Imagine the adrenaline of an escape room, but instead of a locked door, you’re trapped on a speeding train with puzzles at every turn. How 2 Escape delivers this experience, blending cooperative gameplay with brain-teasing challenges. Developed by BreakFirst and published by Maximum Entertainment, this game invites two players to team up, each with a distinct role, to stop a runaway train.
Unlike solo puzzle adventures like Blue Prince, which immerses players in a mysterious manor, How 2 Escape thrives on collaboration, making it a standout choice for gamers who love teamwork. Available on platforms like Steam and Nintendo Switch, it delivers a quirky, cooperative adventure.
What is How 2 Escape?
In How 2 Escape, one player is Emy, who wakes up in captivity on an express train with puzzles and traps. She has to reach the brake handle in the locomotive to be in a position to stop the train. The other player is Johann, Emy’s brother, who has access to a source of information through a phone that Emy cannot see.
While they journey through express train carriages with particular problems, they must collaborate to solve them. The game itself is immersive yet straightforward: solve the puzzles or get beaten as time runs out. This design, described on Just For Games, is an immersive one that feels like being the main character of an action movie with a sidekick.
How Does How 2 Escape Work?
Asymmetry underlies How 2 Escape’s gameplay. One player, on a PC, controls Emy, moving the train’s world around, picking up objects, and solving puzzles. The other plays a free supporting app, on an iPhone or Android, reading documents, maps, and clues that guide Emy.
Players can’t see what the other player is doing, so they need to communicate. Whether you’re in the same room or connected via video chat, you’ll need to describe clues clearly and listen carefully. Each carriage introduces timed challenges, adding pressure to think fast.
According to Room Escape Artist, this setup makes every puzzle a test of teamwork and quick thinking.
Why How 2 Escape Shines
What sets How 2 Escape apart is its focus on cooperation. The game’s design ensures that both players are on equal footing, fostering a sense of shared success. Puzzles vary from decoding cryptic messages to searching for hidden objects, with requirements of logic, observance, and occasionally a splash of fantastical guesswork.
Puzzlement diversity maintains the fun of the gameplay, as each carriage feels like discovering a new adventure. Replay value is also one of its strengths, since players must rely on communication, different strategies can reveal new discoveries on subsequent playthroughs.
Steam reviews praise its immersive environment and challenging puzzles, 72% of 534 user reviews being positive.
The Puzzle Variety Keeps You Hooked
Additionally, the puzzles in How 2 Escape are a strength. Some require piecing together data from Johann’s app, like cracking a code to open a lock, while others require Emy to manipulate objects in the train environment. The time limit on some gives them more urgency, but the game avoids frustrating.
Some puzzles have more than one solution, encouraging creativity. As an example, a puzzle can ask players to arrange symbols based on instructions from Johann, or Emy must find a hidden switch. This variety, as another Reddit user put it, makes every session a unique and surprising experience.
A Cooperative Experience Unlike Most
Furthermore, the co-op nature of How 2 Escape produces a unique bond among players. Unlike most multiplayer games where competition is the key, this game requires trust and coordination. You’ll be laughing at misunderstandings or whooping when a puzzle clicks into place.
The lovingly hand-drawn art and atmospheric train environs contribute to the gameplay experience, so you’ll feel like you’re on a high-roller quest. The Nintendo Switch page highlights its accessibility, stating that it’s designed for two players, with additional accessories required for the Switch Lite.
Why Gamers Love It
Moreover, How 2 Escape has been praised for its ability to simulate the escape room experience online. Gamers appreciate how it is true to real-life escape rooms, where communication and problem-solving play the most significant role. Consollection’s review notes its popularity with escape room fans, noting the game’s ability to challenge without overwhelming.
With approximately six hours of gameplay, as noted by Room Escape Artist, it offers decent content for its $14.99 price, with the additional app being free.
Tips on How to Play How 2 Escape
- Speak Clearly: Use clear explanations to present clues without confusion.
- Breathe Easy Under Pressure: Timed puzzles are tense, but panicking will not fix them.
- Try Anything: Some puzzles have multiple solutions, so try different approaches.
- Choose Your Partner Wisely: Play with a friend you enjoy working with for the most fun.
- Make Use of Voice Chat: When playing online, video or voice chats improve it.
These tricks, based on input from members of the Steam Community, will enhance gameplay and make each session one to remember.
Overall, How 2 Escape is a game not to miss for players who like puzzles and co-op play. Its groundbreaking use of a companion app and play on the PC sets forth a dynamic experience that is fresh and thrilling. The game’s synthesis of logic, observation, and communication into one cohesive adventure renders it an escape room and cooperative gaming can’t-miss. Whether escaping with a partner in the same room or across the world, How 2 Escape offers a singular, challenging, and rewarding experience that turns puzzles into giant adventures. Download the app, grab a friend, and hop onto this adrenaline rollercoaster.