Fort Boyard Aventures: our test of the TV-style action game in Essonne

Have you always dreamed of playing Fort Boyard? Otium Leisure offers an action game in the spirit of Père Fouras, Fort Boyard Aventures, at Brétigny in Essonne, just 30 minutes from Paris. We've tested it, and we'll tell you all about it!

Attention adventure fans of Père Fouras! Otium Leisure invites fans of the France 2 TV show to dive into the world of the game in a brand-new Action Game. Dubbed Fort Boyard Aventures, it’s located in Bretigny, in the Essonne. It sits just beside the Speed Park, a mere 30-minute ride from Paris. This indoor, large-scale game was created in collaboration with the show's producers. It opens to the public for its initial sessions on December 1, 2022. The concept? Tackle challenges and chase the jackpot, just like on TV.

The Action game, launched in 2022, spans a total of 800 square meters. It drops players into the world of a genuine fortress, with keys and clues to snag in each cell. In all, there are three cell sizes, each hiding its own challenge. There are 30 in total, including the show’s iconic cells as well as the Council Chamber and the Treasury."

The Premise of Fort Boyard Adventures:

As in the France 2 show, the player or players taking part in Fort Boyard Aventures (depending on the cell) must clinch the victory while the rest of the team cheers them on from inside the cell this time around. The objective: reach the treasure chamber and rack up as many Boyards as possible in the shortest time.

The adventure is best enjoyed in a group, of course, from 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up. Fort Boyard Aventures also features an event area that can accommodate up to 200 people. This space is ideally suited for corporate seminars, team building, or a Christmas party. For clarity, you’re also free to design your own course, prioritizing strength, dexterity, balance, or reflection... In short, pick the challenges that fit you best.

And if you reserve a session for Wednesday, December 7, you’ll have the chance to meet Olivier Minne, the host of the show. Also in the lineup are André Bouchet, aka Passe-Partout, and Anthony Laborde, aka Passe-Muraille. It’s a great opportunity to chat with them about the program and snap a few photos inside this Action game—TV-style.

Our Fort Boyard Adventures test:

A preview experience the editorial team got to try out during a trip in Essonne. And let’s be honest: we were particularly taken with the concept! Family-friendly and genuinely reminiscent of the television show, Fort Boyard Adventures does the job well, with a few tweaks.

Starting with how the challenges unfold: you wear a connected bracelet and wander from room to room. To proceed, you activate the bracelet to open doors and kick off the challenge. Otherwise, the flow is very TV-like!

Step 1: grab keys and clues

The bracelet lets you collect keys and clues, granting access to the Treasure Room. Here, there are no physical keys or clues; everything is digital. To claim a key or clue, you simply press a large red button signaling your success. You then head to the screen inside the room to scan your bracelet and tally your win. Clever and it makes the challenge easier to conquer.

For the Fort Boyard Adventures challenges, you can tackle them in any order you want. You can also choose which ones to attempt. One caveat: any challenges you didn’t complete to obtain keys can be retried to earn clues. After all, the same cells host both game phases.

The Action game features 30 total cells, varying in difficulty. Some demand more strength, dexterity, or thinking. The cells are smaller than on the show, and the whole team can crowd into them to cheer on the participant. To avoid frustration, there’s no prison: once time runs out, you can either retry the challenge or move on to the next one... But remember: time is ticking!

Fort Boyard Adventures and its array of tests...

The Jungle, the Spooled Cylinders, the Museum, the Vigil, the Maya Temple, the Ketchupery... so many iconic cells, accessible to everyone. The more physically demanding challenges (Jungle, Museum, etc.) are notably tough and require a decent amount of arm strength to succeed. The others are fairly approachable and still call for some skill. In total, about a dozen cells are accessible to the PMR (people with reduced mobility), making the experience genuinely inclusive for all.

Step 2: the Council Chamber and the Treasure Room

After snagging keys and clues, head to the Council Chamber to test your timing against the masters of the clock. In total, two challenges await, all on a digital table. And for the Treasure Room, the same principle applies: the clues you’ve gathered are revealed, then you must think and crack the correct code word. If you’re right, it’s the “Boyard rain” of coins! Virtual coins also tumble, with a digital table you interact with to fill a gauge.

When the gauge is full, you press a button to simulate filling the cauldron. A genuinely well-executed segment, faithful to the show and to the real venue.

All these little, simple touches make Fort Boyard Adventures a solid, well-crafted experience... A must-try for fans and newcomers alike!

In addition to its flagship in Essonne, Fort Boyard Aventures plans to open a second venue in 2023 at Velizy 2... No more excuses not to go! So, ready to grab the jackpot, friends... ?

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.