Games Where You Get To Break Out Of Prison

Highlights

Prison breaks in video games offer satisfying narratives with creative escape methods and unexpected allies.
Games like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Call of Duty: Black Ops feature thrilling prison break scenarios.
A Way Out emphasizes co-op gameplay for a unique prison escape experience, requiring coordination to succeed.

As a seasoned video game journalist with over a decade of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of prison break levels and stories. But none have quite captured my heart like the ones I’m about to share with you. You see, there’s something truly special about a well-crafted prison escape sequence that tugs at your emotions and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Prisons have been part of civilizations since they established laws and identified individuals who violated them. These institutions take on various forms, but fundamentally, their purpose is to hold lawbreakers for specific periods. In essence, prison serves as a result of wrongdoing, reflecting the popular adage, “If you can’t handle the punishment for your actions, don’t commit the crime.”

As someone who has spent years working as a corrections officer in maximum security prisons, I can attest to the allure and intrigue that stories of prison escapes hold for many people. The idea of breaking free from an “inescapable” prison is not just a fascinating concept in fiction, but also a testament to human ingenuity and resilience.

12 Batman: Arkham Asylum

When A Jailer Becomes A Prisoner

Games Where You Get To Break Out Of Prison

Although it’s called Arkham Asylum, it essentially serves as a prison now, housing the most despicable individuals on Earth. Unfortunately, it fails to perform its intended function effectively. This is the setting for Rocksteady’s game, Batman: Arkham Asylum. In this narrative, Joker orchestrates a significant power shift, and in the end, guards become prisoners, prisoners become guards, and the Joker assumes control as the warden.

Batman’s mission turns into an escape plan from Arkham Asylum. He must figure out how to bypass its security system and confront each of his arch-enemies if he hopes to leave the facility safely.

11 Call Of Duty: Black Ops

Eight Incredibly Risky Steps To Freedom

In the initial Black Ops game, the notoriously daring escape from Vorkuta stands out among prison breaks in gaming history. The narrative commences with the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs Invasion, an ill-fated attempt by the Americans to eliminate Fidel Castro. Following their failure, the protagonist Alex Mason is apprehended and transferred to Vorkuta, a merciless Soviet prison serving as a site for dubious experiments. To his good fortune, Mason forms an unlikely alliance with fellow inmate Viktor Reznov.

The famous eight-step exit strategy of theirs is memorialized in fan circles today, despite its imperfect execution and tragic outcome for most involved. Yet it underscores the incredible lengths people will go to when all they have left is the determination to survive or perish in the attempt. In his own words, Reznov declared they would either make a daring escape or meet their end in the process.

10 The Callisto Protocol

Breaking Out From A Ridiculously Isolated Prison

Prisons are frequently constructed in isolated areas, ensuring that if an inmate manages to escape, there’s no place for them to go. For instance, Alcatraz was situated on an island encircled by cold water and powerful currents. Constructing a prison on one of Jupiter’s moons would be equally remote. This design makes escaping even more challenging, while also providing the warden with greater freedom to circumvent issues such as regulations and prison reform initiatives.

Jacob Lee encounters a challenging situation in the game titled “The Callisto Protocol“. He’s a cargo pilot who miraculously survives a crash on the moon Callisto, but ends up imprisoned in a remote facility where he’s essentially considered dead to the rest of the world. To make things worse, a virus has spread turning people into zombies. If Lee hopes to escape, he must navigate through this pandemic. Additionally, there are mysterious secrets for him to discover along the way.

9 Dishonored

Just When All Seems Lost, Corvo Attano Has A Chance

In Arkane’s classic RPG, the story unfolds as protagonist Corvo Attano is falsely accused of murder, plunging his life into chaos. The introduction level, rich in stealth and combat elements, takes place within the cold, oppressive walls of Coldridge Prison where Corvo spends six long months. Facing potential torture to coerce a false confession and imminent execution, Corvo’s situation seems grim until a guard secretly slips him a key. The player is given the freedom to decide how violent or subtle Corvo’s escape will be, but ultimately, he manages to break free with the assistance of his future ally Samuel the Boatman. This initial level sets the stage for later levels by offering multiple escape routes.

It’s intriguing that in “The Knife of Dunwall” DLC, the player assumes the role of assassin Daud with an opposite mission: instead of getting incarcerated in Coldridge prison like before, he aims to infiltrate it this time to locate and free a notorious local river pirate captain.

8 The Escapists 2

Escape Is (Literally) The Name Of The Game

In The Escapists 2 by Mouldy Touf, role-playing and strategy are combined in an unusual way: the primary goal is to devise plans for escaping from various prisons. This game presents a variety of situations, ranging from prison transport vehicles to more extraordinary locations such as the moon. Regardless of where you find yourself, The Escapists 2 provides ample opportunity to think outside the box and come up with imaginative escape techniques. However, be prepared for some obstacles along the way.

A significant aspect of the game remains focused on strategic planning. Creating and enhancing gear is essential, as is staying hidden from guards’ watchful eyes. Moreover, it’s vital to manage daily prison chores to maintain a low profile and prevent potential escalations in security measures or lockdowns.

