Many Steam players say that Escape Dead Island has an interesting story, especially because it follows the character Cliff Calo. The game is short and can usually be finished in less than six hours, but players enjoy exploring the island and collecting items. The cel-shaded art style is often praised because it gives the game a unique look compared to other Dead Island games.
Even though the game has a low-budget feel, many Reddit users think it tells a good spin-off story and offers a different view of the Dead Island world. Some players feel that the stealth and combat are basic, but the creepy psychological scenes create tension and make the game more interesting if you keep your expectations reasonable.
However, professional reviews are much more negative. Critics on Metacritic and OpenCritic criticize the game for poor performance, linear gameplay, weak stealth mechanics, and repetitive zombie fights.