I’m back again with another video game review. After finishing Poppy Playtime Chapter 5, I would say that I was left with both excitement and worry for the next instalment in the series. I have loved the single-player chapters ever since I first got thrown into the world of Playtime Co., but over the last few chapters, I’ve worried that Mob Entertainment might be losing its way.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the lore and gameplay; it just feels like, since Chapter 3, the level designs have been more focused on dragged-out puzzles and awkward boss fights rather than the charm and thrill that we got in Chapters 1 and 2. That being said, we recently got the latest multiplayer instalment in the series in the form of Escape from Playtime and the reveal trailer for Chapter 6, which I’m super hyped for, even more so after the ending of Chapter 5.
We have had a multiplayer game in the series before in the form of Project: Playtime; this was quite a unique take on the series as it was a prequel spin-off where six players attempt to make one big toy while a seventh player got to take control of either Huggy Wuggy, Mommy Long Legs or Boxy Boo. It was different compared to the core series but an interesting spin nonetheless; however, in July 2026, Mob Entertainment announced that they aren’t supporting Project: Playtime anymore, and it has now been removed from the Steam Store.
But now, because Escape from Playtime has been released, we have a new multiplayer spin-off that we can sink our teeth into, and what’s super exciting is that we get to play as none other than the Smiley Critters! So, strap yourselves in as we dive back into Playtime Co. for another horrifying adventure.
Story and World
In Escape from Playtime, you and seven other players will work together to solve puzzles and collect resources, all while trying to survive against the other monstrous toys that lurk in the abandoned factory. This co-op horror is a prequel that is set within the Poppy Playtime universe. You’ll play as a Smiling Critter alone or with up to seven other players to scavenge various items located inside the Playtime Co. factory.
I got a bit late to the party and didn’t manage to get my hands on the game until a week after launch, but like with Valor Mortis, I got lucky, and a lot of the launch problems that fans of the franchise had with Escape from Playtime literally got patched and sorted when I started covering the game. I don’t like the fact that games seem to hit shelves nowadays broken and then fixed after people have pointed out issues and have invested time and money into playing it on launch. So, for me, yet again, I struck lucky and managed to get a more positive experience than someone who had played it on launch.
Gameplay and Mechanics
This game plays out similarly to R.E.P.O. Where you will have a main hub to prepare before every run, and once you go out into the world, you will have to scavenge resources up to a value to be able to complete it successfully. The hub of operations in Escape from Playtime is the Perm-A-Lounge. From here, you will take an elevator into Playtime Co., where you will have to fight for survival inside the factory’s various facilities.
There are classrooms, warehouses and testing labs, to name a few; they are connected via dark corridors and tight gaps that you must navigate to collect resources. You have a small inventory that you must manage carefully and make sure you’re maximising what you are taking back to Barry (which is your deposit point for your resources), all while having to outmanoeuvre the other Playtime Co. creations that are stalking the halls.
To name a few, you have Miss Delight, CatNap and Bunzo Bunny. There is a mysterious voice that you hear over the speakers that is sending you and your allies into the factory to collect these parts and resources, but you don’t 100% know who you are working for.
As a Smiling Critter, you will be able to crawl, jump and climb through pretty much every nook and cranny of each level. This is an interesting experience as we get to explore Playtime from a whole new perspective, and it adds to the whole atmosphere as you are tiny compared to the other toys roaming around the halls. The voice also adds a twist with every new run, as it seems to be altering the factory’s layout and creating procedurally generated environments that make it feel not so repetitive after multiple runs.
The puzzles are quite fun to do but can be quite tricky if you are playing on your own. The game does balance your experience in a way depending on how many people you have in the lobby. Though I have noticed that when playing with others I tend not to enjoy the game as much, which is a shame as it is one of the game’s main selling points. Multiplayer is littered with issues.
I have had lobbies time out where I have had to physically close the game and reload it to get out of a deadlock. The proximity voice chat, even though a core component, is not as fun as you might think. Sure, it works well when people use it properly, but it did come across more people using it in a negative way, like screaming down the mic, being rude and crude and griefing other players.
I think out of all my hours in the game, I had probably two lobbies where we hit the max number of players but didn’t manage to complete more than two runs before one or more left, and the experience just fell apart. This was apparently worse on release, as there wasn’t even the option to quick join a lobby until recently.
You do have the option to do a solo run, but seeing as the game is advertised as a co-op experience, you at least want to play alongside other players. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone I came across was a problem, but when you are in a lobby and no one is talking or working together, you might as well just go and play solo.
It is terrifying coming face to face with Miss Delight and CatNap as a smaller toy, and when the Red Gas starts to appear in a level, and you start losing stamina and know that CatNap is getting closer, there is a level of fear that comes over your body as you try and escape back to the safety of the Perm-A-Lounge, but it is also super frustrating because navigating Playtime is so difficult.
Even when playing with others, navigation through the levels is tough; you can get a little handheld map, but even this feels impossible to use when you are frantically trying to find your way back to safety. I did read that the timer for each level used to be on the handheld device, and this was the only way in which you could see how long you had left before you’d lose for not extracting in time, but due to quality of life, the Devs moved it to the top of the screen, which is a huge W in my eyes.
I do find the movement clunky at times, mainly when using the climbing mechanics. The number of times I have died from not grabbing onto a rope or wall when I have pressed the button is frustrating. Luckily, you do get three strikes before you fully lose and are out of the game, but if you lose one of these lives because of the game not working properly, it is annoying.
