Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC

Publisher

HypeTrain Digital

Developer

Sleepy Castle Studio, Wing-It! Creative

Genre

RPG

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

2.3 GB

Release Date (NA)

Jan 23, 2026

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Microsoft Store

Steam

Escape from Ever After is an indie role-playing game (RPG) inspired by the Paper Mario series and executed marvelously. From its humorous script to its turn-based battles, it’s a must-have for anyone looking for a Paper Mario-like game on any platform of their choice.

Trouble in Fairytale

You will play as the fairytale hero, Flynt Buckler, who is on a mission to defeat the vicious dragon, Tinder. However, he soon discovers that the fearsome dungeon where Tinder resides has been taken over by a greedy corporation called Ever After Inc. This company is exploiting storybooks for profit by any means necessary. When backed into a corner by this corporation, Flynt reluctantly accepts the company’s offer to work for them. Meanwhile, he teams up with his nemesis, Tinder, a pacifistic wolf bard named Wolfgang, and other charming characters to rise up the corporate ladder and take down the company from within. Will their plan work? 

The game and its characters are influenced by fairytale books. For example, Wolfgang is inspired by the big bad wolf in the classic Three Little Pigs story, but he is a peaceful character instead of the big bad wolf. In contrast, the three pigs themselves are portrayed as rude and self-absorbed. While some characters in the RPG are not from published fairy tales, they embody the essence of these stories. For instance, Flynt is an original character with a classic hero personality. The dialogue between these charming characters is witty and humorous, particularly Tinder, who exudes an attitude of indifference except when it comes to reclaiming her castle from the greedy corporation. Their designs are fun and colorful that feel like they fit a storybook for children. Their personalities and comical dialogues make the story more lively.

Players will explore a variety of worlds, though not as many as one might expect. Escape from Ever After has the potential to offer over forty hours of adventuring, but players only need half of that to complete the game, slightly more for 100% completion. However, players can try the boss rush and the 100 floors challenge, if you’re looking for more challenges.

Worlds to Explore

As you explore, the game provides hints on how to progress the story, creating a domino effect. Whether you need to speak to a specific NPC or activate an object, players must follow the game’s dialogue or figure it out themselves. Answers are typically within a small area, making progression straightforward. Players will also encounter puzzles that require trial and error to advance to the next area. For example, moving blocks to align bookshelves in order to jump to the room above. Some puzzles may require more thought, but once solved, they feel rewarding. Players will also discover hidden items to collect, serving as a reward for their party. Sun Gems are scattered throughout each world, often tucked away in hidden areas. These gems can be exchanged for trinkets, abilities that can be equipped for your party. Other collectibles, such as costumes and ink bottles, are also worth finding.

The level designs are detailed and cater to each world, offering depth that allows players to explore both the foreground and background if the paths are open enough. Some areas, like the streets in Innsbeak, allow players to explore paths behind buildings and around corners, while other areas have more limited exploration. This prevents players from feeling overwhelmed and encourages exploration within these worlds when striving for that 100% completion.

Think Before You Act

Battles in Escape from Ever After are turn-based, with timing-based attacks. Before a battle begins, if the enemy attacks you while exploring, the first enemy on the battlefield will attack first. Otherwise, players can initiate an attack first from their party. In battle, you are allowed to choose two characters, and players can swap to different characters before the battle begins. If you decide to change characters during the middle of battle, your character will not make a move unless you spend Synergy Points (SP). SP can also be used for larger-scale attacks that require some interaction to power up such as catching flames for Tinder to showcase her fire breathing on all enemies on the field.

You have a maximum of six SP, but refilling it requires you to time your attacks and defense correctly by pushing a specific button on the controller. Before landing an attack, if you push the assigned button correctly, you can initiate another attack on the targeted foe. The same goes for defense; pushing the button at the right time results in less damage taken when an enemy attacks. If you are familiar with Paper Mario’s mechanics, you’ll understand how the battle mechanics work in Escape from Ever After, another influential piece from the popular RPG series. 

While trying to land these precise moments on offense and defense may feel inconsistent and frustrating, it becomes much more challenging in battles against foes like the three little pigs, where constant attacks are made on your party. There is a benefit to get around this – the game offers a setting to automatically turn on the timed mechanics for both offense and defense, and you will still receive the reward of filling up your SP gauge. Doing this does take away some of the interactive mechanics in battle, making it more dull, but it also avoids frustration. 

Your charming cast of fighters each have their own unique set of skills that players will find themselves swapping and adjusting for many battles. For example, Flynt’s shield attacks work great against flying enemies, while Tinder’s fire breathing helps burn wooden shields that Flynt cannot bypass with most of his acquired skills.

Players can also adjust skill sets based on how many trinket points your party has. These can be increased when you level up, as can health points and magic points, but you can only choose one of the three per level increase. If you made a mistake in how you spent your points, the game does offer a small in-game currency fee to reset your points.

You Spoony Bard

Just like outside of battles, the animation style resembles string puppets, with their limbs moving in a circular motion, but sometimes looking off. Some animations, such as the troll, look strange in how they walk across the battlefield and back. Another issue is activities that occur over bridges. For example, in chapter two, enemies cast portals to summon tentacles, but when the battles take place on a bridge, you see the animation occur before the enemies appear through the portal, as if the developers forgot to mask the area out, making it look like an error. It doesn’t break the game, but its presentation does take a hit.

The soundtrack itself is great with a variety of genres. Composed by Daniel Whitworth, the game’s scores consist of styles such as jazz, orchestral, electronic, and more. Battles are fun and give it a punch and upbeat rhythm. Battle themes carry a familiar score but in different themes based on the world you are exploring. Exploration scores make exploration curious and fun. It’s worth not just turning it up while playing but adding them to your playlist.

The Final Promotion

Escape from Ever After is a charming and witty RPG with Paper Mario-style combat and a vibrant, genre-blending soundtrack. It delivers a familiar flavor while carving out its own identity, making it a worthy pickup for RPG fans. Even though it concludes a little too soon, it carries the potential to be a larger adventure.

A PlayStation 5 code was provided for this review. Escape from Ever After is available now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Fans can visit the official website for more information and purchasing options.