Players are heading back inside Playtime Co., this time as the toys. Mob Entertainment’s Escape From Playtime, a co-op survival horror extraction game set in the Poppy Playtime universe, is out now in Steam Early Access.
The game supports one to eight players and is part of the series’ official canon. It is set after the Hour of Joy but before the events of Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1, exploring a stretch of the factory’s history that has not been shown before. For the first time, players take control of the Smiling Critters, the cute but unsettling toy line introduced in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3.
Working alone or in a group, players are sent into the factory by a mysterious Voice that promises freedom and a new home to toys that prove their loyalty and usefulness. Each run takes the team into a different section of the facility to collect parts and resources and bring them back to a sanctuary. The catch is that the factory is full of rejected Playtime Co. creations, and players have to move quickly, decide when to split up or stay together, and know when to pull back. Just who the Voice is, and whether it can be trusted, remains a mystery.
Survival depends on making use of whatever the factory provides. Players can solve puzzles, find clues, scavenge tools, hide, create distractions and use alternate routes to stay ahead of the creatures. As Smiling Critters, they can also crawl, jump and climb through tight spaces, seeing well-known Poppy Playtime locations from a much smaller perspective. The Voice also appears to be changing the factory’s layout, with procedurally generated areas that differ on every run.
Proximity voice chat plays a big role. Communication is vital, but talking too loudly at the wrong moment can end a mission quickly. Between runs, players can track their progress and view their rewards through the Perm-A-Lounge computer, uncovering more company secrets along the way.
Game Director Brandon James explained the team’s aim of offering a fresh perspective that works for both longtime fans and newcomers:
With Escape From Playtime, we wanted to explore a lesser-known chapter of Playtime Co.’s history and give players a completely new perspective on this world. For longtime fans, there are plenty of familiar faces and lore connections to discover, but we’ve also deliberately made this an experience that newcomers can jump into and enjoy without knowing anything about Poppy Playtime. It’s a new way into the story, no matter where you’re starting from.
The Early Access version includes all eight Smiling Critters, four of which are unlocked through progression, along with support for up to eight players. To celebrate the launch, the Founders’ Pack can be claimed for free during the first 30 days, adding alternate looks for all eight Smiling Critters and other rewards. Mob Entertainment plans to add new areas, enemies, items, cosmetics and features through the rest of 2026 and into 2027, with the roadmap shaped by community feedback.
Escape From Playtime is available now in Steam Early Access for $9.99 USD or local equivalent.
