Escape game: we tested Le Casse du Siècle, the Ocean's Eleven-style room at Lock Academy

Investigate a museum burglary... If you can't pull off the heist of the century, you'll at least crack it at Lock Academy, Paris's 1st arrondissement escape room that offers one of its most spectacular experiences (our humble opinion). Titled The Heist of the Century (you don't make this up...), it plunges you into the heart of a museum room that has just been burgled, in true Ocean’s Eleven style. A detective’s manual that enables the perfect crime has disappeared, and your task is to find it — along with the burglars.

Trailer for the Heist of the Century room at Lock Academy:

Synopsis of the Heist of the Century room at Lock Academy:

Dial it up to Ocean’s Eleven mode! A crack team of pros has just pulled off a heist at the Lock Academy museum. The detectives’ guide has been stolen. Penned by the era’s top investigators, this encyclopedia would let its holder execute the perfect crime. Track down the thieves, anticipate their next move, and stop them in time in this escape game with lavish set design.

• To be read
• Escape games and investigative games to discover in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
• Escape games and gaming experiences for two in Paris
• Experience cinema differently: our selection of immersive experiences in Paris

Our take on The Heist of the Century at Lock Academy:

So, how does The Heist of the Century—the museum-break-in themed room from Lock Academy—hold up? In a word: excellent. This hinges on several strengths: first, the set design, which is superb, almost flawless. It’s beautifully crafted, incredibly immersive, and drops you straight into a museum filled with secrets and puzzles to crack. A genuine highlight of the experience, in our view.

On the puzzles, even though this is the toughest room in the chain on a technical level, we didn’t find them either too easy or too hard. They strike a nice balance—accessible enough for a smooth, continuous adventure. You’ll enjoy decoding the messages and other brainteasers from Professor Lock, with no special prior knowledge required. It’s a room that leans on thought, plenty of logic, a bit of searching, a fair bit of manipulation, and, above all, strong teamwork and communication.

It’s also a very tech-forward setup, with a range of gadgets (fingerprint reader, computer, sophisticated machinery, etc.) that help you hack into the systems scattered around the room. It’s fairly innovative without claiming to reinvent the wheel, but it’s refreshing to see escape rooms refreshing their approach to solving puzzles.

The finale is intensely gripping and will test your nerves as much as your communication. Note that the puzzles are available in English as well, to satisfy both French and international players. The editorial team tackled this one in a three-player run, finishing in 59 minutes and 27 seconds... which basically means we pulled it off by the skin of our teeth! Still, highly recommended. All that remains is to book your slot!

A room that stands out for its storyline—naturally immersive—yet also for its museum-worthy decor, plunging you right into the narrative. An intermediate-level challenge for a team of 2 to 6 players, sure to make you rack your brains a bit... but not too much! An escape game accessible for players as young as 9 when accompanied by an adult, and from 14 years old on your own.

Just be sure you don’t head to the wrong place, because Lock Academy operates two venues in the heart of the capital, in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. So aim for the 1st, at 25, Rue Coquillère, to dive into this suspense-filled, surprise-packed investigation... Grab your magnifying glasses, friends!

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