Escape the Mad Empire

Early Access

Release Date: April 22, 2025 Early Access

A traditional team RPG, combining mechanics from dungeon crawler and roguelike genres. Escape the Mad Empire also includes base building elements and real time combat with an active pause option. Fights take place in procedurally generated dungeons and the game offers a dark fantasy setting.

9.3

Steam

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Ratings

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Gameplay
Story
Engine and graphics

Escape the Mad Empire is a game developed by an independent studio from Canada called XperimentalZ Games. It represents a synergy of tactical team RPGs with roguelikes, in which we can plan subsequent moves thanks to the use of the active pause system.

Gameplay

We manage a four-person team in the game, exploring dark dungeons full of monsters and loot. The map, the enemies and the items are all randomly generated. There is also permanent death mechanic so we often have to start the game from scratch.

The real-time battles involve using shields, flanking, positioning characters, utilizing the terrain, as well as relying on fire, water, ice, or acid. Hunger and thirst can also have a significant effect. For example, in order to distract our opponents, we can throw a chicken on the ground. An active pause system allows us to plan the next moves.

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One of the characteristic elements of Escape the Mad Empire are bizarre items, which are associated with a system of penalties and rewards. Equipment can change basic damage to fire damage and provide resistance to it, but at the same time weaken tolerance to cold and cause that whenever we walk on an oil-soaked surface, the terrain will burst into flames.

Between performing quests from the main plot and fighting bosses, we have the opportunity to build our base, recruit characters, and craft or buy items.

Story

The action of Escape the Mad Empire takes place in a dark fantasy world. The underground empire extracting crystals used them for insane experiments, which had a dramatic effect. The dungeons plunged into chaos. A team of brave people is trying to save the surviving citizens, while also trying to gain their own freedom.

Engine and graphics

Escape the Mad Empire was created using the Unity engine and it features pixel art visuals.

Platforms:

PC Windows

Developer: XperimentalZ Games

Publisher: Paradox Arc

Similar Games:

Tyranny

Banquet for Fools

Dungeons of Dredmor

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for Escape the Mad Empire Video Game:

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-3570 / AMD FX-8350, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 950 / Radeon R7 265, 1 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 1050 / 4 GB Radeon RX 560, 1 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Escape the Mad Empire Video Game.

88%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (206)

STEAM

Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Engaging Combat Mechanics: The real-time with pause combat system is praised for allowing players to execute strategies effectively, with immediate action triggers during pauses.
Character and Party Management: Players enjoy the depth of character customization and the variety of classes, skills, and builds available. The ability to manage a party rather than a single character adds a strategic layer.
Loot Variety: The game features a diverse range of loot, which keeps gameplay exciting and encourages experimentation with different builds and strategies.
Charming Aesthetic: The retro pixel art style and overall design are appreciated, with many s finding it appealing and nostalgic.
Replayability: The randomized elements in dungeon runs and character recruitment enhance replay value, making each playthrough feel unique.
Developer Engagement: Many s express satisfaction with the developers' responsiveness and willingness to incorporate .

The main cons of the game

UI and Accessibility Issues: Several reviews mention that the interface can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate, with some elements being hard to see or understand.
Balancing Issues: Some players feel that leveling up heroes can lead to disadvantages, making it less rewarding and potentially forcing players to recycle characters too frequently.
Content Limitations: Many s note that the game currently lacks sufficient content, with some expressing that they've completed all available content quickly.
Difficulty Spikes: Some players report encountering significant difficulty spikes that can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly in the late game.
Inventory Management: There are complaints about the inventory system being cumbersome, especially regarding item attunement and resource management.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s

Improved Base Management: s suggest more options for organizing and managing the home base, including more structures, better item stacking, and options for deconstruction.
Enhanced Dungeon Variety: Players desire more dynamic and varied dungeon layouts, including secret rooms, more interactable objects, and diverse enemy factions.
Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions include better shop mechanics, more intuitive menus, and the ability to trade or exchange resources more effectively.
Increased Content: Many s hope for additional content and features to be added in future updates, including more quests, characters, and gameplay mechanics.
Difficulty Settings: Some players express a desire for more options regarding difficulty settings or self-imposed challenges to enhance the game's challenge and engagement.

Summary

Overall, "Escape The Mad Empire" is seen as a promising title with a lot of potential, particularly for fans of tactical RPGs and dungeon crawlers, despite some balancing and content limitations that are expected to be addressed in future updates.

Summary generated on: May 19, 2025

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