Room Escape Artist

Planning your next escape room adventure in Paris, France? We’ve compiled a guide to the best escape rooms in Paris.

The elevator’s right there.

Location: Paris, France

Date Played: March 17, 2026

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 90 minutes

Price: from 44€ per player for teams of 6 to 95€ per player for teams of 2

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: The game is located down a flight of stairs. Inside the game, all players must crawl, duck, and climb through a small opening. In one segment the floor vibrates.

Emergency Exit Rating: We aren’t sure how we would have exited, but we were actively monitored by the performers.

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I don’t usually describe horror games as beautiful, but that’s how I think about The Grand Hotel of Paris. As we traversed multiple locations, each one was exquisitely designed, detailed, and really, just gorgeous.

The Grand Hotel of Paris was also a horror game with complete control… in more ways than one.

The light focused our attention. We never spun in circles wondering where we should be or what we should try to solve. The environment guided us.

There was a menace, but it appeared at precise moments for maximum impact. The jump scares enhanced the experience. They never felt overdone. In this way, the menace remained just mysterious enough that we never felt comfortable, but also not so on top of us that we couldn’t relax enough to solve puzzles.

I enjoy a good horror escape room, but horror isn’t my genre of choice. (And it’s certainly not Lisa’s preference.) I rarely walk out of a horror game truly loving it. But I loved The Grand Hotel of Paris. Physically, I was in rough shape the day we played this game, but for the moments I was immersed in the world of this hotel, I was in a flow state, and everything else faded away.

The Grand Hotel of Paris had a dream-like quality to it. And although it was horror, it wasn’t a nightmare. There was something about the way the spaces unfolded, and the amusing details the gameplay focused on. When time has passed and my memories blur together, The Grand Hotel of Paris will feel more like a dream than just about any other game I’ve played. And that’s a high compliment.

While this game is actively scary and won’t be for everyone, if you’re horror-curious, I recommend you give it try. There’s a lot to appreciate within it. And if you love horror, this is an absolute must-play.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Horror fans
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• Artistic approach to horror
• Strong performances
• The puzzles were beautifully worked in

Story

We had managed to secure a stay at the iconic Le Grand Hôtel De Paris. This was the finest hotel in Paris. It was frequented by movie stars, politicians, and other celebrities. Our stay was bound to be memorable.

Setting

Le Grand Hôtel De Paris opened exactly as promised, in the lobby of a beautiful old hotel. As we delved deeper into the world, we never left the hotel, but it also became increasingly dream-like. The design was unorthodox and deeply impactful.

There was a cinematic quality to the world that The One Escape created, and at its best, the game design in The Grand Hotel of Paris was coupled with environmental design that made things either feel real or seem otherworldly.

Gameplay

The One Escape’s The Grand Hotel of Paris was a standard, horror escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, solving puzzles, and avoiding a menace.

Analysis

➕ The set was highly detailed and larger than it originally appeared. It had plenty of hidden surprises, and as it expanded, it remained deliberately designed down to the smallest detail.

➕ The lighting and sound were well balanced and appropriate for each space, elevating the scene transitions and creating a sense of foreboding that elevated the horror theming. It was artful. Furthermore, the lighting expertly guided us, focusing our attention where it mattered.

➖ An early interaction was the weakest portion of the game. We spent too long in the only under-designed space in the experience. It wasn’t nearly as dynamic as the rest of the game would turn out to be. It was possible to solve it faster, but it wasn’t worth getting stuck in this segment.

➕ The performers in The Grand Hotel of Paris were top notch. They brought their characters to life with a captivating personality in one instance, and impeccable timing in another.

➖ While so much of The Grand Hotel of Paris was actor-driven, other aspects were automated, occasionally to the detriment of the player experience. Early on, when we were trying to understand how a mechanism worked, which wasn’t entirely clear and added unnecessary tedium to the aha, we received automated hints that didn’t match what we already understood and what we were still figuring out.

➕/➖ We loved how one puzzle required us to take an action naturally befitting to a hotel room. However, the lighting choices made this unnecessarily challenging. And while the scene was perfectly safe, we were uncomfortable because we could imagine ways in which this struggle could have been potentially hazardous. This was an early scene, before we fully understand and trusted The One Escape. After sleeping on this, we appreciated it more.

➕ Although The Grand Hotel of Paris was a horror escape room, it didn’t take itself too seriously. One series of repetitive gates could have felt tedious, but instead was highly amusing.

➕ The horror elements were well balanced, and the jump scares were timed well and never gratuitous. The gameplay forced us to be in the right place at the right time to maximum impact.

➕ As we journeyed deeper into the hotel, the environment shifted, but it still felt connected to the world. The props were large and solid. This unusual scene was beautiful.

➖/❓ Late in the game, one player’s encounter with the menace left them without a certain possession. While the approach was playful and they weren’t without this item for long, the payoff wasn’t worth the discomfort. We have never once seen this move be worthwhile, and we ask designers to put themselves in the players shoes before committing to it. But maybe other players find this as amusing as we found other design details?

➕ The Grand Hotel of Paris paid off the exceptional, actor-driven introduction with a powerful conclusion. They minded small details to great effect.

Tips For Visiting

• We enjoyed dinner at Baguette, which contrary to the name, is not a bakery, but offered creative French/ Asian fusion dishes served tapas style.
• This game is available in French and English
• 👖We recommend knee pads. Consider these escape pants.

Book your session with The One Escape’s The Grand Hotel of Paris, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: The One Escape provided media discounted tickets for this game.