Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Class is back in session for this escape room expansion.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Escape Academy: Escape From Anti-Escape Island
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Time to put those escape skills to the test in ESCAPE ACADEMY: ESCAPE FROM ANTI-ESCAPE ISLAND. After surviving the first year curriculum at the secret Escape Academy, you were overdue for a little rest and relaxation over the summer vacation. But if there's one thing you should have learned by now, it's that you should always have an escape plan at the ready. It all begins when the Escape Jet is shot down and forced to crash land at the shores of an uncharted island. While the island may not show up on any map, it quickly becomes clear that someone wanted the Escape Academy's presence here. With secret rooms and deadly traps lying around every corner, you'll need to put all your finely tuned escape skills to the test if you hope to uncover the mystery and find your way off the island in one piece. Looks like class is back in session. Time to earn a little unexpected summer credit with the Academy.
Is It Any Good?
Try as one might, it seems there's no escaping the escape room trend. Escape Academy: Escape from Anti-Escape Island, aside from having a mouthful of a title, is meant to extend the life of the base Escape Academy game with a new narrative and some new puzzles to conquer. While the new story serves as little more than an excuse to inject some new color and tropical scenery into the Escape Academy formula than anything else, it does manage to at least tie the new challenges together in some way.
As far as the new escape rooms go, they continue the base game's trend of testing the players' thinking skills. The expansion does a fantastic job of walking that mental tightrope that hangs between puzzles feeling too easy or near impossible. While it can be frustrating to miss some lingering clue that's key to your escape, that "Eureka!" moment of finally sorting it out is satisfyingly fun. Unfortunately, that feeling doesn't last very long, as the expansion only includes five new escape rooms and it's over in almost no time at all. While it might make for a nice, quick diversion, Escape Academy: Escape from Anti-Escape Island seems more like a lost side mission to the base game than an expansion with substance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about overcoming obstacles. Can games like Escape Academy help players to improve critical thinking and problem solving skills? How can learning to think outside the box help in the real world?
What are some of the ways that developers use DLC (downloadable content) to extend the life of their games? How can expansion packs help to fill the gap between potential sequels?
Game Details
- Platforms : Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , Windows
- Subjects : Language & Reading : following directions , reading comprehension , text analysis , Math : patterns , sequences
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : analyzing evidence , applying information , investigation , problem solving , solving puzzles
- Pricing structure : Paid ($14.99)
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : iam8bit
- Release date : November 10, 2022
- Genre : Puzzle
- Topics : STEM , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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