Following a successful bank heist, you and your fellow thieves are laying low and enjoying the good life. Most of the cash has been stashed away, and the rest has been invested in businesses throughout the city. Everything is going according to plan until the police hit upon a breakthrough in their investigation. Accusations are made, fingers are pointed, and after a heated argument, you choose to go your separate ways.

Chaos ensues as the SWAT team is called in and begin to close off the city’s exits. Your only option now is to escape the city before it is completely locked down. But you will need a plan — a good route that allows you to leave the city while recovering as much of the money as possible.

You need to call in some favors and hire the local gangs to create diversions. Bribing the Police could be a good idea too, but it isn't cheap. Disguises might help, but they don’t fool everyone. Setting the Police on the trail of your former colleagues gives you a better chance of escape, but the other thieves are thinking the same thing...

Will you get out of the city with the most money, or will the Police lockdown the city before you can escape?

In Escape Plan, players are thieves, but they can influence the cops' moves every turn. The robbers will move on a modular board trying to reach the best spots to recover their loot and escape from the city with more money than the other thieves. The cops are attempting to thwart their escape plan — by force if necessary. The players will play cards to aid their escape and slow the other players down. The players will take actions that allow them to move and to engage gangs, mules, and snitches.

It contains asymmetric roles set by missions that players can achieve during the game while avoiding the police. The players' roles as thieves are individual with each player for themselves. In the end, the player who escapes with the most cash wins.

The game design is influenced by all the great heist films.