Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School launches on November 5, 2026, with the base game listed at $19.99 and a Deluxe Edition at $29.99 on Xbox Wire’s store panel. It arrives that day on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC, and it is included in Xbox Game Pass from day one.

The sequel comes from developer Coin Crew Games and publisher iam8bit. Xbox Wire ran a set of beginner tips for launch, and together with the publisher’s own description they give a clear picture of what is on offer.

What is Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School?

It is a puzzle game made of timed, graded escape rooms, like the original Escape Academy, which the publisher says was enjoyed by over 4 million players. The new part is the space between the rooms. Instead of a menu, players walk around a campus hub that grows as the story moves on, and the campus itself holds puzzles and secrets. The publisher calls it the first open world escape room game.

You can play alone, or with a friend in online or split-screen couch co-op. An optional No-Timer Mode lets players solve at their own pace.

A classroom escape room with spiked ceiling and a pop quiz on the board
Photo: Steam

Which platforms and what are the key details?

  • Release date: November 5, 2026
  • Xbox: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC, plus Xbox Game Pass on day one
  • Other platforms: PlayStation 5, and PC through Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store, according to Gematsu and WorthPlaying
  • Developer and publisher: Coin Crew Games and iam8bit
  • Co-op: online and split-screen couch co-op, with solo play supported
  • Music: a new soundtrack by DJ Doseone
  • PC minimum, as listed by WorthPlaying: Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8400, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB)
  • PC recommended: Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 2700, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (4GB)
Aerial view of the Escape Academy campus hub with its clock tower and lighthouse
Photo: Steam

What is new compared with the first game?

Beyond the open campus, the studio describes a rebuilt look, with new environments and new outfits for professors and students. The story is new too, built around a mystery tied to the school’s founding, with returning characters alongside new teachers and puzzle-filled side quests. The rooms are described as handcrafted by veteran puzzle designers, and they are not bound by real-world safety rules, so expect spiked ceilings and 100 foot drops.

There is also a small economy. Optional, untimed side tasks for other students pay out Escape Bucks, a school currency that Xbox Wire says you will need at several points to progress through the story. More Escape Bucks are hidden around campus.

Prices

Xbox Wire’s store panel lists Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School at $19.99 as a pre-order and the Deluxe Edition at $29.99. The Deluxe Edition adds a Season Pass covering two upcoming expansions, each with a new story, new escape rooms and extra credit side quests, plus the Mask-uerade cosmetic pack of ten Animal-themed masks.

Those pages show dollar figures only and do not say which country’s store they come from. Prices for PlayStation 5, Steam, the Epic Games Store and other regions are not stated in the sources we read.

A puzzle room with a hamster cage, colored pipes and a combination lock
Photo: Steam

What do the Xbox Wire tips say?

Xbox Wire’s editor played the opening hours and offers spoiler-free advice:

  • Keep a pencil and paper close. Ciphers and sudoku style puzzles get easier once written down.
  • Check everything you can interact with in a room, because anything pickable is there for a reason.
  • Say out loud what you find when playing with others, since rooms often time out from poor communication.
  • Think backwards from the goal to sort useful clues from noise.
  • Use the hint system. Hints open over several screens with growing detail, and heavy use lowers your grade, though an A is still possible with one or two.
  • Do the side tasks early so you are not short of Escape Bucks later.
The main hall of the academy with a grand staircase and stained glass window
Photo: Steam

Who it suits

Escape room fans. The timed, graded rooms are the core of the game, and Xbox Wire’s writer, who has played real escape rooms for years, says the open campus adds a calmer rhythm between them.

Families and co-op pairs. Xbox Wire describes a colorful, family-friendly presentation with a lot of puns, and the game supports both online and couch co-op. The No-Timer Mode helps mixed skill levels play together.

Game Pass subscribers. With the game included from day one, trying it costs nothing extra for members. Check which Game Pass plan covers it on your platform.

Solo puzzle players. Everything can be played alone, and the layered hints give a way out when stuck without handing over the answer.

What is still unknown?

The sources do not give PlayStation 5, Steam or Epic Games Store prices, regional pricing, the length of the campaign, or release dates for the two expansions. They also do not say which Game Pass tiers include the game. Gematsu lists Xbox Series while Xbox Wire says Xbox Series X|S, so check your console’s store page.

Before you buy, open the store page for your platform on launch day to see the local price. Steam also lists a playable demo, which is a low-risk way to try the puzzles first.