7 Far Cry 4

Ajay Must Get Out Before He Loses His Mind

1. In many games from the Far Cry series, players often find themselves captured by the villains. This event is so common that most titles in this series feature at least one scene where the player gets taken hostage and endures some kind of torture. However, Far Cry 4 deviates from this pattern with Durgesh Prison, a notorious political prison run by warden Yuma Lau, who uses unusual and harsh tactics.

1. In an unusual twist, the prison is situated within a mountain, boasting cells with breathtaking views of towering cliffs. The staff often resorts to drugging inmates. Thus, when Ajay falls victim to CIA Agent Willis Huntley’s betrayal and is delivered to Yuma, he encounters an unnerving ordeal as he desperately searches for a grappling hook. His confusion intensifies due to hallucinations of supernatural beings and witnessing the effects prolonged imprisonment has on fellow inmates. After managing to break free from the main prison, Ajay must navigate down the mountain slope and traverse a labor camp to gain true freedom.

6 Prison Architect

Allows Players To Escape From Their Own Custom Prisons

I’ve discovered a unique gaming experience where I get to build and oversee the day-to-day operations of my very own prison. Instead of being the typical warden causing trouble for inmates, I’m given the opportunity to explore this intriguing perspective. The developers have brilliantly tapped into both sides of the story, allowing me to fully immerse myself in this complex and engaging prison management simulation.

Although creating a prison is the main attraction, Prison Architect offers an intriguing twist: you can switch roles and experience life as a prisoner with the objective of breaking out. The excitement lies in the fact that you can design your own maximum security prison and subsequently put it to the test by attempting to escape from the very same prison you’ve built.

5 Prisoner Of War

Escape From A German Prison Camp During World War II

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Released: July 19, 2002
Developer: Wide Games, Kuju
Genres: Stealth, Adventure

In this 2002 stealth game, set during World War II, you play as an American prisoner of war making a daring escape from a German prison camp. It draws inspiration from traditional POW films like “The Great Escape,” but it’s the unique gameplay that has earned it recognition.

In an uncommon approach for a World War II game, there’s no room for fighting. Instead, Captain Stone must navigate using stealth and conversation skills to escape. Building alliances with fellow prisoners and outsmarting the guards are essential for his survival. The strategy-based gameplay of “Prisoner of War” becomes more demanding as it offers less room for error due to its intricate nature.

4 Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Documents An Undercover Breakout

When considering Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series, most fans picture protagonist Sam Fisher stealthily entering a location donned in his black attire and night vision glasses. Though a prison break may not initially spring to mind, an unexpected instance of this transpired in Double Agent.

Sam aims to gain the trust of terrorist Jamie Washington, who is imprisoned in Ellsworth Prison. To do this, Sam devises a plan to engineer a prison riot as a means to free Jamie. By assisting Jamie during the escape attempt and protecting him from recapture, Sam builds a strong bond with him, increasing his chances of gaining access to the wider JBA organization.

3 Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Features Two Prisons For Players To Escape From

In an unexpected twist, Uncharted 4 includes not one but two thrilling prison break sequences set in the same penitentiary. Initially, Nate Drake teams up with his brother Sam and a new ally named Rafe, disguised as inmates to access nearby ruins. However, their deal goes awry when the Warden refuses to keep his part of the bargain, forcing them into a desperate bid for freedom. Only Nate and Rafe ultimately succeed in escaping the confines of the prison.

1. The second scenario unfolds after Sam Drake’s reappearance, granting players access to a flashback level where they can control him. In this instance, he seeks assistance from a drug lord named Alcazar, who has previously devised an escape plan and agrees to aid Sam in return for a portion of the hidden loot.

2 A Way Out

Tasks Players With Working Together To Break Out

Joseph Fares clearly enjoys crafting cooperative games with an experimental edge, and this is evident in his latest creation, titled “A Way Out“. Unlike traditional games, it’s a narrative-focused adventure that revolves around two characters attempting to break free from prison. Remarkably, the game exclusively supports cooperative play, meaning you must team up with another player to enjoy it. While this might be inconvenient for those seeking a solo experience, the cooperative aspect brings a fresh perspective to the storyline.

The narrative of the game primarily revolves around the connection between prisoners Vincent and Leo. Providing the ability for each character to be played gives unique viewpoints. Moreover, this collaboration is essential for any hope of succeeding in an escape, making the gameplay experience more authentic.

1 Yakuza 5

A Reluctant Escape From A Deadly Situation

In a video game series known for its mafia-themed title, it’s not surprising that prison themes would emerge at some point. Interestingly, it took five games before a prison break scene was introduced – an unusual delay. In the fifth installment, Yakuza 4, Taiga Sajima chooses to surrender and serve his time for crimes committed, rather than breaking free or evading punishment. This deviates from typical game conventions.

In an unexpected twist, it’s not the warden or the guards I should be concerned about; instead, my old adversaries are plotting to exploit my imprisonment and end my life. Surprisingly, the Deputy Warden turns out to be a decent man who secretly orchestrates a daring escape plan to save me. Caught off guard by these circumstances, I’m compelled to fight my way past hordes of Yakuza enforcers to break free. Eventually, I manage to slip away into the safety of the mountains.

2024-07-30 10:35