When comparing OpenTTD vs The Escapists 2, the Slant community recommends OpenTTD for most people. In the question“What are the best low-spec PC games?” OpenTTD is ranked 16th while The Escapists 2 is ranked 85th. The most important reason people chose OpenTTD is:
You can't go wrong with a game that has no purchase cost. Even better the user can contribute to the project or even use the code for their own, as the game is open-source.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Free and open-source
You can't go wrong with a game that has no purchase cost. Even better the user can contribute to the project or even use the code for their own, as the game is open-source.
Pro Still actively being developed
There are regular updates still being released for the game, meaning regular bug fixes as well as added features on a consistent basis.
Pro Allows for a lot of railway design creativity
You can build massive and complicated rail networks in the game, giving the player the freedom to come up with their own solutions and crazy designs.
Pro Tons of mods to download
There are many existing mods for the game, which can greatly extend the gameplay beyond that of the stock game.
Pro Very addictive - hard to walk away from when your little world is running
Especially if you're playing with some friends, this game is very enthralling (Heroes of Might and Magic 2 was similar, even though a very different game).
Pro Easily accessible multiplayer
It has built in multiplayer for LAN or online play, which makes it easy for the player to find and create online matches.
Pro Significant enhancements from the original game
- Stable multiplayer mode for up to 255 players in 15 companies, or as spectators
- Dedicated server mode and an in-game console for administration
- In game downloading of new content and game mechanics
Pro Convenient built in mod download interface
This allows the user to easily browse and download new mods for the game from within the game itself.
Pro Infinite possibilities
You seem to never run out of things to do in this game!
Pro Encourages experimentation and creativity
There is no right or wrong way to do anything, and it's entirely a risk vs reward scenario for anything you want to try. You are only limited by your creativity in escaping, as each prison has almost endless possibilities and encourages the player to make the best use of their inventory and be creative in handling every situation.
Bed sheets can be used to cover cell windows from the prying eyes of guards, desks can be moved to reach out of reach vents, crafted tools can be used for various purposes such as breaking through walls or doors, and shovels can be used to dig holes. You can try to sneak around guards, or opt to hide in vents until they're out of sight. If you're feeling especially brave, you can even attempt to fight the guards and take their keys allowing easier access around the prison.
Pro Good balance of game systems make for a rewarding simulation
Taking action in the game uses up your stamina, so you'll still have to make time for things like eating and sleeping if you want to have energy for things like digging through walls, fighting other inmates, or cutting through vents and gates.
Items such as shovels and cutters have limited durability, so they can't be used endlessly. Raw materials can be found around the prison to craft items, or you can buy items from fences using money earned by running fetch quests for other inmates. No matter how you acquire them, crafting materials and finished goods are limited so you'll have to use your items wisely.
Time is an important factor that has to be managed too, with certain activities having to be done at certain times. This limits the amount of time you have to roam the prison, since you have to show up for meal times and roll calls. Free time can be used to craft, roam the prison to determine the guard patterns, or finally put your ultimate escape plan into action.
Juggling each and every one of the various aspects of the game results in a very deep and rewarding simulation experience.
Pro Solid progression of difficulty
The difficulty increases as you progress, with each prison becoming just a little more intricate and more challenging to escape from than the previous. The prisons themselves get more complex with more obstacles to overcome such as tougher guards which results in more ways things can go wrong. The progress feels good and natural, as you're always building on what you learned in previous prisons to escape from the newest one.
Pro Great pixel art style for retro fans
If you enjoy a more retro style, then this game is pure eye candy. Simple but charming, the pixel art is colorful, with the sprites having a nice variety in animations when they're shoveling, searching, running around, fighting, or partaking in any kind of activity that would require movement. The tile sets for the game world are nicely detailed, colored and shaded. You won't get tired of looking at the same tiles over and over due to the sheer amount and variety of the art assets created for the game.
Pro Lots of replayability
No two games will play out alike. Each prison is an open sandbox, so it's definitely not a linear experience with a defined escape blueprint. Prisons can be replayed over and over to beat your previous time, measured in how many in-game days it took you to escape, which leaves plenty of room for trying new things on each successive playthrough.
Pro Co-Op multiplayer mode adds a new depth to gameplay
Working together creates a whole new experience with loads of possibilities. In co-op mode, you play with up to 3 teammates either online or locally as you work towards escaping the prison together. This adds a whole new dynamic to gameplay as working together creates experiences that just aren't possible when playing solo. Someone could distract the guards, while another searches rooms for crafting materials. One player could run around collecting items, while another scopes out the guard's patrol patterns. Some can complete quests to collect money while others are working on digging tunnels.
Pro A couple of alternative prisons add a change of scenery
Tired of bricks, cold floors, and cement cells? For those who want a change of scenery, there is a prison set in the wild west, and even a futuristic space prison. This adds a little bit of variety to the look of the game while keeping the same gameplay mechanics. It's a nice touch and gives your eyes a break from staring at the same tilesets over and over.
Cons
Con Can be complicated to play for a beginner
For those unfamiliar with this style of game, there is a lot to learn in order to be competent at the gameplay. Some tutorials online should help, but it is a time investment some may not want to spend on the game.
Con Micromanagement is a bit too much
You have to either use glitches or really make all your decisions right.
Con Can be boring when playing alone
Due to the length of the win conditions and how long it takes to achieve things in the game, it can get a bit boring after much time spent. This is also true of the stock gameplay element, while mods can definitely help, what comes with the game out of the box can get old after a while.
Con Graphics are small on high res displays
When playing this game on a high resolution screen the game will look small and dense, which may be irritating that it does not scale to ones resolution as it can be difficult to read the text or see what is going on. However, in the settings one can set the UI scaling to 2x to make it much easier to tell what is going on.
Con The sounds drive you insane
You sit down to play the game for a slight bit of time, you get your headphones on and get blasted with BEEEEP and GJHHHH including VSHHH and DING DING DING DING WOOOSHHH too.
Con Online does not work cross versions
Old versions can't play online or LAN with newer versions of the game. So for those that prefer using an older version, or just have not updated, they will have to make sure those they want to play with online have the exact same version (or one that is compatible).
Con Getting caught by guards can be overly punishing
It's frustrating when you spend several hours grinding quests for other inmates, collecting items, crafting, and carefully planning your escape, only to get caught by guards and lose all your items or killed. This effectively means you have to start over, wasting hours of your own time and days of in-game time.
Con Can feel grindy at times
Running around doing fetch quests for other inmates, or searching for crafting materials for hours on end can get stale after a while.
Con Tutorial doesn't cover much
The tutorial will only walk you through the barest of basics, resulting in the player having to learn the game's various mechanics on their own.