Prison Architect: Second Chances

The base game was a blast and now we have Prison Architect: Second Chances which is the addon. I do have to start by saying that this is not a standalone game, you do need the base version of the original game in order to play this. That is ok though as if you ask me this is not a “new” game anyway and more of an expansion for those of us who had a lot of fun trying to keep prisoners in line.

Howdy Warden

The goal of the game is ultimately the same. You are the warden and designing your prison to keep the most dangerous prisoners in line is what you are trying to do in Prison Architect: Second Chances. However, as the second chances tagline implies, keeping people locked up for life is not what you are doing.

Instead, what we have here is a game that is about rehabilitation and trying to get prisoners ready for life outside of their cell so that they can rejoin society. You still have plenty of stuff to run in the prison, but I like this new idea of “second chances” that you are trying to give your inmates.

Fixing Behavior Problems

Having a bunch of psychopaths all in the same place is a nightmare, but in Prison Architect: Second Chances they are given the chance to improve their behavior. This is pretty fun and the way that you do this is with reform programs such as animal therapy, conflict resolution classes which are hilarious and even meetings with people from outside of the prison. They can even take part in different work release programs if they are deemed safe enough, but be warned, this can go very wrong!

Inmates can now also have time shaved off their sentences if they take part in the various programs and demonstrate improved behavior. On the flip side of this reoffenders can have their butts brought back to jail! Each inmate that you manage to rehabilitate will earn you a bonus, but those that reoffend can cost you!

Top-Down Cell

The presentation of Prison Architect: Second Chances is pretty much exactly the same as it was in the base game. It has that same top-down perspective which is great for letting you “fly” over the prison so that you are able to keep a clear eye on what is going down. I do think that they could have perhaps made a few new assets here and there, but the stuff that is new such as the animal therapy is done very well.

I think that what they have done with Prison Architect: Second Chances is a lot of fun. It takes the premise of the first game and adds a whole reforming aspect to it where you are not just trying to keep these people off the streets.

Pros:

• I really enjoyed the whole second chance aspect of the game
• I liked some of the rehabilitation programs
• It has that same charm the first game did
• There are some great ideas here

Cons:

• You do need the base game in order to play this
• Not much has changed with the visuals