Thanks to Ratalaika Games for sending us review code!

In One Escape, there’s only one way out of jail, and that’s by leaving it through cunning and trickery. Our protagonists Dook, Gor, and Hog rob a bank, and end up getting caught. They’ll need to use their skills in order to dodge guards and other traps that impede their exit.

The game is a 2D stealth-platformer and each character plays similarly to each other, in that you can double jump and hide in the shadows. Each of the inmates have a special ability: Dook can jump a little higher, Gor can climb up walls, and Hog can punch guards in order to knock them unconscious. In each of the character’s 20 stage set, you’ll have to navigate a map filled with traps in order to reach the exit. While the goal may be straightforward, there are other obstacles that will try and stop you. Guards will catch you if you’re in their line of sight and cameras can alert guards to your position. You also have things like poison gas and electrified ground that can render you incapacitated; it’s unknown if you die, but the resulting game over screen has your body lay there unconscious.

The game is a simple yet serviceable take on the stealth-platformer, as you’ll need to think of how to solve the problems at hand in order to continue to the next stage. From pressing switches to grabbing keycards, there are a few things you can do. The main problem in the early stages of each character is that everything is basic for the first ten or so levels. Since that’s about half the game, it takes a while for the game to build up in complexity. The fact that each character is similar also means that the level designs feel nearly identical. It can be a bit boring after the first dozen levels. I did like Hog's playstyle, as he can withstand touching guards once and can attack as a means of defense.

In terms of presentation, the pixel art is a nice touch; while it’s not remarkable, the style works for this game. The game is stable and runs smoothly, and the controls work well. The soundtrack is nothing to write home about, and sounds pretty generic with the usual stealth droning in the background.

In terms of morality, there is the basic premise of you aiding bad guys robbing a bank in order to escape a jail they were rightfully in. Guards can be knocked unconscious by Hog, who can punch them with some splotches of blood. Their bodies will remain there for the rest of the stage; notably, it’s visibly clear they are alive so you aren’t killing them. On the other hand, your character can be poisoned or electrocuted, though the results aren’t clearly fatal with the option to immediately retry.

One Escape isn’t a remarkable title, and it's over quickly as levels last around a minute or two each. If you’re looking for a simple stealth game for a few bucks however, you can’t go wrong with this.