Games Like The Escapists

Craft, Steal, Brawl and Escape! It’s time to bust out of the toughest prisons in the world as you return to the life of an inmate in The Escapists 2, now with multiplayer! Have you got what it takes to escape?

Why similar: Crafting 19.5%, Pixel Graphics 18.4%, Strategy 14.4%, Multiplayer 9.3%, Simulation 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: This direct sequel expands on the original formula with improved mechanics, multiplayer support, and more complex prison layouts.

Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.

Why similar: Strategy 22.2%, Simulation 18.3%, Sandbox 17.7%, Top-Down 11.6%, 2D 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: While you play as the warden rather than the prisoner, this game offers the most comprehensive look at prison management and construction mechanics.

Merging the smash hit indie game The Escapists with the world wide phenomenon that is The Walking Dead, Team17 have taken the very best of both worlds and are now providing players with the opportunity to play Rick Grimes as he takes on hordes of zombies let loose upon the world.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 27.6%, Survival 20.8%, Strategy 17.8%, Multiplayer 8.3%, Crafting 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: This spin-off combines the core crafting and planning mechanics of the original game with a zombie-survival theme.

Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 32%, Simulation 19.7%, Indie 10.4%, Difficult 8.6%, Strategy 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: Like The Escapists, this game focuses on navigating a restrictive, bureaucratic system where every decision carries significant weight.

A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.

Why similar: Survival 27.5%, Strategy 22.2%, Sandbox 16.7%, Simulation 15.4%, 2D 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: It offers deep base-building, survival, and management mechanics that require careful planning to keep your colony alive.

Sheltered is a deep and emotional survival management game. You take on the role of protecting four family members who, after a global apocalypse, have found their way to a deserted shelter.

Why similar: Survival 27%, Pixel Graphics 20.1%, Crafting 16.8%, Strategy 13.6%, Simulation 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A survival management game that forces you to manage resources and maintain a base while keeping your family alive in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Don’t Starve is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style.

Why similar: Crafting 33.4%, Survival 28.3%, Sandbox 9.7%, Difficult 5.8%, Multiplayer 4.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game shares a focus on gathering resources, crafting tools, and surviving against difficult odds in a hostile environment.

Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite..

Why similar: Survival 30.3%, Crafting 24.4%, Sandbox 11.9%, Multiplayer 9.6%, Simulation 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: This hardcore survival game features intricate crafting and stealth mechanics that reward players for careful preparation and patience.

60 Seconds! is a dark comedy atomic adventure of scavenge and survival. Collect supplies and rescue your family before the nuke hits. Stay alive in your fallout shelter. Make difficult decisions, ration food and hunt mutant cockroaches. And maybe survive. Or not.

Why similar: Difficult 29.5%, Strategy 24.1%, Survival 22.8%, Funny 11.9%, 2D 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the frantic, time-pressured nature of survival and resource management within a confined space.

You’re a state-installed landlord in a totalitarian country. Place listening devices, steal and sneak into your tenants’ apartments. Use what you uncovered to report anyone capable of plotting against the state. You MUST! But WILL you?

Why similar: Strategy 38.5%, Simulation 26.1%, Singleplayer 10.3%, Indie 8.4%, 2D 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: You must balance stealth and moral choices while living under a repressive regime, mirroring the tension of prison life.

A living world full of surprises, secrets and danger awaits in The Survivalists, an adventure-filled survival sandbox set in The Escapists universe. Explore, build, craft and even train monkeys with up to three friends in a desperate bid to survive. Have you got what it takes to be a Survivalist?

Why similar: Crafting 33.6%, Pixel Graphics 14.9%, Survival 14.5%, Sandbox 8%, Multiplayer 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: Developed by the same team, this game focuses on crafting, survival, and exploration in a sandbox environment.

Get a taste of prison life! Become a prison guard and deal with dangerous convicts. Prison management, lots of daily activities. Will you become the best guard in history? Or maybe you'll turn into the worst scumbag this Prison has ever seen?

