How do you escape prison in BitLife?
Open the prison screen and tap Escape. A maze mini game starts. You move one square, and the guard moves two squares toward you. To win, get the guard stuck behind a wall, then walk to the exit.
You can try once a year. If the guard catches you, years go on your sentence.
How does the prison escape mini game work?
The prison is a grid of squares, like a chess board. Black lines on the edges of squares are walls. You see your character, one guard, and an exit.
The size of the grid depends on the security level of your prison. Your crime decides the security level. Small crimes give small prisons. Serious or repeat crimes give maximum security.
| Security | Grid size | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Small, such as 4x4 | Easiest |
| Medium | Between 3x4 and 7x4, such as 5x5 or 6x6 | Harder |
| Maximum | 8x8, or 8x7 | Hardest |
Pocket Gamer counted more than 20 layouts. It groups the minimum and medium grids together, so the line between them is not exact. Distractify and The Nerd Stash say the maze can change from one try to the next. So learn the rules, not one fixed route.
How do you beat the guard?
Know how the guard moves
Pocket Gamer and Charlie INTEL agree on these rules. The guard takes two steps for each step you take. He only moves toward you. He tries to move sideways first, then up or down.
Use the walls
The guard does not plan a path around walls. If a wall is between you and him in his sideways direction, he can get stuck. Then his two steps go nowhere, and you can move freely.
A simple method
- Before you move, look at where the guard is and where the walls are.
- Find a wall that sits between the guard and a square you can reach.
- Move so that the guard walks sideways into that wall, or into a small room with one way out.
- When he is stuck, walk to the exit. Each step you take must not free him.
- If the guard is about to reach you, think about your next two moves first. Do not rush.
The 8x8 prisons are much harder. Charlie INTEL calls them almost impossible. Pocket Gamer has a video solution for each layout if you get stuck.
What happens if you get caught?
If the guard catches you, or if you give up, the game adds years to your sentence. The Nerd Stash says a failed try can also move you to maximum security. You can age up and try again the next year.
What can you do instead of escaping?
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Appeal | Hire a lawyer to appeal your sentence. It costs money and does not always work. The Justice achievement is for leaving prison through an appeal. |
| Good behavior | Behave well and you can get clemency, an early release. The Mercy Me achievement is for this. |
| Riot | A mini game where you collect inmates and avoid the police. You need 10 inmates to start the riot. It can fail, and then you get a longer sentence. |
| Serve your time | Wait until the sentence ends. You leave with no new problems from an escape. |
Level Winner says you need savings from before the crime to afford a lawyer. The Nerd Stash says to collect about 20 inmates for a better chance in a riot. People can die on both sides.
What happens after you escape?
You are free, but you are on the run. Pocket Gamer and Charlie INTEL say that some actions send you back to prison. Do not join the military, and do not call the police. You also cannot take some jobs or adopt a child.
Level Winner suggests you avoid high profile jobs such as CEO. Distractify says escapes raise your criminal notoriety, which can help you join a mafia family.
Escape at least 10 times and you earn the Houdini ribbon. These guides date from 2021 to 2024. BitLife updates can change the details.
Is there a life sim with more freedom than a menu?
If you like BitLife's text life, LifeSim is a free life sim in your browser set on a real map of Earth, where people talk back in your own words. It is English only and has no multiplayer. See games like BitLife or the life simulator page.
Questions
How often can you try to escape in BitLife?
Once a year. Age up to try again.
Is the BitLife prison maze always the same?
No. Guides say the layout can change, and the size depends on the security level.
How many squares does the guard move?
Two for each square you move.
Can you escape from juvenile detention?
Yes. The Nerd Stash says your parents may turn you back in.
Is BitLife OK for kids?
Read BitLife age rating for the store ratings.
More BitLife guides
- What is BitLife?
- Is BitLife free?
- BitLife age rating
- BitLife on PC
- BitLife unblocked
- BitLife God Mode
- BitLife challenges and scenarios
- BitLife driving test answers
- BitLife modeling answers
- How to become an actor in BitLife
- How to become president in BitLife
- How to become a pro athlete in BitLife
- The BitLife casino
- The BitLife Business Update
- How to become a vampire in BitLife
- How to pinch someone in BitLife
- BitLife hacks that work
- BitLife dark mode
- Is there a BitLife 2?
- Games like BitLife