus
moviesaurus Parent of 8-year-old
February 25, 2023
age 13+
This is a smartly constructed virtual escape room game that levels up appropriately, giving players a chance to learn the interface and common puzzle styles before ratcheting up the difficulty. Puzzles are logical and well designed and a useful hint system is in place to help players who get truly stuck. I second a recommendation within the game to have pencil and paper handy and the game can be played with local coop. The Age recommendation is not for content but rather because of difficulty of some puzzles. However I would suggest if a teen is playing, younger players can assist and contribute in a meaningful way.

This title has:

Educational value
Easy to play/use
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

Congratulations! You are the latest student to join the ESCAPE ACADEMY. At this esteemed (and super-secret) campus, you'll be trained to become the ultimate escapist. To pass this clandestine curriculum, you'll need to hone all your investigative and puzzle-solving skills to find your way out of a series of specially designed escape rooms. These aren't your run-of-the-mill escape rooms, though. A seemingly innocent tea party builds to a potentially explosive climax as you have to disarm a bomb before your drink gets cold. Then, you'll find a way to ascend to the top of the infamous Puzzle Tower before it fills with water and becomes your aquatic tomb. You can complete your homework solo or call in a study buddy in local and online co-op play. Either way, it'll take everything you've got to survive long enough to graduate this academy and earn the title of Master Escapist.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Escape rooms have become an "it" thing these days, usually taking on some sort of themed challenge with a group of friends for a fun night out. Escape Academy brings that experience to the comfort of your own couch with its series of increasingly difficult and anxiety-inducing puzzles just waiting to be solved. The game does a great job of re-creating the overall escape room experience. Clues are often hidden in plain sight, though they require some intuition and investigation to discover exactly what context they're used in. And much like real escape rooms, the game has plenty of red herrings scattered around to keep players on their toes. Players can try to figure out the solutions on their own or recruit some help from a friend with local or online co-op play. And when all else fails, the game includes a hint system that players can use when they find themselves stuck, trading valuable points for a nudge in the general direction of the next step required for the solution.

Players can replay any stage of the game to try to improve both their time and their score, but since the puzzles never change, there's no sense of accomplishment. There lies the biggest issue with Escape Academy: There's no real incentive to replay any part of the game after the first time. Instead, it's like taking an exam with a cheat sheet by your side. Thankfully, there are plans for more updates and new escape rooms to be released as downloadable content, which should help extend the life of the game. In the meantime, Escape Academy is a one-off adventure that tests players mental mettle and makes for a fun escape from the daily grind.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about overcoming obstacles. How can games like Escape Academy help to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can be used in the real world?

  • What are some positive ways to work with others to solve problems? How can brainstorming help to come up with new solutions and new ways of thinking?

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended game lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate