Room Escape Artist

Because when has a seance ever gone wrong?

Location: Paris, France

Date Played: May 6, 2026

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: €34-64 per player depending on team size

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: All players must climb stairs and at least one player must crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A] Push To Exit

Physical Restraints: Maglocks that can be released remotely

REA Reaction

Along the Count de Molay’s quest to bring back his wife Lea, he turned to a tried and true means of contacting the dead: a seance.

While Le Donjon’s general ambience skewed spooky, The Crypt was actively scary, yet in a relatively approachable way. Yes, there were jump scares, darkness, and a menace, but the environment took care of us and things never escalated too wildly. The gameplay in The Crypt was largely centered around character interactions and navigating the space, and the puzzles were simple yet fitting for the theme.

The Crypt also stood out amongst Le Donjon’s lineup for a slightly different scenic aesthetic, at least in the opening acts. As we explored various rooms of the Count’s residence, we encountered an unsettling collection of artifacts from his travels far and wide. Soon, we descended further into the titular crypt itself, featuring Le Donjon’s signature concrete dungeon-esque set dressing. The vibe was hefty and foreboding, with plenty of detail to appreciate even in low lighting.

If you hate horror, this is not the game for you, but if you’re looking to ease into more intense horror escape rooms, The Crypt would be a great place to start. While you’re there, also check out Le Donjon’s other offerings — including Witches and The Last Knights Templar (review coming soon) — to reveal more of the Count’s story and experience the luscious interconnected world that Le Donjon has crafted.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Horror fans
• Any experience level

Why play?

• A scary but approachable horror experience
• Detailed, creepy set design

Story

We were invited to take part in a seance with the Count de Molay, in his luxurious mansion built on top of an ancient crypt. Perhaps spiritualism could help bring us in contact with his deceased wife Lea.

Setting

The Crypt took place in various rooms of The Count’s mansion, including a seance parlor and crypt. The space was filled with an eclectic range of rather cursed artifacts from around the world.

Gameplay

Le Donjon’s The Crypt was a horror escape room with a low-ish level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, making connections, and avoiding demonic spirits.

Analysis

➕ The opening act of The Crypt referenced a nearby real-world location to increase the contrast with the macabre realm we were about to descend into.

➕ A character fully committed to their role, immediately setting a distinctive, creepy vibe for the experience.

➕ The set design was polished and told a story through all the details. The prop sourcing was impressive, especially in the earlier acts.

➕/➖ Whereas many horror escape rooms get players to “follow the light” as a way of directing movement, The Crypt turned our primary light source itself into a game mechanic. While interesting at first, this mechanic risked feeling repetitive after being used too many times without real variation.

➕/➖ The Crypt was scary but relatively approachable as a horror game. While there were jump scares, darkness, and other elements meant to keep us on edge, a core mechanic was also designed to ensure our safety. That said, the game space would have benefited from more varied hiding spots, or hiding spots with better sightlines.

➖ The ending missed an opportunity to tie back to the supernatural that was central to The Crypt. While exciting, we left feeling like we hadn’t ultimately accomplished our main objective.

Tips For Visiting

• The Crypt is playable in French and English. For the English version, email in advance to ensure an English-speaking actor.
• The Crypt contains numerous references to the occult, with a ouija board, a seance, and beyond.

Book your hour with Le Donjon’s The Crypt, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Le Donjon provided media discounted tickets for this game.