Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School News

[p]Dear Escapists,[/p][p]You read that right. Welcome to our first devlog; a series where we’ll be taking a dive into some of the things we’re dreaming up for Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School. Our work-in-progress quest system is the first system (of many!) we’re excited to show you.[/p][p][/p][p]From a top-down perspective, critical quests and escape rooms advance you through the story and important narrative events, while side quests allow for a natural way to interact with the campus environment and other students. That’s not to say side quests won’t reward you for your hard work, though![/p][p][/p][p]When it comes to quests, there are two types: critical path and side quests, and it’s taken a lot of trial-and-error to reach that point.[/p][p]We want the side quests to be obvious enough that you don’t miss them, secret enough that you feel rewarded when you encounter them, and clear enough that you don’t end up doing a side quest on accident when you want to progress the story. So, we’ve found ourselves tweaking things as small as wording in text, lighting, etc. to draw the player’s attention in just the right way without being too obvious or intrusive.[/p][p] [/p][p] These are just a few of the quest-givers you’ll find throughout the Academy…🔒[/p][p] Blue Icon = Critical Path | Red Icon = Extra Credit! 🔥[/p][p][/p][p]One of my personal favorite things about quests is that they let the entire world be littered with puzzles instead of rooms, which in my opinion gives so much more life and personality to the campus. Here are some of the questions you might have about the upcoming quests system (feel free to drop your own in the comments!):[/p][p] [/p][p]Currently, we have quests that progress the main story, and some quests that are optional. (In our demo build, you can go on a quest to bring food to the cat in your dorm, and have a furry friend that follows you around!)[/p][p] Maybe having a cat isn't required, but it's definitely a gameplay-enhancer on all fronts.[/p][p][/p][p]Unlike Escape Academy 1, Escape Academy 2 will have a fully-fleshed out campus that you can explore to your heart’s content. One of the benefits of an open-world campus is that there’s many more opportunities for narrative.[/p][p]That’s one of the biggest reasons we chose to implement this system, and we know you’ll love to explore the world at your own pace while uncovering the secrets of Escape Academy in a rewarding, fully-immersive environment. Quests help so much with this effort, because you end up with a nudge forward, without feeling like you’re solving puzzles “just because”.[/p][p] [/p][p]For quests that don’t directly contribute to the main story, we still want quests to be rewarding and meaningful, which is why a lot of these side quests will be tied to a system called…[/p][p]Escape Bucks are a currency (don’t worry, no microtransactions here) that enables you to travel around campus in various ways. Maybe you spend 3 Escape Bucks to bribe the librarian, or drop 1 Escape Buck into the vending machine for a can of ESCAPIST’S EDGE![/p][p]From a game-design perspective, we love the Escape Bucks system, because it introduces a fictional currency that makes side quests feel more rewarding. Sometimes during the main story you’ll need to buy items (such as books or school supplies) to advance, and Escape Bucks are the perfect system for that. This also ensures side quests become a more important part of the game, because we don’t care where the money comes from but we can require that you engage with some of the optional content, which gives the player a little more agency and further immersion at the Academy.[/p][p] [/p][p]Lastly, Escape Bucks can also be found in hidden nooks and crannies around the campus. So don’t be afraid to talk with every NPC and look underneath every stone, locker and toilet stall - just don’t go digging in other people’s pockets. That’s rude.[/p][p][/p][p]It’s required a different look at the game design. Escape rooms want you to solve everything very quickly, because it’s absolutely not fun to lose just because you went down a 10-minute rabbit hole exploring what would end up being a red herring.[/p][p]Quests, on the other hand, will allow a bit more freedom in the experience. This freedom can be a blessing and a curse - it’s definitely easier to design an escape room with some story inbetween, but quests require you to think out of the box in a way that might otherwise be limited with a linear room, and that’s just one of the many reasons we’re excited to continue fleshing out the quests system.[/p][p][/p][p]We’re SUPER excited about this system because it fundamentally changes how you escape and lets the player deepen the bond they’ll feel with the Academy itself while playing.[/p][p] [/p][p]However, we want to hear your thoughts too! When it comes to quests, what are your expectations? Is there anything more you want to know? Drop your answers below, and don’t forget to…[/p][p] [/p][p]With love,[/p][p]Coin Crew Games 💛💜[/p]