Why similar: Simulation 24.6%, Sandbox 23.6%, RPG 17.8%, Funny 15.5%, Action 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game provides a first-person perspective on prison life, focusing on the daily duties and interactions within a correctional facility.

This Is the Police is a strategy/adventure game set in a city spiraling the drain. Taking the role of gritty Police Chief Jack Boyd, you'll dive into a deep story of crime and intrigue. Will Jack reach his retirement with a nice stack of bills, or will he end up broken ... or worse?

Why similar: Strategy 56.9%, Simulation 19.8%, Singleplayer 9.1%, Indie 7.5%, Adventure 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A management and strategy game that deals with crime and corruption, requiring you to balance resources and make difficult ethical choices.

Build and manage a medieval graveyard while facing ethical dilemmas and making questionable decisions. Welcome to Graveyard Keeper, the most inaccurate medieval cemetery sim of the year.

Why similar: Crafting 39.3%, Pixel Graphics 26.8%, Simulation 9.1%, Sandbox 8.7%, RPG 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game features deep crafting and management systems wrapped in a dark, humorous theme similar to the light-hearted prison setting.

Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society's survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process?

Why similar: Survival 39.5%, Strategy 35.6%, Difficult 10.8%, Simulation 9.9%, Singleplayer 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: This city-survival game emphasizes difficult decision-making and resource management to ensure the survival of your people in a frozen wasteland.

It's 3:00 a.m. Your neighbours are having a loud party. Stop them. Party Hard is tinyBuild's award-winning stealth strategy game about ruining parties by any means.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 40.8%, Strategy 21.3%, Difficult 10.3%, 2D 5.2%, Action 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: A stealth-strategy game where you must navigate environments and eliminate targets without being caught, echoing the stealth elements of escaping.

Crash land on a hostile planet where you'll have to build the strongest defenses if you wish to live to escape from it. But be warned... this planet is merciless. Build strong, and smart; else physics may flood or destroy your only hopes of survival.

Why similar: Crafting 31.9%, Survival 17.4%, Sandbox 12.3%, Strategy 8.2%, Pixel Graphics 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: A 2D survival game that emphasizes building defenses and crafting tools to survive against waves of enemies.

Barotrauma is a 2D co-op submarine simulator – in space, with survival horror and RPG elements. Steer your submarine, complete missions, fight monsters, fix leaks, operate machinery, man the guns and craft items, and stay alert: danger in Barotrauma doesn’t announce itself!

Why similar: Survival 23.7%, Difficult 13.7%, Multiplayer 13%, Strategy 12.5%, Simulation 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: A complex submarine survival game that requires team coordination, resource management, and constant maintenance to survive.

Explore, craft, and survive in this Multiplayer RPG Platformer with permanent death! Featuring many Rogue-like elements, Magicite randomly generates each underground dungeon for you and your friends to delve deep into.

Why similar: Crafting 25.3%, Pixel Graphics 19%, Difficult 8.3%, Survival 7.8%, Multiplayer 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging roguelike that focuses on crafting, survival, and exploration in a pixelated world.

Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.

Why similar: Survival 32.1%, Strategy 14.4%, Sandbox 11.9%, Simulation 11.1%, Difficult 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers intricate base-building and survival mechanics that require careful planning to keep your inhabitants alive.

The recent events in a state prison, involving Jake from Team Hot Guns was a perfect moment for some prisoners to escape - you are one of them.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 36%, Action 28.4%, Indie 22.8%, 2D 12.7%

Why You'll Like It: A retro-styled action platformer that focuses on the escape aspect of prison life with challenging puzzle-like levels.

Prison Boss VR is a crafting and trading game turning your VR space into a jail cell! Craft cigarettes, alcohol and cookies for other inmates! Customize your cell as your reputation grows! Earn cash until you can’t store it anymore and become the Prison Boss!

Why similar: Crafting 44.1%, Simulation 14.8%, Strategy 13.1%, Sandbox 8.8%, Funny 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: An immersive simulation that tasks you with crafting contraband within a prison setting, directly mirroring the activities of The Escapists.

