Pretty Girls Escape

Developer: Zoo Corporation | Publisher: Zoo Corporation | Release Date: 2022 | Genre: Casual / Puzzle| Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Zoo Corporation has built an entire subgenre around combining classic puzzle games with anime-inspired character artwork, and Pretty Girls Escape continues this tradition. Unlike previous entries such as Pretty Girls Rivers, which focused on Mahjong-style tile matching, or Pretty Girls Four Kings Solitaire with its strategic card gameplay, Pretty Girls Escape presents players with a puzzle experience centered around guiding character blocks safely to an exit. It sounds simple on paper, but the game gradually introduces enough mechanics and hazards to keep things interesting throughout its relatively short runtime.

The premise of Pretty Girls Escape is straightforward. Players select one of eight girls and then work through a series of increasingly challenging puzzle stages. Each girl has six levels dedicated to her, resulting in a total of 48 main stages. The objective in every puzzle is to guide one or more large character blocks representing the selected girl to an exit located at the bottom of the screen. This is accomplished by removing groups of matching colored blocks and shifting the entire puzzle field left or right to manipulate the layout. While the mechanics are easy to understand, later stages introduce enough complications that solving them often requires careful planning rather than random experimentation.

At first glance, the gameplay bears some resemblance to classic block-clearing puzzle games, but the emphasis here is less on speed and more on positioning. Removing blocks causes everything above them to fall, potentially creating new paths or accidentally trapping the character block in awkward positions. The ability to shift the entire board left and right adds another layer of strategy, as players can use it to line up block groups or steer their character around obstacles. New mechanics are introduced steadily throughout the campaign, including indestructible blocks, moving hazards, locked exits, multiple character blocks, and other stage gimmicks that force players to think several moves ahead. What begins as a fairly relaxed puzzle game gradually becomes surprisingly challenging.

Pretty Girls Escape features two primary modes. The first is Stage Mode, which contains the 48 levels spread across the eight girls. Each stage also includes optional objectives such as completing the puzzle within a specific move count, finishing under a time limit, or clearing certain block types. These objectives reward points that can be spent on purchasing backgrounds and outfits for the diorama mode. The second mode is Challenge Mode, which includes 20 additional stages designed to provide a more demanding experience for puzzle veterans. These levels often feel more handcrafted and restrictive, requiring players to carefully analyze the board before making their first move. The game also keeps separate leaderboards for both modes, allowing players to track their progress and performance.

One aspect we appreciated is that Pretty Girls Escape doesn’t rely purely on luck. While some stages may initially appear chaotic, most can be solved consistently once players understand the mechanics. This makes success feel earned rather than random. At the same time, the game remains accessible enough that newcomers to the genre should have little trouble grasping the basics. Some later puzzles can be surprisingly tricky, however, and a few required more trial and error than we would have liked.

As expected from the series, there is no real story to speak of. The eight girls each have brief personality descriptions, but these exist primarily as flavor text. The cast includes everything from energetic troublemakers and shy athletes to divine beings and talented swordswomen. While the characters do not contribute much to the gameplay itself, they provide the visual identity that fans of the series have come to expect.

Visually, Pretty Girls Escape follows the familiar formula established by earlier entries in the franchise. The character artwork is colorful and attractive, while the puzzle boards themselves are clear and easy to read. The girls are displayed alongside the playfield and react with different facial expressions depending on player performance. The game does not feature elaborate animations, but the artwork is polished and consistent with the rest of the series. While some players may dismiss the anime presentation as fan service, it undeniably gives the game more personality than a generic puzzle title.

The audio is similarly familiar territory. All of the girls are voiced in Japanese, although the voice clips are relatively limited. The soundtrack consists of a handful of upbeat tracks that fit the lighthearted tone of the game without becoming too distracting. Sound effects are functional and provide enough feedback to make matching blocks feel satisfying. As with previous Pretty Girls releases, the music is pleasant enough for a few hours of play but not particularly memorable.

The controls are extremely simple and work well with either a mouse or controller. Since the game revolves around selecting blocks and shifting the board, there are very few opportunities for control issues to arise. Everything feels responsive, which is exactly what a puzzle game like this requires.

Overall, Pretty Girls Escape is another enjoyable entry in Zoo Corporation’s long-running franchise. The puzzle mechanics are more engaging than they initially appear, and the gradual introduction of new obstacles helps keep the gameplay from becoming repetitive. It lacks the replay value of some earlier entries in the series and can be completed fairly quickly, but the affordable asking price helps offset this limitation. Fans of puzzle games will find plenty to enjoy even if the anime presentation does not appeal to them, while series veterans will appreciate another solid variation on the established formula.