Team17 is going back to prison, and this time it’s in 3D. The publisher announced The Escapists 3 during the Triple-i Initiative showcase on Thursday, October 8. It is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam in 2027.
It is the first new mainline game in the prison-break series since The Escapists 2 in 2017, and the biggest change is visual. The top-down pixel art of the first two games is gone, replaced by what Team17 calls a new 3D prison sandbox. The core loop is familiar. You learn the daily routine, watch the guards, take prison jobs to earn cash, swipe anything that isn’t nailed down, and turn everyday junk into an escape plan. Then you dig, sneak, climb, fight, or disguise your way out.
According to the Steam page, there are five prisons to break out of, each with its own routines, characters, and secrets, plus more than 120 items and weapons to loot and craft. Getting past the wall isn’t the end, either. Each escape continues into the surrounding area, including dense forests, windy canyons, ancient catacombs, and dangerous waters. You earn XP as you play and unlock new skills to shape your inmate, and you can even customize your cell.
The series has always been better with accomplices, and The Escapists 3 supports two-player local split-screen and online play for up to four. The PlayStation Store listing also notes crossplay.
“The Escapists, as a series, has aptly been both a breakout and runaway success for team17,” said Team17 general manager Harley Homewood. “I’m delighted that we’re offering players the chance to become institutionalised once more, but this time in fully realised, 3D correctional facilities.”
Team17 hasn’t announced a release date or price yet. If you’re looking for something to play on Switch 2 sooner, RCG covered Frostpunk coming to Switch and Switch 2 on October 19.