Person of European Heritage #112: Welcome to Relocation Block B, your new home. Your designated role is 'Bouncer'. Work hard, stay out of trouble, and we might let you stay in the UK.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 41.5%, Simulation 26.2%, RPG 9.4%, Difficult 8.2%, 2D 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A dystopian management game that forces you to work within a strict system to survive, similar to the daily routines in prison.

Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word to become the one true cult.

Why similar: 2D 24.4%, Funny 21.6%, Singleplayer 18.7%, Action 12.9%, Adventure 12.4%

Why You'll Like It: Combines base management and survival with action-oriented gameplay, offering a satisfying loop of growth and resource gathering.

Become the most successful youtuber on the planet! Create videos, get subscribers, attend events, interact with your fans… and grow your channel. Live a youtuber’s life!

Why similar: Simulation 23.9%, Funny 16.3%, Strategy 16.2%, Comedy 13.5%, Singleplayer 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: A life-simulation and management game that requires you to balance your daily schedule and resources to succeed.

Potion Craft is an alchemist simulator where you physically interact with your tools and ingredients to brew potions. You're in full control of the whole shop: invent new recipes, attract customers and experiment to your heart's content. Just remember: the whole town is counting on you.

Why similar: Crafting 55.7%, Simulation 13.4%, Sandbox 9.9%, 2D 6.6%, Singleplayer 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: A unique crafting-focused simulation that rewards experimentation and careful planning to succeed.

Basement is a strategy game, where you start doing illegal business to fund the development of your dream video game. It won't be easy, so get ready to deal with other gangs, cops, crazy junkies, mysterious investor and even ghosts from the past.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 20.9%, Difficult 19.5%, Strategy 19.4%, Simulation 13.3%, Sandbox 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: A crime-themed management and strategy game where you build and defend an underground operation.

Too long in this prison, time to get out of here. Pull the carpet and start digging with a teaspoon. Watch out for the guard, sell him the junk you find. Trade toilet paper with the prisoners. Get better items and improve your stats. Expand the tunnel, use glow sticks and dynamite. Will you escape?

Why similar: Simulation 46%, Multiplayer 20.6%, Action 10.8%, Singleplayer 10.3%, Indie 6.4%

Prepare to inhabit a world of chivalry, class warfare and off-beat pop references. Knights of Pen & Paper 2 is a turn-based, retro style, pixel-art adventure full of danger, intrigue, death, and saving throws!

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 29.4%, Strategy 21.5%, RPG 16.3%, Simulation 9.4%, Adventure 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: A strategy-heavy RPG that uses a meta-game approach to simulate a tabletop experience with pixel-art charm.

Escape prison with your friends by equipping tools, evading guards, and executing your breakout plan. Destructible environments, proximity chat, a multitude of escape routes, 10 player lobbies, and a full custom map editor!

Why similar: Multiplayer 20.9%, Strategy 20.8%, Funny 20.3%, Co-op 12.9%, Adventure 9.9%

In this 2D, short narrative-based game, you assume the role of the Grim Reaper... on an office job. Your job is to decide which people are going to live or die. The consequences of your choices are yours to bear, while the mystery of your incarnation awaits revelation!

Why similar: Strategy 30.1%, Simulation 24.6%, Puzzle 14.5%, 2D 11.7%, Adventure 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: A bureaucratic simulation that forces you to make impactful decisions while working within a rigid, high-stakes system.

Embark on an epic 2D pirate simulator RPG adventure, where you navigate both land and sea. Upgrade your ship, recruit and level up your crew, and uncover hidden treasures as you become a legendary pirate.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 33%, Sandbox 28.7%, Simulation 17.3%, RPG 9.4%, Action 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox survival game that allows you to manage a crew and build a ship, focusing on exploration and tactical combat.

Play as a Prisoner or a Guard with up to 12 players(or alone) in an online prison game. Loot, Craft, and make your way to the exit, or investigate and arrest wanted players as a guard!

