How Long Is A Way Out? Leo, Vincent, and Everything You Need to Know

A Way Out is the shortest game Hazelight Studios has ever made. It is also the one that started everything. 

Released in March 2018, A Way Out was the first game from Josef Fares after founding Hazelight in 2014. Nobody knew what to expect from a co-op-only prison escape thriller with no single-player mode. What they got was one of the most discussed co-op games of its era, a BAFTA winner, and proof that Hazelight's approach could work. 

Here is everything you need to know before you play it. 

Want to see how A Way Out fits into the Hazelight story? Read our complete guide to all Hazelight games in order. 

How Long Is A Way Out? 

A Way Out takes most players around 6 hours to complete from start to finish. 

That number does not change much regardless of how you play. Unlike It Takes Two or Split Fiction, A Way Out does not have hidden mini-games or optional side content to chase. The experience is focused and linear by design. Six hours in, the credits roll and the conversation starts. 

This is intentional. A Way Out is structured more like a film than a traditional game. It has a tight three-act structure, a clear narrative arc, and pacing that builds toward a specific ending. Hazelight did not pad it out. The six hours are dense. 

For many players, this makes A Way Out the most natural one-session Hazelight game. You can sit down on a Friday evening and finish it before midnight. 

Curious how this compares? See how long It Takes Two takes and how long Split Fiction takes. 

Who Are Leo and Vincent? Meet the A Way Out Characters 

[IMG-2]  A Way Out Metal Poster   Alt: "A Way Out Leo and Vincent Metal Poster with magnetic mount — official Hazelight wall art featuring the two main characters from the 2018 co-op thriller" 

The two A Way Out characters at the centre of the game are Leo and Vincent, two prisoners at a maximum-security facility with nothing obvious in common except a shared enemy on the outside. 

Leo 

Leo is impulsive, instinctive, and emotionally driven. He acts first and thinks second. His approach to every problem is direct and physical. In gameplay terms, Leo tends to be the more aggressive presence: the one who charges through, improvises, and trusts his gut when things go sideways. 

He is not reckless. He is just built for pressure. The kind of person who is most alive when everything is going wrong. 

Vincent 

Vincent is the opposite. Measured, strategic, and controlled. He plans. He calculates. He looks at a situation and works out the angle before moving. In gameplay terms, Vincent approaches problems with precision where Leo approaches them with force. 

The contrast between them is the engine of the entire game. They do not naturally trust each other. They are using each other. And that friction, slowly turning into something else, is where A Way Out's story lives. 

What Makes A Way Out Special 

A Way Out does something most co-op games do not: it uses the split-screen as a storytelling tool, not just a practical display choice. 

Both players' screens are always visible at the same time throughout the game. But Hazelight plays with what each screen shows. Sometimes you are watching your character in a cutscene while your partner is already playing the next section. Sometimes the game separates the two of you completely and lets both scenes happen simultaneously. Sometimes it pits you against each other in competitive moments with the split-screen right between you. 

The gameplay is equally varied for a game this short. A Way Out moves through stealth sequences, vehicle chases, action shootouts, and more than a dozen competitive mini-games: everything from fishing to basketball to a full foosball table. The tonal shifts are dramatic, and that is part of the appeal. 

It is also significantly grittier than anything Hazelight has made since. A Way Out is a crime thriller about revenge and betrayal. It does not have the warmth of It Takes Two or the playfulness of Split Fiction. That darker register is exactly what makes it feel distinct in the Hazelight catalogue. 

A Way Out vs. It Takes Two vs. Split Fiction 

Here is how A Way Out sits alongside the other two Hazelight games: 

A Way Out is the quickest entry point into the Hazelight catalogue and the darkest in tone. If you want something longer and more emotionally layered, It Takes Two is the next step. If you want the most mechanically ambitious of the three, Split Fiction is the answer. 

All three are worth playing. And all three are completely standalone. You do not need one to appreciate the others. 

See our full character comparison across all three Hazelight duos for more on what makes each pair different. 

Platforms, Friend's Pass, and Availability 

Platforms: A Way Out is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and EA App. It is also fully playable via backward compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It is not available on Nintendo Switch. 

This makes A Way Out the most broadly accessible Hazelight game in terms of hardware. If you or your co-op partner are still on PS4 or Xbox One, A Way Out is the one Hazelight title that runs natively on older consoles. 

Friend's Pass: Only one player needs to own A Way Out. The second player downloads a free Friend's Pass and plays the entire game at no cost. This was Hazelight's first game to include the Friend's Pass, and it has been part of every Hazelight release since. 

Online and local: A Way Out supports both local split-screen co-op and online co-op. Cross-platform play is not supported. Both players need to be on the same platform family to play together online. 

About the A Way Out Ending 

Without spoiling anything specific: the ending of A Way Out is the most talked-about conclusion in Hazelight's catalogue. 

It takes a hard turn in the final section that most players do not see coming, and it forces a choice that genuinely affects both players at the controller. The ending is divisive in the best possible way. Some players find it devastating. Others find it earned. Most find it memorable. 

It is one of the reasons A Way Out still gets discussed seven years after release. The gameplay is good. The characters are good. But the ending is why people tell their friends about it. 

If you are playing it for the first time, go in without looking anything up. The less you know, the more it lands. 

Official A Way Out Merchandise 

No. A Way Out does not support cross-platform play. Both players need to be on the same platform family to play together online. 

Is A Way Out better than It Takes Two? 

They are different enough that better is not really the right frame. A Way Out is shorter, darker, and built around a grittier story. It Takes Two is longer, more emotionally layered, and more accessible. Both are excellent. The best order to play them is A Way Out first, then It Takes Two, then Split Fiction. 

Is A Way Out on Game Pass? 

Availability on Game Pass changes over time, so check the current library before purchasing. The game is available on EA Play, which is included with Game Pass Ultimate on Xbox and PC. 

Who made A Way Out? 

A Way Out was developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Originals label. It was directed by Josef Fares and released on March 23, 2018. It was Hazelight's first game.