Game Review: Prison Loop (Xbox Series X)

Developed and published by Leakage Games, Prison Loop is an ‘anomaly’ game that shares a lot in common with the likes of The Exit 8 (my first experience of this game mechanic), albeit in a less atmospheric and refined way.

So, what is an ‘anomaly’ game? It’s a game mechanic that puts you in an endlessly repeating area and tasks you with spotting anomalies in what you see. Should you notice something that doesn’t look right, head back, but if everything looks good, press onwards. Do this enough times, and you will eventually break free from the loop. It’s a really simple premise that can be really enjoyable, if done well.

The Exit 8 is an example of it done well. Prison Loop is an example of it not done well.

Played from the first person perspective, Prison Loop has the player moving through a prison block where several prisoners are locked in cells. It is this area that you must study to see if there are any anomalies. Why are you stuck in a loop and what are these anomalies? Forget about it, there’s no story here at all, just get scanning the area.

Except the majority of Prison Loop’s anomalies are laughably easy to spot. On my first attempt, I made it to the sixth loop (nine in total) without knowing what I was really looking out for. That’s how obvious the sight of a giant prisoner, a ceiling full of cameras, the doors opening and shutting on their own, and the hall being on fire are. There’s very little in the way of subtly here, which means there’s also very little reason to be afraid.

The Exit 8 nailed a troubling sense of danger and dread without doing too much. Prison Loop has none of that, even though it tries with one or two anomalies. Alas, the sight of a prisoner laughing in a corner isn’t that scary when, normally, they stand staring at you from behind their bars.

The entire game can be wrapped up in very quick fashion. Get lucky with your anomalies (there are a few that are trickier to spot) and you can be through the entire loop within five minutes. Hardly a satisfying experience, and while seeing all the anomalies is a reason to play again, the game doesn’t really encourage it in the way The Exit 8 did.

I don’t think Prison Loop is bad, far from it, I enjoyed the hell out of it, but I was familiar with this type of game, so didn’t expect too much. I think if this is the first anomaly game you ever play, you may not want to play another as it’s likely to leave you with serious buyer’s remorse because of the lack of significant gameplay.