The Artful Escape

 PC
The Artful Escape Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 61 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Artful Escape of Francis Vendetti is a video game about great expectations, famous folk singers, lingering shadows, space Gods, hallucinogens, individuality, reptile shops, and wild imaginations. It's an action, adventure, exploration, narrative driven, musical-laser-light-battle kind of game.

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. Windows Central
    Sep 8, 2021
    100
    The Artful Escape has been in the works since around 2015, and the effort shows. The game is precise in what it wants to portray and doesn't overstay its welcome. It tells a contained story about one guy, his famous uncle, and the whole of the cosmos, and does it well. It's also a story about the power of music, the art of creating, and the journey to becoming your true self. You can take what you want from it, make it one of your best comfort games if you want, but at the very least, it's a cool game to look at. It'll look great as one of the best Xbox games joining Xbox Game Pass this month.
  2. Gamepressure
    Sep 10, 2021
    90
    In the end, its expert cast, beautiful worlds, and clever writing together tell a very stimulating story of discovery, despite its otherwise quirky exterior.
  3. GameOver.gr
    Sep 17, 2021
    90
    The Artful Escape definitely belongs to one of these games that appear almost out of nowhere, just to make us happy and blessed to try out. While not a title for platformer aficionados and those who crave for something challenging, The Artful Escape ends up being a pleasant surprise, and one that will stay within for long.
  4. Attack of the Fanboy
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    The Artful Escape provides a strong narrative adventure focused on self-discovery, identity, and expression that musicians, artists, and just about anyone can find something to relate to.
  5. GameSpot
    Sep 14, 2021
    80
    Challenging as that may be, The Artful Escape is nevertheless a thrilling adventure that commits fully to showcasing its gorgeous art in soaring set pieces. Though some of the dialogue doesn’t work, the game is largely successful at stripping out anything that would distract from its masterful presentation. Unlike Francis Vendetti at the beginning of his journey, The Artful Escape knows exactly what it is.
  6. Digital Chumps
    Sep 9, 2021
    75
    The Artful Escape is a visual and audio masterpiece that creates a sincere narrative that gives hope to any struggling would-be artist that they will find their own voice at the end of a tough journey. As good as that message might be, the gameplay mechanics don’t nearly live up to the hype the rest of the game creates.
  7. Screen Rant
    Sep 8, 2021
    40
    When characters are suddenly reintroduced in the finale, it’s noticeable how little a dent they made in this feather-weight narrative. The story can be completed in a few hours, and there’s occasional amusement and distraction in those hours, but absolutely no catharsis or narrative satisfaction, or even any interesting platforming. For such a visually boisterous experience, The Artful Escape feels more like a chilly museum after closing hours.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 22
  3. Negative: 6 out of 22
  1. olvlvl
    Dec 15, 2021
    10
    The game grabbed me right away with its unique presentation and its intriguing premise. It took me 4 hours to complete and I totally enjoyedThe game grabbed me right away with its unique presentation and its intriguing premise. It took me 4 hours to complete and I totally enjoyed my journey in this luxuriant universe. It's really a joke this game lost to Death Loop in the art direction category. The visuals are nothing short of spectacular, literally out of this world. So, yes it's more an "experience" than a "game" and I wished there were more rhythm mini-games, but, as the Glamourgonn would put it, I was entertained.… Expand
  2. Rubendlt2
    Dec 31, 2022
    10
    the visual are amazing and the history is great, something new and refreshing
  4. nlagon
    Sep 19, 2021
    10
    Let's make it clear. It is not a game based on mechanics, it is an interactive experience based only on its audiovisual brilliance. If youLet's make it clear. It is not a game based on mechanics, it is an interactive experience based only on its audiovisual brilliance. If you like games with extraordinary beautiful scenery combined with feelings of awe and wonder, electric guitar sequences and space ambient music, this space adventure is for you. After the quitars started playing, I just knew this game was gonna destroy me in the most emotional way possible and I would give double the money to re-live this 4.5hour experience for the first time.… Expand
  5. SuperkenGaming
    Nov 8, 2021
    7
    The Artful escape
    The power of music!
    The artful escape is a linear nearl 4 hour long narrative adventure, you’re the nephew of a legendary    The Artful escape
    The power of music!
    The artful escape is a linear nearl 4 hour long narrative adventure, you’re the nephew of a legendary musician trying to find yourself, and a night before a big gig youre abducted by aliens..
    This is a game about finding yourself as an artist.. youll go through these beautiful locations just rifting on your guitar, eventually getting to a boss battle that will have you playing a simon says like mini game.. then its off to the next area..
    This game is again beautiful, I was so impressed with the visuls nd I loved sliding down hills and the platforming here, the story however I was kinda bored of after a while, wasn’t one that really clicked with me so I didn’t care how it turned out all that much..
    But I still had this eautiful world to pull me through..
    Gameplay wise this was my favorite aspect, it was fun putting on a little rock show for these aliens before sliding through some caves.. but if this doesn’t sound like a story that intrigues you, the gameplay isn’t enough on its own to justify a playthrough..
    Overall The Artful escape is a good game..
    Not one Ill think about much going forward, but at the same time has the potential to be one of someone elses favorite games of the year,
    I give The Artful Escape
    a 7/10    … Expand
  6. RMDsilva
    Jul 3, 2022
    6
    Fun little psychedelic visual snack, not really much of a game or a story...
  7. ronadi7368
    Nov 2, 2021
    5
    I'll say this in defense of The Artful Escape: it almost features a complete story! Wow, they got like 60% of the way through a wholeI'll say this in defense of The Artful Escape: it almost features a complete story! Wow, they got like 60% of the way through a whole character arc before they just gave up and ended the game! On the other hand, there is about 0% of a game here.… Expand
  8. hamik17594
    Nov 9, 2021
    0
    As other reviewers have pointed out, this isn't a game with any real gameplay mechanics. If you're playing The Artful Escape, you're playingAs other reviewers have pointed out, this isn't a game with any real gameplay mechanics. If you're playing The Artful Escape, you're playing for the story and music. Let's be real: The story is poorly-written in terms of character development, pacing, plot, pretty much anything that you'd want a story to do well. The music is much, much worse. Even as a fan of this style of music, the music is a pretty much non-stop assault of bottom-tier guitar noodling. There aren't enough drugs in the world to make The Artful Escape an interesting trip.… Expand

See all 22 User Reviews

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85
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92
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