The Artful Escape

In 'The Artful Escape,' a 2D adventure platformer, Francis, a teenage guitar virtuoso, embarks on a mind-bending journey across dimensions to craft his stage persona on the eve of his debut performance. The weight of his late uncle's folk music legacy and imposter syndrome force Francis to immerse himself in a psychedelic quest to discover his true identity, traversing stolen opera houses, alien landscapes, and the depths of the Cosmic Extraordinary. With themes of legacy, self-discovery, and cosmic exploration, players delve into a world where reality blends with imagination, guided by the rhythm of Francis's guitar.

• Release date: 09-09-2021
• Developer: Beethoven & Dinosaur
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Triggers for this game

Animals & Wildlife

• Birds

  • Can't be avoided

• Insects

  Several creatures with an insect-like appearance

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Animals & Critters

  Warp Turtle

  • Can't be avoided

Gore

• Body Horror

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Hypnogogic Zomm is a starfish alien whose head resembles a brain in a jar

  • Can't be avoided

Horror Themes

• Aliens

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Starfish aliens among other types

  • Can't be avoided

• Monsters

  Eldritch abominations

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  The Eldritch Abominations are critics and music agents

  • Can't be avoided

• Zombies & Undead

  Cosplay, outfits

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  A man cosplays as the zombie of Francis' late uncle Johnson Vendetti (a Bob Dylan stand-in). You can dress Francis in clothing that includes skeleton-wear.

  • Can't be avoided

LGBTQ+

• Misc. LGBTQ+

  If you choose

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  It is very easy to make Francis a genderfluid, genderqueer, transgender, and/or queer character. A lot of their storyline can be seen as an allegory for discovering one's sexuality and/or gender. On top of that, you can choose many types of clothing for Francis to depict who they are on the inside.

  • Is avoidable

Mental Health

• Anxiety

  Worrying about disappointing others / living up to the ideas others have for you

  • Can't be avoided

• Family References

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Mental Health

  Imposter syndrome, self sabotage

  • Can't be avoided

Non-Sexual Abuse & Violence

• Altercations

  • Can't be avoided

Phobias

• Aerophobia

  No risk of falling

  • Can't be avoided

• Megalophobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  The Tastemaker is a very large floating head whose face is made up of food. There are other large objects and animals throughout the game as well.

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Phobias

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Atychiphobia (Fear of Failure), Kosmikophobia (Fear of space or the cosmos), Thanatophobia (Fear of dying)

  • Can't be avoided

• Ommetaphobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  No eye trauma, but multiple characters who have multiple eyes or eye-like spots on their faces

  • Can't be avoided

• Trypophobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Multiple characters have eye-like spots/holes on their faces

  • Can't be avoided

Did we miss something? Submit your suggestion here!