The Escapists 2

This prison life sim is a rigid, rough, and none too easy experience that's meant both to punish offenders and to ultimately offer them a chance at rehabilitation. That's the perfect way to describe the gameplay in The Escapists 2, Team17's sequel to the indie prison break simulator. The sequel follows the original's formula, but smuggles in a few new features to make your prison time a little less lonely. Multiplayer support adds a new twist, with players working together to set up their great escape while also increasing the chances of getting caught in the act. Of course, if you're not feeling particularly friendly, you can go head-to-head in the prison yard, with each player masterminding their own escape in a frantic rush to freedom. While it's fun to let friends take a more active role in the game, admittedly the solo play is still the deeper and most rewarding experience.

All of your escape preparations need to be made while still carrying out your strict prison schedule and while making sure not to arouse any suspicion from the guards or getting caught in the wrong end of an inmate brawl. To say the game's difficulty is brutal is an understatement. Even with near-perfect planning, there are high-tension trial-and-error moments where you hold your breath and simply hope for the best. And yet, as infuriating as it is when one mistake costs you all of your progress, it also makes things all the more rewarding when things go right.