Released in 2018 by Hazelight Studios and published by EA, A Way Out tells the story of Vincent and Leo—two strangers who meet in prison and team up to break out.

Leo’s a hot-headed ex-mobster, betrayed by his boss Harvey, desperate to escape and get back to his wife and son. Vincent, on the other hand, is a sharp ex-banker who was talked into laundering money by none other than Harvey himself—the same bloke who murdered Vincent’s brother and pinned it on him.

The whole thing kicks off when both prisoners land in the infirmary after a fight. Leo ropes Vincent into nicking a screwdriver, and once they’re discharged, Vincent convinces Leo to let him in on the escape plan so he can get revenge. Bit by bit, a proper bromance starts to blossom—built on trust and the knowledge that each one has the other’s back when it really counts.

After a not-so-smooth prison break, the two lads grow even closer—helping each other reconnect with their families, stay ahead of the law, and finally get even with the man who put them behind bars. But just when you think it’s all wrapped up nicely, the game throws you a massive curveball.

****Spoiler alert: stop reading now if you hate spoilers.***

The reason this post warns you not to play A Way Out with your partner or best friend? Right near the end of the game, you’re forced to make a gut-wrenching choice: Leo or Vincent.

When I played it, I didn’t realise just how final or emotional that decision would be. And to make matters worse—my Player 2 made the choice for us before we’d even talked it through. For context: I was playing as Leo, and honestly, I think he’s the better character. Sure, he acts first and thinks later, and he’s got a dodgy past—but he’s loyal, straightforward from the start, and his family genuinely love and need him.

I’ll admit it—this was the second time a video game ever made me properly furious (the first was when I lost over 7 hours of progress in The Witcher III). And if you’ve played A Way Out in co-op, you’ll know just how awful it is to make that choice. Eventually, my Player 2 and I restarted the final chapter so we could see Leo’s ending—and (vindication!) he IS the best of the two.

All in all, even with that brutal finale, A Way Out is hands down one of the best co-op games I’ve ever played, and I highly recommend it.

Tell me—have you played A Way Out? If so, who did you play as, and who did you let live? What did you think of the characters? I’m all ears—drop it in the comments.