Escape from Ever After on PlayStation 5 could easily have been another affectionate homage to the RPG classics that inspired it, but instead it emerges as a fully formed adventure with its own distinct identity. The premise – placing a fairytale hero into a storybook world subverted by corporate greed – could have been a slick gimmick, yet the game uses it to fuel both its narrative and its thematic depth, blending satire, humor, and genuine character moments into its unfolding plot.
Playing as Flint, you’ll find the relationship dynamics – especially his evolving partnership with his former rival Tinder – to be a surprising source of emotional nuance and grounded humor. The world itself brims with animated personalities, from disgruntled office workers pulled from storybooks to eccentric NPCs with their own side quests, giving the game’s narrative a lively sense of place. While not every chapter lands perfectly, the overall arc and tone maintain an engaging momentum that keeps you invested.
Combat is a strong foundation of the experience. Built around turn-based mechanics augmented with timing-based inputs and strategic swaps between party members, battles feel tactile and rewarding. The variety of skills, accessories, and character abilities encourages experimentation, and environmental puzzles and exploration add respite from routine fights. Still, even well-designed encounters can start to feel repetitive after many hours, particularly as enemy designs begin to repeat.
On PlayStation 5, the controls feel responsive and well-mapped to the controller, with no significant complaints about input handling or system navigation. The balance between accessibility and depth is well struck; options to simplify timing mechanics help players tailor the challenge to their tastes without stripping away the core engagement of battles.
Visually, the game delights with a handcrafted, paper-inspired style that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Each chapter’s environments are distinct and imaginative, and the jazz-tinged soundtrack adds energy and character to both exploration and combat. Together, the audiovisual elements reinforce the game’s playful tone and support its narrative with consistent flair.
Where the experience wobbles slightly is in pacing and repetition. Some missions and battles can drag, and the lack of automatic saving forces more frequent manual saves, which can interrupt the flow on larger maps. These issues rarely overshadow the overall quality, though, and feel like minor bumps in an otherwise solid adventure.
Ultimately, Escape from Ever After stands as a compelling RPG experience that does more than mimic its inspirations. Its clever world, engaging combat systems, and thoughtful writing make it an adventure worth seeking out – especially for fans of narrative-driven, turn-based games looking for something that balances charm with strategy.
Score: 8.2/10
Press Play Media 