I do like the fact that you can unlock new Smiley Critters to play as the more rounds you survive. It gives you a sense of progression to work towards, and recently the Devs have been adding more lore to the game that ties into the franchise and continues the world-building.
Hats off to Mob Entertainment, as they have shown that they are listening to the community and fixing problems/issues when they arise, and they have also said that they will be adding more content moving forward based on this feedback to make the game a more enjoyable experience. You can see a roadmap of the new content on the store page on Steam and by following their social media accounts.
Graphics, sound and atmosphere
Graphically, the game is very pleasing; it is what you have come to love from Mob Entertainment and the Poppy Playtime universe. They also do a grand job at keeping the sound and atmosphere tense and horror even when you are playing with others. The proximity chat can add to the tension while playing; if you hear a fellow critter getting killed by CatNap and you just hear their last cries off in the distance, it certainly adds to the game.
The Voice is a nice narrative as it adds a sense of direction to the game rather than just an endless loop of resource collecting for no reason, and I love the fact that we are getting more lore dumped into the game and it’s only been out for a short time. If the Devs keep showing it love and the attention it needs, Escape from Playtime has a lot of potential to flesh out into a solid entry in the Poppy Playtime series.
Strengths and weaknesses
Now it’s time for the Pros and Cons, and what better way to start than to outline my negative thoughts on the game before wrapping it up with the positives. Currently, as it stands, the negatives for me are the lack of enemy variety. You do come across the same dangers repeatedly and get to the point where you know how to handle them, which kind of ruins the experience when playing for long sessions.
Then you have the limited content that is currently on offer; yes, the Devs are looking to build on it, but it would be nice to have a little more substance in the game. The repetitive objectives and movement hiccups can make you lose interest relatively quickly, even more so if you are playing solo or with a team that doesn’t want to work together. Lastly, you don’t get the same scary factor as you do with the mainline games.
This is more the case when you have someone blasting music down the mic or just straight up griefing; it takes from the enjoyment altogether. At first, it might be funny, but not when you are trying to lock in and get stuff done.
Though Escape from Playtime luckily isn’t all negatives. It is a fantastic return to Playtime Co., and the fact we are playing as a Smiling Critter is adorable. When these characters got added in Chapter 3, they became one of my favourites. When used right the proximity chat is an enjoyable mechanic and can help in adding to the cooperative gameplay, like solving the puzzles and collecting resources.
We get more lore that continues developing the world of Poppy Playtime, and it is currently receiving regular development updates that are fixing the things that are a big issue for the community. It has plenty of replayability thanks to the procedurally generated environments, which help keep exploration interesting and who doesn’t love exploring Playtime Co.
The final verdict
For me, Escape from Playtime is an enjoyable addition to the Poppy Playtime universe, and I enjoyed my return to Playtime Co. while I wait for the 6th chapter to release. Playing as one of the Smiling Critters is a fantastic touch, and the fact that we are getting additional lore gives fans more to sink their teeth into.
The procedurally generated environments offer enough replayability to keep each run feeling different, so all in all there is certainly a solid foundation here, particularly when playing cooperatively with friends who are willing to work together. I can’t help but feel this instalment into the Playtime universe falls short of what I was hoping for.
The lack of enemy variety, repetitive objectives and limited content make it difficult to stay engaged over longer sessions, while some of the multiplayer antics can take away from the atmosphere that makes Poppy Playtime so enjoyable in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, I can see the potential in what Mob Entertainment is building, and with regular updates and further content, Escape from Playtime could become something much more substantial.
Unfortunately, as it stands, it doesn’t come close to matching the experience offered by the mainline games. I enjoyed my time with it, but I was left wanting more. As this game is currently in early access, the deveopers have plenty of time to improve on the foundations of this game and make it better.
Escape from Playtime Trailer
Read more awesome previews >>here<<.
The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
Escape from Playtime – Frequently Asked Questions
What is Escape from Playtime?
Escape from Playtime is a cooperative multiplayer horror game set in the Poppy Playtime universe. Players take control of the Smiling Critters and explore the abandoned Playtime Co. factory while collecting resources, solving puzzles and avoiding dangerous toys.
Is Escape from Playtime a multiplayer game?
Yes. Escape from Playtime supports up to eight players working together to collect resources, complete objectives and survive the horrors lurking inside Playtime Co. You can also play solo.
Can you play as the Smiling Critters in Escape from Playtime?
Yes. Players take control of the Smiling Critters, with additional characters available to unlock as they survive more rounds.
Which monsters appear in Escape from Playtime?
Players encounter familiar Poppy Playtime characters including CatNap, Miss Delight and Bunzo Bunny as they explore the factory.
Is Escape from Playtime scary?
Yes. Encounters with monsters such as CatNap and Miss Delight create tense moments, particularly when escaping the Red Gas. However, multiplayer behaviour and disruptive voice chat can sometimes undermine the horror atmosphere.
Is Escape from Playtime worth playing?
Escape from Playtime has an enjoyable foundation, procedurally generated environments and additional Poppy Playtime lore. However, repetitive objectives, limited enemy variety, clunky movement and multiplayer issues hold it back. It has potential, but currently falls short of the mainline games.
Who developed Escape from Playtime?
Escape from Playtime was developed by Mob Entertainment, the studio behind the Poppy Playtime franchise.
