There are many video games set in prisons, but not all of them rely solely on the concept to convey what it symbolizes. Some will follow an unlikely hero attempting to escape the confines of a penitentiary, while others will task a player with venturing inside to rescue an inmate.
No matter the purpose of a video game prison, the claustrophobic nature of one will be immediately felt upon entering. Each lockup differs from the next, but some have stood the test of time and remain more memorable than others thanks to their immersive designs and unique placements in a story.
7 The Dungeons Of The La Valettes - The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings
The opening of The Witcher 2 sees Geralt imprisoned in the Dungeons of the La Valettes. While there, he is interrogated by Roche on the events that befell him the previous day. This segment of the story is told largely through flashbacks, but once all tales have been exchanged, Geralt will need to find a way out of the harrowing dungeon he finds himself in to secure his freedom.
Escaping the prison can be challenging due to the armed guards blocking the way, so Geralt will need to decide on the best approach. Battling his way through these enemies is difficult, but sneaking past them is arguably one of the game's most demanding tasks.
6 Cidhna Mine - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Cidhna Mine will become explorable upon the completion of the "The Forsworn Conspiracy" side quest. The aftermath sees the Dragonborn being framed by the corrupt guards of Markarth and subsequently thrown into a barren cave system that operates as a prison.
While incarcerated, the Dovah-Kiin will be forced to mine for resources in the cave. Escaping requires help from Madanach, the leader of the Forsworn, but his destiny is left up to the player to decide. Killing the so-called "King in Rags" will render the journey out of the cave a great deal more challenging, but those aligned with the Stormcloaks may seek to do so to prevent an all-out war.
5 The Prison - A Way Out
Vincent Moretti is placed in prison after being accused of murder and fraud. While there, he meets Leo Caruso, a fellow inmate who has already served six months of jail time. Leo has no intention of serving any more time in shackles, so he devises a way to escape. Seeing his chance, Vincent offers to help him in this endeavor, and the two form an unlikely bond.
A Way Out is an unusual game in that it requires two people to play it. Both players must work in tandem to ensure their plans go unnoticed, or they will be forced back into their cells and made to try again. The prison they are confined to is based loosely on Alcatraz, making it one of the most haunting depictions of prison life in a video game.
4 Bolingbroke Penitentiary - Grand Theft Auto 5
Located in Los Santos County, the Bolingbroke Penitentiary is one of the most secure locations present in Grand Theft Auto 5. The player doesn't need to enter this prison during the main story, but the Prison Heist in Grand Theft Auto Online gives the location a much-needed moment in the spotlight.
It requires a team of four people to join forces, infiltrate the prison, and safely extract Maxim Rashkovsky, a sociopathic genius who once held great power in the military. The prison is crawling with armed guards, so it can be a difficult task to complete if approached unprepared.
3 Via Purifico - Final Fantasy 10
Yuna has been kidnapped, so it is up to Tidus and his unlikely companions to rescue her. Upon reaching Bevelle however, the party is captured and placed in an unusual prison system that, according to one of the guards, no one has ever escaped from.
The party will be divided into two groups after being incarcerated. Tidus will be forced into an intimidating underwater section full of frightening sea creatures while Yuna will be placed in a dark labyrinth riddled with monsters. It can be a deceptively difficult prison to escape from due to the powerful enemies that await in its depths, but these foes need to be bested for Yuna to continue her pilgrimage.
2 The Raft - Marvel's Spider-Man
Most of Peter Parker's adventure across New York sees him fixated on putting a stop to Mister Negative. Once a humble and noble man who Peter held great respect for, Negative took advantage of Wilson Fisk's incarceration and decided to fill his shoes as the city's lord of crime.
To ensure the success of his plan, Mister Negative ventures to the Raft, a maximum security prison home to an array of sinister villains from Peter's past. He releases the inmates he seeks and convinces them to join him on his quest to defeat Spider-Man. The Raft is home to some of the evilest Spider-Man villains to ever exist, but its destruction in Marvel's Spider-Man suggests it isn't as secure as it was once made out to be.
1 Arkham Asylum - Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum follows the story of Bruce Wayne as he attempts to rescue Commissioner Gordon from the Joker's clutches. Bruce suspects the Joker has allowed himself to be captured to gain access to Arkham Asylum. Once inside, the Joker reveals his master plan.
He has managed to take over the prison thanks to the help of his goons and a corrupt guard. To make matters worse, outside help cannot enter the facility as the Joker has planted a series of bombs across the city. Storming the Joker's new base of operations would put civilian lives at risk, so Batman must find a more ingenious way to end his reign once and for all. Arkham Asylum is a dark and dingy place wrought with terrifying enemies, making it one of the more ominous prison depictions in gaming.