The Escapists 3 How to Hide Your Contraband: Top Tips

Hiding Contraband in The Escapists 3: What We Know So Far

The Escapists 3 is the upcoming 3D sandbox prison-escape game from Team17, who both develop and publish the title. It is listed on Steam (app 3602260) with a release date of To Be Announced / Coming Soon, so much of the fine detail — including the exact contraband detection rules and every hiding spot — is still not found. What we can do today is walk through the confirmed mechanics that affect how you hide your contraband, share sensible strategies based on those confirmed systems, and flag clearly what remains TBD until Team17 reveals more.

Confirmed so far: The Escapists 3 features 5 prisons, over 120 items and weapons, an XP-based skill system, and the core loop of crafting, sneaking, and fighting in a 3D sandbox. Daily routines include roll call and jobs, and guards patrol the prison. All of those systems directly shape when and how you can safely carry or stash illegal goods. You can follow official updates on the official The Escapists site.

Why Contraband Management Matters

In a prison-escape simulation, contraband is your lifeline — tools, weapons, and crafted components that make an escape possible. But guards are a confirmed part of The Escapists 3's design, and getting caught with illegal items typically means confiscation, heat, and time in solitary-style punishment. Since the game emphasizes sneaking alongside crafting and fighting, staying under guard suspicion while moving contraband around is clearly a core skill.

The XP skill system may also play a role here. Skills that improve stealth or related abilities could make moving illicit items safer, but the full skill list has not been announced, so treat any specific skill advice as speculation until launch.

Confirmed Systems That Affect Contraband

Here is a quick reference of what Team17 has confirmed and how it relates to hiding contraband:

Practical Tips for Hiding Contraband (Pre-Release)

While exact hiding mechanics are not found in official materials yet, these general strategies align with the confirmed game systems and with common sense for the series' genre:

1. Move items during unobserved windows. With roll call and jobs confirmed, you know your day is scheduled. Use periods when guards are less focused on you to relocate items.
2. Stash in tiers. Don't carry everything at once. Split contraband between multiple hiding spots so a single search doesn't wipe out your escape kit.
3. Craft near your stash. Crafting is confirmed core gameplay — assemble items close to where you hide them to minimize the distance you carry suspicious goods.
4. Watch guard sightlines. The 3D sandbox means cover and angles matter. Sneaking is an explicitly confirmed pillar, so use the environment.
5. Level relevant skills early. XP skills are confirmed; investing in whatever stealth-related options appear at launch should pay off.

What's Still Not Found

We want to be honest about gaps in the current information. The following are all not found / TBD as of this writing:

The multiplayer picture is worth noting: with online co-op up to four players and split-screen PvP and co-op supported, coordinating contraband logistics with a partner could become part of the experience in co-op escapes.

Wishlist and Platform Availability

If you want to be notified the moment Team17 shares concrete contraband mechanics, wishlist the game on Steam. An Xbox store page also exists for wishlisting. Mac and Linux versions are not available, and a Switch release has not been confirmed — so Windows is the only confirmed platform today.

FAQ

When does The Escapists 3 come out?

The release date is To Be Announced / Coming Soon. No date, price, Early Access plan, or demo has been announced.

Can I hide contraband from guards in multiplayer?

Multiplayer is confirmed — including online co-op up to 4 players and split-screen PvP — but exactly how contraband and guard AI behave in multiplayer is not found yet. This guide will be updated once details emerge.

What platforms is The Escapists 3 on?

Windows PC is confirmed via Steam. Mac and Linux are not available. Xbox has a wishlist page, and Switch has not been confirmed.

Are there confirmed hiding spots or recipes?

No. Specific hiding mechanics, crafting recipes, item codes, and prison names are all not found / TBD. Only the headline features — 5 prisons, 120+ items and weapons, XP skills, and craft/sneak/fight gameplay — are confirmed so far.

Check the Steam store page for The Escapists 3 for the latest official information, and bookmark this guide — we'll update it as soon as Team17 confirms the real contraband-hiding mechanics.