[p]We know you’re just as excited as we are to get your hands on the next playtest build of Escape Acadmey 2: Back 2 School, so we’re bringing you an update with some of your most-asked questions, and a few peeks at what’s been going on at the Academy![/p][p] [/p][p]We’re SO excited to start playtests (and on a personal note, community manager to community - I am very excited to watch you all playtest the next build!) That’s why with much excitement, I’m here to tell you:[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]Keep your eyes peeled in our Discord, where you’ll be able to claim a spot for playtesting, and over there we’ll have more information on what you can expect out of the playtesting process.[/p][p] [/p][p]While you can’t playtest right now, there are a few other things you can do to satisfy your curiosity:[/p]

1. [p]Check out our socials! We’re constantly looking for new content to post, and with playtests starting back up, you’ll be able to expect some sneak peeks, funny bugs, and more![/p]
2. [p]Join the Discord. There’s plenty of fun to be had, and you can say hi to your beloved Coin Crew devs directly👋[/p]
3. [p]Check out our other posts! We’re always looking for stuff to post, but if there’s something you’re wanting to see, it’s possible we’ve already posted it. And if we haven’t….[/p]
4. [p]Ask questions! We’re just as excited to make this game as you are to play it, and hype keeps everyone motivated.[/p]

[p]Our art team has been cooking up some really sick concepts for some other campuses at The Academy - after all, it’s more than just a school. It’s a thriving campus![/p][p] [/p][p]Here’s some work-in-progress concept art for the upcoming Science Campus you’ll be able to attend at Escape Academy. 📚What you see first are the grayboxed versions, followed by some paintover 🎨 sketches showing off how we plan to truly give these grayboxed environments life!😍[/p][p] [/p][p]We hope you enjoy this early look into the design process as much as we enjoy making it![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p] ⚠️WIP! Expect this area to evolve and change in future iterations💛💜[/p][p][/p][p]What do YOU want out of Escape Academy 2? What are your wildest puzzle fantasies, or your weirdest escape-themed dreams? Is having the ability to pick up the Purfessor a requirement for your enjoyment? Or maybe you REALLY want Gillian to be a bit more yappy?🤔[/p][p][/p][p]Whatever your asks are, we want our game to be a love letter to escape room games, fun puzzles, and purpose-built for our community to bash their heads into. Let us know what you’d like to see, and we’ll let you know what we think! The best way to reach us is always through Discord, but feel free to drop your thoughts anywhere you see us lurking around on the internet…⬇️[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]With love,[/p][p]Coin Crew Games 💛💜[/p]

At Summer Game Fest 2025, we had a pile of “unannounced” appointments, which can be a gamble. Luckily, one of mine ended up being Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, and the franchise has been a lot of fun so far, so I was excited to check out the latest version. I first played the original Escape Academy at Summer Game Fest 2022, so I felt good keeping the tradition alive.

I was originally paired with a stranger, which can make co-op puzzles a challenge, but they didn’t show up. So instead, I got to play a solid 30 minutes of Escape Academy 2 with none other than CGM’s own editor-in-chief, Brendan Frye. We sat down with an early section of the game, armed with a pen and paper, and proceeded to bicker publicly for the entire appointment—not much has changed.

Jumping into the first room, we were tasked with finding the names of the school’s founders in order to escape. Between searching walls, drawers and boxes for clues, there were combination locks, an overhead... Read more

[p][/p][p]Hey there Escapists,

We’ve been busy. But not too busy to notice the staggering amount of support you’ve shown - fifteen THOUSAND of you decided that you need Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School in your lives as soon as possible, and we can’t thank you enough for that.[/p][p]
[/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p]Our 3 favorite Ws. The wishlists you’ve given us have been extremely motivating, and the team is so excited to see your support. 15,000 students on roll call is bigger than some universities!

If you haven’t joined in on the fun, press that wishlist button for us. It’ll make our day. The Purfessor knows you haven’t wishlisted yet. You wouldn’t want the car to be sad, would you? [/p][p][/p][p]There’s no better way to cool off than getting to play through where it all started.[/p][p] [/p][p]The Steam Summer Sale is HERE, and we’re just as excited as you are. Grab Escape Academy 1 for 60% off, and explore everything the Academy has to offer by yourself or with a friend.[/p][p] [/p][p]We’re looking for feedback on Escape Academy 1. Drop a review on the store page and tell us what you’d like to see in Escape Academy 2, along with what you loved about the first one! We’re constantly looking to grow as developers, and your feedback is how we do it. Go review Escape Academy 1 now![/p][p] [/p][p]There’s plenty going on behind the scenes at The Academy. Keep in touch with us for the next playtesting cycle by joining our Discord and wishlisting Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School; Linktree below! See you in the next one, Escapists.[/p][p][/p][p]https://tr.ee/T9jL-yt6JP[/p][p][/p]