Why similar: Strategy 32.6%, Simulation 21.5%, RPG 13.8%, Multiplayer 13.7%, Co-op 8.8%

Survive the galaxy's toughest prison and rise to the top of a space gang! Explore, fight, craft, trade and learn convicts' stories to escape the facility. Space Prison is a turn-based tactical survival game with deep strategy and social RPG elements.

Why similar: Crafting 34.9%, Strategy 16.6%, Survival 14.5%, Simulation 12.6%, 2D 7.4%

An online game that you'll play with 3-11 players as a Prisoner or a Guard and will try to escape or prevent escapes. Loot, Craft, and make your way to the exit, or investigate and arrest wanted players as a guard!

Why similar: Strategy 33.1%, Multiplayer 24.4%, Simulation 14.8%, RPG 12.3%, Co-op 11%

Stranded on a desert island, explore, craft, build and fight in this action survival game!

Why similar: Crafting 31.3%, Pixel Graphics 22.7%, Survival 17.5%, Sandbox 8.5%, RPG 4.7%

You're the world's softest criminals in an island prison with mandatory nap rooms. Your escape plan? Eat bread, poop until the gates open, and pee on the robots chasing you. Break out with three friends, or play the robots tucking them back in. A wacky 4v2 prison break in quick 10-minute matches.

Why similar: Survival 22.3%, Top-Down 16.2%, Multiplayer 15.7%, Funny 13.9%, 2D 13.9%

Choose one of the characters and start your journey. The game has many interesting things in store: building, crafting, puzzles, bosses, mystery, laughs, quests etc.

Why similar: Crafting 25.1%, Pixel Graphics 19.2%, Survival 13.9%, Multiplayer 7.4%, Sandbox 7.2%

Dive into The Prison, a modern reimagining of the classic late 90's game. Experience a vividly detailed prison world and strategic multiplayer gameplay. Customize your inmate, follow a gripping storyline, and discover new items and secrets. Will you escape or rule from within?

Why similar: Strategy 41.7%, RPG 25%, Action 20.1%, Multiplayer 8%, Indie 5.3%

You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below, repair your ship and set off to explore the universe...

Why similar: Crafting 27.6%, Pixel Graphics 16.7%, Sandbox 14.5%, Survival 13.4%, Multiplayer 6%

The post-apocalyptic dark comedy is back - remastered and even more radioactive than before! Scavenge supplies, rescue your family, and stay alive in your fallout shelter. Make difficult decisions, hunt mutant roaches... and maybe survive. Or not.

Why similar: Difficult 28.4%, Strategy 24.2%, Survival 23%, 2D 13.2%, Funny 11.2%

Use the glitch you have discovered to break out of jail!

Why similar: Simulation 42.4%, Action 19.7%, Adventure 16.3%, Comedy 10.2%, Singleplayer 5.9%

Take back your identity in Muffles’ Life Sentence, a darkly comedic narrative adventure set in a prison where inmates are remade to match their crimes.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 32.3%, Strategy 13%, Funny 11.6%, 2D 10.5%, RPG 10.2%

You are bread. Your mission, become toast! Take on all hazards to deliciousness as you head on an epic adventure in one of the the toughest games ever baked. All of the game modes (including Bagel Race) are now unlocked so there's sure to be something to suit everyone's taste!

Why similar: Difficult 29.7%, Simulation 22.2%, Funny 14.8%, Comedy 9.4%, Singleplayer 6.4%

Build an intricate prison, hire the best staff, and pamper your prisoners to create the perfect rehabilitation facility in Prison Tycoon: Under New Management

Why similar: Strategy 35.6%, Simulation 24.6%, Sandbox 22.1%, Top-Down 12.6%, Singleplayer 5.1%

Fat Prisoner Simulator 2 is a fighting simulator with realistic physics where you are going to play the role of a prisoner during a jailhouse riot. All you can see around is crazy prisoners attacking everybody there.

