Escape Academy Tournament of Puzzles Update Explained

What is the Tournament of Puzzles update?

Escape Academy: The Tournament of Puzzles is a major content update that turns the game's escape rooms into a head-to-head competition. According to the official Steam store description, it invites players to "Hit the road with Coach Yoach" for a globe-spanning series of puzzle showdowns, and the package includes three massive arenas, three new game modes, puzzle power-ups, additional achievements and, in the store's own words, "lots and lots of puzzles."

Head-to-head play is the headline, but the official description also says solo solving is supported: Coach Yoach lets any Escapist work through the courses in single player. The arenas themselves are described as giant and replayable, with secret passages and alternate routes to learn.

The store description does not state a price for the update. According to Digital Trends' hands-on preview from GDC, Tournament of Puzzles was described as a free update arriving after the game's second paid DLC; treat that as the outlet's reporting rather than an official price confirmation.

Source: Steam store page, checked November 7, 2026.

Which arenas does Tournament of Puzzles add?

It adds three. Each one is themed around a different corner of the Escape Academy world, and the official description frames all three as large, replayable spaces with hidden routes.

What are the three new game modes?

They are Escape Race, Tic-Tac-Toe and Scavenger Hunt. Each is listed in the official description with a one-line summary of what it involves; the store text does not go into further rules for any of them.

Digital Trends' preview adds some texture to how a match plays: each room holds two sets of the same puzzle pieces, with one player interacting with blue-marked objects and the other with red, and the first to collect the keys and open the final gate wins. The outlet also noted a comeback element, since a trailing player can look at the solutions a faster opponent has already left behind.

How do puzzle power-ups work?

The official description says you can deploy distracting traps against your opponents, or gain an advantage by using assists, in order to secure the win. That is the extent of what is officially spelled out.

The store text does not list individual power-ups, how many exist, how long they last, or how they are earned, and no official breakdown of that detail has been published alongside the store page. Digital Trends' preview mentioned that the developers were thinking about ways to let players mess with each other more directly, but that was a look at work in progress rather than a finalised list.

Does Tournament of Puzzles add achievements?

Yes. The official description explicitly lists additional achievements as part of the update.

Steam currently lists 40 achievements in total for Escape Academy, one of which is highlighted on the store page as "Next Stop: Escape Academy." The official description does not break down how many of those 40 arrived with Tournament of Puzzles, so the split between base-game and update achievements is not officially documented. The Walkthrough King guide lists the game at 40/40 achievements and covers Tournament of Puzzles as one of its walkthrough chapters alongside the base game and the story DLC.

Can you play Tournament of Puzzles solo, and does it run on Steam Deck?

Yes to both. Coach Yoach is happy to let any Escapist solve their way through the courses in single player, and Valve's official review of Escape Academy is Steam Deck Verified.

Valve's test notes for the Verified rating say the default controller configuration is fully functional, the on-screen controller icons match the Steam Deck, interface text is legible and the default graphics settings perform well. The Steam store also lists full controller support for the game.

If you do want company, the game's Steam feature list includes PvP, Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, Co-op, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Cross-Platform Multiplayer, so the competitive arenas can be played against friends rather than just solo.

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