Summary
Video games have explored a vast number of unique locations over the years, from ravaged fantasy kingdoms to dystopian cyberpunk futures. When it comes to crafting interesting environments, sometimes a game will send players to one of the scariest places that one could end up -inside a prison. And while plenty of gamesfeature levels set in prison, with some standout examples being the Ellsworth Penitentiary fromSplinter Cell: Double Agent, some games lock players in jail for the entirety of the game.
Setting a game inside a prison can be a smart design choice, as it innately conveys a sense of paranoia and isolation that is difficult to create naturally. Prisons are inherently scary places, so they tend to create an immediate level of fear, especially when the player is locked in from the beginning. Whether it’s set in a traditional prison or some sort of high-tech facility, these games have been ranked based on their level design, atmosphere, and how well they use their environment to enhance their title’s mood.
Based on the classic 1964 film of the same name,The Great Escapefollows a group of men trying to escape a German POW camp in 1944. Utilizing sound clips from the movie itself,The Great Escapestars Hollywood legend Steve McQueen and also makes excellent use of the iconic film score by Elmer Bernstein. The German POW camp is where the bulk of the game takes place, asThe Great Escapecombines elements of stealth and action.
Stealth feels quite good for a game of its era, and the puzzles form some of the game’s most clever moments. The camp itself makes great use of the limited hardware, and areas feel rather open as a result. It recaptures some of the bestscenes from the classic film, including its action-packed opening, and focuses on the horrors that war creates. It is one of the most overlooked games of its generation, as it was able to surpass the limitations of the hardware at the time, creating a fitting tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood.
In a genre as eclectic as sim management, it was perhaps no surprise that someone would put players in charge of a prison and see how well they do. And withPrison Architect, developers Introversion Software created what is still one of the most detailed,highly engaging simulation gamesof its generation. This compelling sim game puts players in charge of a for-profit prison, tasking them with building and maintaining a prison, where they will control everything from its design to its day-to-day operations.
Its simple art style plays well into the way buildings are designed, as it has a sort of ironic charm by contrasting the cute characters with the dubious responsibility of building and maintaining a for-profit prison. It isn’t just the construction and maintenance of the building, asPrison Architectureallows players to determine how well prisoners are treated and gives a fair bit of customization to just how nasty the player’s facility can be.
Initially conceived as a mix betweenDevil May CryandHalf-Life,The Sufferingis set in the fictional Abbot State Penitentiary, which is located somewhere in Maryland. Based on famous prisons like Alcatraz and San Quentin, Abbot State finds itself overrun with monsters during the events ofThe Suffering, casting players as Torque,a man on death row whomust escape the prison with his life and find out the truth about whether he did murder his family.
The Sufferingwas one of the most fascinating games of the sixth generation of consoles, as it also allowed the player to transform Torque into a monster during combat. By filling up Torque’s “insanity meter”, players can take part in some of the game’s most twisted moments. Its violence and gore were controversial for the time, and though it feels rather tame today,The Sufferingis a game worth checking out for its intricately designed prison and unique flair. It also has multiple endings, where the fate of Torque’s family changes depending on the choices made throughout the game.
First appearing in the 2000 filmPitch Black, the character of Riddick, played by Vin Diesel, was later expanded into other forms of media. One of the best things to come from that wasa first-person stealth-action gameknown asThe Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, which launched for the Xbox in 2004, which sees him locked inside the confines of a maximum-security prison located on an isolated planet in the far reaches of the galaxy.
In order to escape the eponymous Butcher Bay, Riddick must contend with all sorts of criminals, killers, and masterminds.Escape From Butcher Bayis still one of the most incredible-looking games of all time, as it took full advantage of what the original Xbox was capable of. The prison itself is a multi-level, highly detailed world that is massively impressive for the hardware, and its dark, brooding atmosphere is simply masterful.The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Baywas given an expanded remake and packaged with the sequel,Assault on Dark Athena, in 2007.
In terms of legendary locations from DC Comics, there are obvious places like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude and the Justice League Watchtower, but it’s safe to say that Arkham Asylum ranks right up at the top. Located within the jurisdiction of Gotham City, this maximum-security prison for the criminally insane became the subject of a self-titled video game in 2009known asBatman: Arkham Asylum, which sees The Dark Knight trapped inside its claustrophobic hallways during a riot orchestrated by The Joker.
Featuring a highly detailed, sprawling 3D map and some of the most impressive level designs of its time,Arkham Asylumis still one of Batman’s most outstanding video game adaptations. Starring the late Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker, reprising their roles from the hit 1990s animated series,Arkham Asylumexplores the dark, twisted minds of some of DC’s greatest villains and lets players uncover its sinister origins. It is a game with a clear love of Batman’s mythology, as well as a keen eye for outstanding-level design and storytelling.
