Urbexscape: We Tried the Spooky Blend of Urban Exploration and Escape Room

Urbexscape explores a long-abandoned escape game in Paris, offering a thrilling immersive experience that blends urban exploration with horror. Nestled in the 9th arrondissement, this story-driven adventure combines exploration with interactive storytelling. We tested it out—here’s everything you need to know!

This once-closed escape game has been reborn in a new form! Named Urbexscape, the adventure now takes place in the 9th arrondissement, inside the former premises of Team Time, a now-closed venue that’s ready to provide you with an adrenaline rush! The concept combines a themed urban exploration, a horrific atmosphere, and escape game mechanics, delivering a unique, immersive experience.

The starting point is straightforward: a once-popular escape game that's now abandoned, but its story remains intact. Urbexcape has reclaimed these forsaken spaces where, for years, countless storylines involving zombies and mobsters unfolded. Today, the environment remains just as it was left, and the adventure involves exploring these eerie, dilapidated locations. Something—or someone—still lingers here, and you're definitely not welcome!

Urbexscape : on a testé l'expérience horrifique entre urbex et escape game - notre avis — ©Urbexscape

An Urban Fiction Blending Immersive Theatre and Escape Rooms

Urbexcape blends elements of interactive fiction with urban exploration simulation, drawing inspiration from traditional escape games—though it doesn’t strictly adhere to all their conventions. Here, visitors wander through a space that hasn’t been refurbished, bearing the marks of time, yet infused with a new storyline: that of mysterious figures who supposedly now occupy the site. It’s not about solving puzzles or riddles, but rather immersing participants in an oppressive atmosphere, heightened by silent, abandoned hallways, strategic lighting, and unexpected sound elements that keep you on edge.

Our review:

Our team had the chance to test out this immersive experience—though not without a bit of nervous anticipation. From the moment we arrived, the experience started immediately: there was no formal welcome; we simply opened the door to find instructions posted at the entrance. Participants are asked to deposit their belongings in a safe, fill out a consent form (don’t worry, it’s just for safety reasons—there are enclosed spaces and crawl-required zones), solve a puzzle to access a walkie-talkie… and suddenly, the doors of the establishment lock behind you! That’s it—you’re inside, with no way to turn back.

Without giving away too much (after all, that wouldn’t be very interesting...), your first task will be to explore extensively—mostly in darkness or with very little light. Expect to hear strange noises that might startle you. Despite claims of "many" but setbacks (we’re told...), there’s some reassurance to be found: everything is carefully designed to evoke fear solely to help you move forward—room by room. No jumpscares (promise!), but a persistent sense of tension throughout the experience, amplified by situations where you'll need to push yourself physically in awkward, oppressive, or anxiety-inducing scenarios. (Without giving too much away, there’s a final room that will demand remarkable composure from at least one of you...) Sensitive souls should steer clear if claustrophobic spaces aren’t your thing. However, if you’re just after jumpscares, this isn’t the place for you. And if you suffer from claustrophobia or are afraid of the dark, you might want to think twice before diving in.

We strongly recommend dressing in comfortable clothing that you're not worried about getting dirty, as the spaces, in their original state, tend to be quite dusty. You’ll also be required to crawl or bend down quite often. So avoid tight-fitting clothes, high heels, or anything you wouldn’t want to stain. It's also best to move cautiously and feel your way forward—there are many objects on the ground, and a fall can happen quite easily. Plus, in moments of panic, attention tends to lapse. Some rooms are quite cramped, and when you're in a group, movement can quickly become restricted.

And as for the puzzles, they're quite straightforward (no need for heavy thinking), as the experience mainly relies on creating a sense of fear. For those hesitant to try because you're not fans of horror experiences, here's some reassurance: yes, it’s scary—no hiding that—but it's completely manageable. In our group, several people (myself included) dislike horror movies and generally avoid getting scared... yet, it turned out to be a pretty enjoyable experience. So don't hesitate to take the plunge, I promise it's worth it... Are you tempted?

This 90-minute experience, restricted to those 16 and older, will undoubtedly send shivers down your spine. Perfect for some Halloween scares, but it's not just for the occasion... Are you in?

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