Escape_Free

In the early 2000s, a file labeled "escape_free" began circulating around several file-sharing websites, containing an executable of the same name. Stories of the program's strange properties spread across the gaming community; accessing the code was impossible, as was viewing the files of the program itself, due to it running on its own immediately after download. Initially, users brushed it off as a poorly designed DOOM clone, but a number of users dug deeper, and found the program to be more than meets the eye. The game's notoriety was short-lived, however, as all copies had mysteriously vanished overnight, and discussion petered out.

The game fell into obscurity until recently, when an anonymous user made the following post on a forum topic discussing unusual PC games. Here, the user describes the "proper" way to play the game, and the events that follow:

First, you’ll need a computer. I'd recommend a computer that's clean; no downloads, no internet history, nothing. Buy a new computer if you'd rather not wipe your own. This is completely optional, but your experience will be much more pleasant if there's no other programs (aside from whatever the operating system has) installed.

Next, you'll need to find the game itself, which is difficult, but not impossible. It's difficult because the link to the download page never seems to be in the same place more than once. For some odd reason, the link is always hidden within an image; you click on the image, you get taken to the page. The good news is that the image is always of an open door leading to some outdoor area. The bad news is that it could be ANY image that matches that description. Your best bet is using Google Images, but you'll need to be on the website where the image is posted in order for the link to work. It's a lot of trial and error, but eventually, you'll find it.

Once it's finished downloading, it'll start up right away. There's no start menu, no splash screen, no options; just a first person view of a basic-as-basic-can-be CG image of a living room.

The gameplay is rather simple. You pick up items, use them on other items, unlock something, rinse and repeat. It's reminiscent of all those flash "escape the room" games you'd find all over the internet, with the exception that it has first-person controls. Seems easy, right? Well, there's a bit more to it than that.

To get certain items, you'll need to talk with the NPC's.

At first, you might not recognize them as entities you can actually talk with. Each one (apart from one) is represented by a compressed image of a piece of furniture or other household item. There's a chair, a grandfather clock, a coffee table, to name a few. The only NPC that doesn't follow this pattern is the "floating face." As the name implies, it's a crude, 3D render of a face (not a head, a face), bobbing up and down in the air. It's a close resemblance to a normal human face, but some features (namely the eyes and mouth) are exaggerated. Something I found unsettling was the face's expression; somewhere between a mischievous grin and a look of unspeakable terror.

When you talk to the NPC's, there's no sound or voice acting, just boxes of text that appear. The things they talk about range from quirky to downright odd, and they all make offhand mentions to the "outside." After that, they'll each ask you a question, provide answers for you to choose, and in some cases, give you an item after you answer. These questions can be mundane, or uncomfortably personal. They range from "what's 2 plus 2" and "wanna be friends," to "how often do you speak with your mother" and "have you ever ruined someone's life before."

You can answer these questions any way you like, but keep in mind that certain answers will make the NPC's more suspicious.

What I mean by that is, they'll begin following you as you progress, watching everything you do. You'll pick up an item and turn around, boom; there's the clock, right behind you. It definitely caught me off guard the first time I played (yes, I've played multiple times, and I wouldn't recommend it). At a certain point, they'll begin standing in doorways, blocking your entry to the different rooms, and your progress in general. This is why I encourage playing on a "fresh" computer. I've yet to determine what data specifically, but it seems certain programs and strings trigger values in the game's code, making the NPC's more suspicious.

You should complete the game in about ten minutes, but you don’t want to actually “finish” it. Not by the game's standards, anyway.

The last item you’ll get is a large yellow key, which will unlock the front door in the main room, leading to the outside.

Do NOT use it on the door.

Instead, close the game using task manager or whatever else you can use to close it. When this happens, a new window will pop up, allowing you to browse the game's files. Go into the texture files, and find the texture for the key. Open that up, and you should see a number, hidden within the texture.

Memorize this number, as well as the number of digits in it. Write it down if you have to, but it’s important that you remember it. It can be between 1 and around 16 digits, so do whatever works. After you memorize it, close the file and delete the game AT ONCE.

The next step is to wait, while keeping that number in mind. Soon, you’ll be approached by something that involves providing a number. This could be anything from a phone number to a combination code and beyond. When that happens, give the number you found in the file. Don't just plug the number into any applicable space; you need to wait until you're prompted for it. You'll know when to use it, due to the number of digits.

What happens afterward? It depends.

The number seems to act as a "cheat code," and using it will grant you access to something you couldn't before, such as a combination safe. This only works once, as subsequent playthroughs don't produce different numbers. In my personal experience, the number I received was the number of a safe deposit box at my local bank, containing a savings bond I had all but forgotten about; I'd recommend giving the game a try if that sort of thing sounds good to you.

Some things to remember, though.

You should answer the NPC's questions as quickly as you can. The longer I pondered my response, staring at the low-resolution images, the dizzier I felt, like I was going to faint. Could've just been me, but best not to take the risk

As for why shouldn't you use the key on the final door, remember the "outside" the NPC's mentioned? If you unlock that door, it allows them access to the outside, ending the game and closing it. You can always re-download the game and try again, but I wouldn't recommend it. I made that mistake, and I'm paying the price for it. No, I'm not stuck inside the computer or being followed by ghosts or anything. I'm just a bit more paranoid than usual. I've had moments where I could've sworn I saw the floating face in the corner of my eye, or felt some presence behind me when I was working on the computer. Again, that could just be me.

And that's about it. If you're up to the challenge, I wish you the best of luck!

In the days that followed, other users made posts challenging the user's claim. In response, the user made the following post:

Alright, since you guys want proof so bad, here you go. NOTE: The grandfather clock in the background (belongs to my parents) is the same model as the one found in the game. Weird, right?

Along with the post was a picture of the user holding a savings bond with the information censored and giving a thumbs up.

There was no visible grandfather clock in the background.