In Escape from Butcher Bay, the player takes control of protagonist Richard B. Riddick as he attempts to break out of Butcher Bay prison.[1] The game incorporates various elements from video game genres such as first-person shooter, adventure and stealth,[2][3] and is played primarily from a first-person perspective, though the camera switches to a third-person perspective during certain scenes.[4] Unlike many first-person shooters, the game contains no head-up display;[2][5] on-screen cues are limited to flashes when a new weapon is selected,[6] and small, white boxes that display the player character's health when damage is taken.[1] Health can be replenished in designated areas throughout the game.[7] By finding cigarette packs hidden in levels, the player can unlock concept art and video files.[8]
The player may interact with and receive quests from the prison's residents,[9] and earns information, tools and other rewards by completing quests.[10] Violent conflict often occurs between the player, inmates and prison guards.[1][9] The player attacks with Riddick's bare hands, or with improvised weapons such as shivs and clubs. Combos are created by stringing together punches.[2][6][11] A DNA-scanning security system initially prevents Riddick from using firearms, but a limited arsenal later becomes available.[2][6][12]
A "stealth mode" is activated when the player character crouches, allowing the player to move silently and tinting the edges of the screen blue when the player is hidden.[4] While in stealth mode, the player can drag bodies out of sight and hide from enemies.[4][10] The mode grants attacks that quickly kill enemies;[12] the player may drop on enemies from above, or execute them from behind.[1][12] During the game, Riddick acquires eyeshine, allowing him to see in the dark but temporarily blinding him if used in brightly lit areas.[6][13]
