- Games
- Escape Simulator
Escape Simulator
An online escape room game where you search for clues and work through puzzles with friends.
Online co-op for up to 10 players, with crossplay.
- 10 online
- Crossplay
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op10 players
- Local co-opNoOnline only
- YesPC, Mac, Linux, XboxFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- Not confirmedA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- NoEveryone needs to buy itFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckVerifiedValve's own rating
About the game
You search rooms for objects, codes and clues that open the way out. You can turn items over, read books, move furniture and clear away things you no longer need. Each room has its own set of linked puzzles, with settings that include Egyptian tombs, a mansion and a space station.
Friends share the room online, so you can inspect different objects and compare what you find. The built-in rooms suit two or three players, while larger groups can play too. The timer rewards a quick escape but lets you keep solving after it runs out. Once you finish the supplied rooms, you can try community creations or make a room in the editor.
How it feels
Kind of game
You play on the same side through shared levels, matches, missions or jobs. Progress comes from combining your actions toward the same objective.
- At its heart
- A big part
- Now and then
- Laughter and chaos
- Tension and danger
- Story
- Time to hang out
- Physical comedy
- Getting better
- Planning ahead
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- About
- Escape rooms
Rated on our own feel scale. 5 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Escape Simulator
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Escape Simulator 2
Why it scores 94%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Escape rooms
- Notable in both
- Calm and coziness, Working in sync
- Core to both
- Puzzles and figuring out
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op
- 8 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both are about escape rooms and hidden clues. Both are calm and low on stress.
No big difference from Escape Simulator.
Viscera Cleanup Detail
Why it scores 67%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- Notable in both
- Calm and coziness
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op
How Viscera Cleanup Detail differs
- More time to just hang out than Escape Simulator
- Less figuring things out than Escape Simulator
- 32 online
- 4 split-screen
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both play in runs or missions you repeat. Both are calm and low on stress.
But more time to just hang out than Escape Simulator.
Ale & Tale Tavern
Why it scores 66%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- Notable in both
- Calm and coziness, Working in sync
- Co-op
- Online co-op
How Ale & Tale Tavern differs
- Less figuring things out than Escape Simulator
- More exploring than Escape Simulator
- More to unlock than Escape Simulator
- One lasting world, not repeatable runs and missions
- 6 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both are calm and low on stress.
But less figuring things out than Escape Simulator.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Does not apply
- Split or shared screen
- Does not apply
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
- 18
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Friends can join mid-game
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
12 pages
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Release status, Release date, Steam app ID, About, Free base co-op.
- Online co-op: Rooms support a shared online session.
- Release status: The base game is available to buy.
- Release date: The store gives 19 October 2021.
- Steam app ID: This product is app 1435790.
- About: The main activity is escaping rooms through linked clues and puzzles.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms.
- Platforms: Current store data lists Windows, macOS and Linux.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Verified.
pinestudio.comOfficial site, read 24 October 2026
Backs Genres, Kind of game.
- Genres: Pine Studio calls it a first-person puzzler.
- Kind of game: Friends search the same rooms and solve the puzzles together. Two or three players are recommended.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Only one of you needs to buy it, Crossplay, Crossplay between.
- Only one of you needs to buy it: The developer FAQ explicitly says there is no friend pass and discusses groups buying copies.
- Crossplay: The FAQ confirms multiplayer between the Windows, Mac and Linux versions.
- Crossplay between: Windows, macOS and Linux can connect. The later Xbox announcement extends the group.
steamcommunity.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online.
- Most players online: The 10 October 2024 launch announcement explicitly allows ten in online co-op. Three are recommended. The older FAQ says eight, and Xbox lists eight.
steamcommunity.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Crossplay between.
- Crossplay: The 27 May 2026 Xbox launch announcement says Xbox joins cross-platform multiplayer.
- Crossplay between: The Xbox announcement adds Xbox to the existing PC group. Quest 2 and 3 can also connect to Steam players in flat-screen or VR.
xbox.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Crossplay, Crossplay between, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: The current product lists PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
- Crossplay: The product lists cross-platform co-op.
- Crossplay between: Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S join PC. This store lists online co-op for two to eight.
- Free base co-op: The checked Xbox full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Local co-op.
- Local co-op: A marked developer reply on 26 November 2023 says split screen is not planned and suggests solving together at one set of controls instead.
useapotion.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Sessions, Tension and danger, Calm and coziness, Puzzles and figuring out, Time to hang out.
- Sessions: Use a Potion review from 2023-01-06 describes separate rooms, then further community rooms. Solved rooms lose their surprise.
- Tension and danger: The timer is a target. It does not stop the group continuing.
- Calm and coziness: The review describes gentle presentation, hints and unhurried solving without a forced deadline.
- Puzzles and figuring out: Searching objects and connecting logical clues carry the rooms.
- Time to hang out: The group's shared activity is discussing and solving each puzzle.
thirdcoastreview.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Working in sync, Getting better, Planning ahead.
- Working in sync: Third Coast Review from 2022-02-25 describes friends examining objects and combining clues.
- Getting better: The group solves some rooms quickly but needs more time to understand others.
- Planning ahead: Friends can work on the room's different puzzles at the same time.
web.phenixxgaming.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Laughter and chaos, Physical comedy, Story.
- Laughter and chaos: Phenixx Gaming review from 2021-10-21 describes comic victory dances. Puzzle solving remains the main activity.
- Physical comedy: The review describes friends throwing balls at each other and tossing cups out of windows.
- Story: Room clues and objects supply a slight narrative around the puzzles.