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GAMES The Artful Escape
The Artful Escape Review
Posted: 2 years ago, last updated 12 weeks ago.
Author: Ben Kendall, @GeekDadGamer and Jo Robertson.
Overview
Francis is a musician on a quest to create his stage persona. He is the nephew of Johnson Vendetti, who is the equivalent of someone like our world's Bob Dylan and, in the opening chapters of the game, you begin to understand his legacy and the impossible expectations his fans place on him because of it.
You craft his persona, choosing his stage name and backstory and help him navigate bright and colourful worlds that react to his guitar playing, all while searching for a mysterious jazz club.
You explore the exotic and alien landscapes, guiding him up cliffs, down hills and across gorges. You can use his guitar to increase the distance of your jump, knee slide down hills and float in beams of light. Along the way you meet characters and creatures that you can talk to and interact with, choosing what Francis says to them from a selection of different responses.
The Artful Escape is a playful exploration of the love of music and rhythms. The musicality and beauty in nature and fulfilling your cosmic destiny. One for lovers of rock opera and air guitar flourishes.
Game Details
Release Date: 09/09/2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Content Rating: PEGI 12
Skill Rating: 7+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Rhythm, Traversal (Action, Adventure, Narrative and Platform)
Accessibility: 19 features
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Duration
Play Style
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB EVERYONE 10+ for Use of Tobacco, Alcohol Reference, Mild Suggestive Themes, Language. From a 2D side-scrolling perspective, players explore city streets, interact with characters, and traverse platform levels to advance the narrative. The game depicts some customizable outfits that are somewhat revealing (e.g., garter-belt lingerie, fishnets). Some characters are seen smoking cigarettes, and alcohol is referenced in the dialogue (e.g., “Think this place used to be a…possible hub of underage drinking”; "liquor license"; "champagne"). The word "*!@?*" appears in dialogue.
Skill Rating
7+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. You need a combination of timed jumping skill and using your musical skill to trigger elements of the road to enable progression. Understanding how and when to use music requires some interpretation and comprehension skill, as does the story that develops as you play.
Costs
The Artful Escape
 | Xbox Series X|S | £16.74 | – | – |
| Xbox One | £16.74 | – | – |
 | PS5 | £15.99 | – | Free PS Plus Extra |
| PS4 | £15.99 | – | Free PS Plus Extra |
 | PC | £16.99 | – | – |
 | Switch | £14.99 | – | – |
 | iPhone, iPad | Free | – | Free Apple Arcade |
Accessibility
There isn't a way to save your progress manually when you exit the game you will restart at the most recent checkpoint. Alternatively you can choose a previously played chapter to start from.
Diversity and Inclusion
Hand-Picked Games Like The Artful Escape
Our experts have hand-picked the following similar games. These are similar to The Artful Escape in how they play or their theme. These are good alternative games to The Artful Escape, or are a younger rated alternative for players not ready for PEGI 12 or ESRB EVERYONE 10+ games.
