Alton Towers Resort have today announced the full line-up for Scarefest 2023, which features a new scare attraction in partnership with YouTuber Daz Games, in addition to a new scare zone alongside returning attractions and family entertainment.
As 2023’s central new addition, Daz Games: PANIC is billed as a horrifyingly unique, immersive experience where escape room meets live action scare maze. The brand-new scare attraction is said to be the first of its kind, where players will be given a wristband and released into the attraction to face an intense series of tests to challenge the mind and body as they compete to find two unique symbols and exit within seven minutes. However, they will not be alone inside, with Daz’s AI technology having been corrupted and taken over the maze – a trailer video released by the Resort suggests that guests will encounter mysterious faceless inhabitants, similar in appearance to depictions of Slender Man. Players are warned that if they don’t make it out in time they’ll be trapped in the game forever.
Speaking about Daz Games: PANIC, Daz Black said:
“It has been an incredible experience to mix gaming, horror and theme parks to create a totally unique scare attraction for Alton Towers Resort. I am super excited to see it come to life and I hope fans will both love it and be absolutely terrified at the same time.”
The wristband shown in the trailer features the logo of Conductr, an attraction and experience design agency which focuses on merging immersive physical experiences with innovative technology. With the company having been involved in the development of The Curse at Alton Manor, the Resort’s principal new for 2023 attraction, it therefore seems that they are also part of the creative team for Daz Games: PANIC. As Founder and CEO of Conductr, this suggests that Pete Cliff, former Entertainments Creative Director at Alton Towers, will be returning to have a hand in Scarefest for the first time since leaving Merlin in 2016.
A second new addition will be Burial Grounds, a free-flowing outdoor scare zone shadowed by the mighty Wicker Man. The Unchosen, a cult obsessive of modern-day fanatics obsessed with the lore of the Beornen invite guests to their sacred sanctum of ancient burial grounds – be warned that those who stay too long in the desecrated realm of unearthed bodies, flaming shrines and monstrous deities risk being chosen too! Having been absent from the event for a number of years, we look forward to seeing the return of free-to-enter scare zones to Scarefest.
Updated for 2023, Altonville Mine Tours – Tiny’s Revenge is a new iteration of the long-running scare maze, with rumours afoot that the old Altonville Mines are alive with activity once again. Following a breakthrough from local law enforcers, the notorious Skin Snatches have been detained. However, the ironically named Tiny has evaded capture and is believed to still reside within the Mines – explore at your peril and risk the adventure, if you dare. With the maze having first been introduced in 2016, it will be interesting to discover what changes await in the mines for 2023.
Returning for 2023 are scare mazes The Attic: Terror of the Towers and Darkest Depths. Also back for this year is 2022’s new addition, The Invitation – an audio-based experience that takes place inside the Lakeside Cemetery mausoleum.
Family walkthrough Trick O Treat Town with HARIBO also makes a return for 2023, where guests are invited to explore the town and knock on doors to collect lots of sweet treats. Completing the family friendly line-up will be live entertainment in the form of the Alton Ancestors, Freaky Five and CBeebies Land Monster Ball.
While those hoping to see a Phalanx based scare attraction feature in this year’s Scarefest line-up, as part of the ongoing marketing campaign for Nemesis’ track replacement and refurbishment, may be left disappointed, it seems unlikely that the Resort won’t utilise Halloween as an opportunity for some increased activity around the Nemesis site. There had also been speculation that The Curse at Alton Manor could be the subject of some Scarefest-based enhancements, and while no specific announcements have been made, we would assume that the roaming actors around Gloomy Wood will continue through the spooky season – during a Q&A at our recent Summer Festival event, Larry Roles, Marketing Director at Alton Towers Resort, did acknowledge that consideration had been given to the question of whether to make changes for Scarefest, regardless of whether anything did occur.
Daz Games: PANIC is priced at £10pp (or £8pp for passholders), a combined ticket for Altonville Mine Tours, The Attic, Darkest Depths and The Invitation is £34pp (or £27.20pp for passholders), and Trick O Treat Town is £12pp (or £9.60 for passholders).
Scarefest 2023 will take place on 7th-8th and 13th-31st October, with the theme park open until 9pm on every day of the event. Slots for the scare attractions can be booked from 1pm on peak dates and from 3pm on off-peak dates. Trick O Treat Town is open from 12pm and 2pm on peak and off-peak dates respectively, closing at 8pm.
Are you planning a visit to this year’s event? Which attraction are you most excited and/or terrified to experience? Let us know via our social media channels.
