CUFFBUST

CUFFBUST is a multiplayer prison escape game with a strong core concept and smooth mechanics, praised for its enjoyable co-op gameplay and a robust map editor that allows players to create custom maps. However, the game currently suffers from having only one official map, which players can complete rapidly, leading to a short and repetitive experience. Many reviews highlight that the game feels more like an early access or demo state rather than a full release. Despite a significant price drop shortly after launch, numerous players felt the content did not justify even the reduced cost. The AI guards are often described as easy to exploit, and the lack of a mode allowing players to play as guards limits gameplay variety.

Players appreciate the game's colorful visuals, in-game voice chat, and fun social aspects, but the absence of multiple maps, limited challenge, and lack of replayability are common frustrations. The community-driven map creation is promising but not sufficient to replace official content. Overall, CUFFBUST shows potential but requires substantial updates to fulfill its promise.

Highlights

Players particularly praise CUFFBUST's fun cooperative gameplay, smooth and satisfying controls, and a visually appealing, colorful art style. The map editor is a standout feature, allowing for creative custom maps, which adds potential replayability. The game also features a lively lobby with proximity voice chat and humorous elements that enhance the social experience. Many note the game’s enjoyable moments when played with friends and the developer's responsiveness in adjusting the price post-launch. The core escape mechanics and teamwork aspects receive positive mentions, framing CUFFBUST as a solid foundation for future development.

Criticisms

The most frequent criticisms focus on the lack of content, with only one official map that can be completed quickly, resulting in a short and repetitive gameplay loop. Players find the AI guards too easy to bypass and the game lacking challenge and consequences for failure. The absence of a mode to play as guards and no procedural or randomized map elements reduce variety. Multiplayer connectivity issues and missing controller support also frustrate users. Furthermore, the game's monetization strategy, including day-one DLC and cosmetic microtransactions, is viewed as greedy. Many feel the game was released prematurely and would have benefited from an early access phase to build more content and polish.