Until September 23 at 10 am CT, Speed Brawl and Tharsis will be available for free via the Epic Games Store. The storefront, as usual, also announced what’s coming on the next week, which will range from September 23 until September 30 at 10 am CT. The Epic Games Store usually announces both games, but thus far, only The Escapists has been confirmed. It’s likely there will be a second game, which may be kept secret for some reason.

The Escapists is a big get for Epic Games Store, as it’s an incredibly popular game despite mixed-to-average reviews. In it, players take on the role of an inmate who must engineer an escape from prison, with there being plenty of options of doing so. There’s not much more in terms of story, but as players escape from prisons, harder ones unlock encouraging players to master their prison-escaping tactics.

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The Escapists Gameplay

Overall, The Escapists is a sandbox game where items can be crafted and used to escape, while also working around the tight rules of prison, avoiding the guards who are out to keep the player in, maintaining a prison job, hiding various sorts of contraband, and not raising suspicion. Perfecting these will enable the player to escape via quite a few methods, but as they escape a prison, they unlock a new one which is harder than the last. In lieu of a proper “story,” players must complete six primary prisons to “beat” the game.

However, its replayability is quite high thanks to the variety of escape methods which include riots, tunnels, and more; defenses to evade, such as electric fences and high walls; and fights against guards and other inmates, utilizing weapons such as a guard’s baton or a plastic fork. Indeed, with all of its possibilities, The Escapists gives a lot of control to the player. To add to that, there is also the Prison Editor which allows players to make one of their own designs, and it offers even more control and ways to play the game.

In relation to other inmates, players can complete favors to earn money, steal from them, and more. Then, players can improve their inmate’s skills in The Escapists, via things like exercise to improve strength and speed as well as the library to improve intelligence. Overall, The Escapists boasts 6 primary prisons, 10 job opportunities, 185 items to craft or steal, a variety of favors, characterized inmates, and more.

Once claimed, all Epic Games Stores titles can be kept forever, and this is more than a worthwhile pickup. However, if players find they enjoy the game, there is more related content from developer Mouldy Toof Studios to seek out. The Escapists has five pieces of DLC featuring the Early Access prison Fhurst Peak Correctional Facility, Alcatraz as based on the real-life federal penitentiary, new characters based on the A-Team, a DLC based on James Bond, and even one on Santa. On top of all that, there is also a sequel, The Escapists 2, and so Epic Games Store players who try it and find they want more have plenty to choose from.

The Escapists is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

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