Why similar: Simulation 27%, Funny 13.6%, Sandbox 13.6%, Action 11.3%, Indie 10.6%

Train hard, fight crocodiles and find love. Earn your place in the Punch Club ranks, and discover who brutally murdered your father, in this choose your own adventure boxing management tycoon.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 41.2%, Simulation 18.6%, Funny 11.8%, 2D 11.8%, RPG 10.4%

Welcome to Kindergarten! Have fun trying to learn and share...and not die. That's important too. In a school that's just not quite right, it's important to be friendly...and take out those that aren't.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 34.7%, Funny 17%, Puzzle 11.2%, Strategy 11.1%, Difficult 8.6%

Be the architect of your own universe with Spore, an exciting single-player adventure. From Single Cell to Galactic God, evolve your creature in a universe of your own creations.

Why similar: Sandbox 32.5%, Simulation 30%, Funny 19.6%, Comedy 10.7%, Adventure 7.3%

Back to the Dawn is a story-rich RPG set in a high-security prison ruled by factions and buried secrets. Investigate two conspiracies from the inside, gather evidence, and outsmart a system designed to silence you. Make friends (or foes) with fellow inmates and with their help, break out of prison.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 46.8%, RPG 14.6%, Strategy 12%, Simulation 9.4%, Singleplayer 5.4%

Join exciting adventure of escaping from cops. Be tricky and use your skills to complete your missions in green town. If you’re successful, you can enjoy well-deserved vacation at the seaside.

Why similar: Simulation 35.9%, Strategy 21.8%, Indie 11.4%, Puzzle 10.5%, Adventure 10.2%

The Count of Monte Clicker is an incremental game about breaking out of prison and finding treasure. With the help of fellow prisoner Abbe Faria, you, Edmond Dantes must escape the notorious Chateau d'Idle and claim your destiny.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 30.4%, Strategy 28%, 2D 12.4%, Top-Down 11.8%, Comedy 7.5%

Can you escape with the loot? Play as the Master Thief and steal as much as you can. Burgle houses in order to obtain some sweet, sweet loot but, be careful, do not get caught!.

Why similar: Pixel Graphics 24.7%, Difficult 18%, Sandbox 12.5%, Simulation 10.2%, Multiplayer 9.7%

Wanna find out what a prison riot looks like? Check a free stand-alone prologue for Prison Simulator. A story that is not available in the full game! Be warned: Police baton might not be enough to bring order to the prison halls.

Why similar: Sandbox 26%, Simulation 23.5%, Funny 17.4%, Action 11.9%, Singleplayer 11.2%

In Game Dev Tycoon you replay the history of the gaming industry by starting your own video game development company in the 80s. Create best selling games. Research new technologies and invent new game types. Become the leader of the market and gain worldwide fans.

Why similar: Simulation 38.6%, Strategy 26%, Indie 8.4%, 2D 6.2%, Sandbox 5.9%

Become the best thief. Gather intel, steal things and sell them to buy hi-tech equipment. Do everything that a real thief does.

Why similar: Simulation 35.1%, Sandbox 12.4%, Co-op 10.2%, Singleplayer 10.2%, Funny 8.2%

The toughest prison sim in the yard has been locked back up to serve another sentence in 2D!

Why similar: Simulation 40.2%, RPG 17.9%, Action 16%, Indie 13.4%, Adventure 12.6%

The highly popular and quirky "idle game that you want to actively keep playing". Explore, craft, gather & manage resources, find secrets and build your base out of nothing! Buy land to explore and expand!

Why similar: Crafting 33.8%, Pixel Graphics 22%, Survival 15.7%, Sandbox 7.3%, 2D 4.6%

Fat Prisoner Simulator - a soccer simulator where you play the role of a prisoner. The jail managers have noticed that some prisoners, who really like to eat a lot, can hardly go through the doors, including those of their cells. So they decided to arrange a soccer game between them.

Why similar: Simulation 28.3%, Funny 18.4%, Sandbox 15.6%, Multiplayer 10.5%, Comedy 10.4%