Photo : @thibault INGLEBERT
Fear Out of Order, a scientific Halloween treasure hunt!
Fear is having a midlife crisis and needs your help to regain its chilling reputation after a scientific experiment went sideways. Grab your flashlight and dive into this nighttime scavenger hunt that turns local history into a playful, ghostly investigation. It is the perfect mission for those who like their walks with a side of mystery and cold shivers.
Espace des Sciences Pierre-Gilles de Gennes (Paris 5th)
About
The Espace des Sciences Pierre-Gilles de Gennes in the 5th arrondissement hosts a scientific treasure hunt on October 30, 2026, for anyone aged 14 and older. Madame Lafrousse, a legendary figure of terror, has lost her ability to scare, allegedly due to a failed experiment on Montagne Ste-Geneviève. During this free nocturnal event, running from 18:00 to 20:00, visitors will work in groups of up to five to solve the mystery. Participants should bring a smartphone to scan QR codes for online content and a flashlight to navigate the game, which takes place entirely after dark.
It’s a disaster! Madame Lafrousse – “Fear” to her friends, that venerable institution of chills that has terrorized humanity since the dawn of time – has just realized that she doesn’t scare anyone anymore!
Creeping shadows, nocturnal howls, dire omens… her entire collection of horror now only provokes polite yawns. A disappointment on this Halloween night – but above all, an evolutionary catastrophe for the survival of the human species!
Thinking about it, the problem probably started three days earlier, when a brilliant researcher, in one of the labs that abound on the Montagne Ste-Geneviève, tried to scientifically prove the existence of ghosts. Could it be that Madame Lafrousse – exposed too closely to this blasphemous mixture – corrupted her spectral powers?
Free event upon registration
- Groups cannot exceed 5 people.
- Some riddles require access to online animations: remember to bring a smartphone to scan the QR codes in the game booklet.
- This is a night-time treasure hunt: the adventure will begin after sunset. We highly recommend that you bring a flashlight (or activate the flashlight function on your smartphone) to help you orient yourself and find the stages of the route.
Partners
Action funded by the National Research Agency as part of the Science With and For Society calls for projects – Scientific, Technical and Industrial Culture for the JCJC and PRC projects of the 2020 and 2021 generic calls for projects (SAPS-CSTI 2020 and 2021)
> Conception and game design: Ma Langue Au Chat
> Graphic design of the game booklet: Thibault Inglebert – Illustrations generated by AI
Our take on this event
Madame Lafrousse is facing a professional crisis. Her traditional repertoire of ghostly moans and shadows no longer intimidates the public. The trouble seems to have started following a scientific attempt to prove the existence of ghosts in a local laboratory. To restore order to the spectral world, you are invited to join a unique treasure hunt on October 30, 2026, between 18:00 and 20:00. This event is open to participants aged 14 and up, with groups capped at 5 people.
This free experience was designed by Ma Langue Au Chat and features visuals created by Thibault Inglebert. As the adventure takes place after sunset, you are strongly advised to bring a flashlight or use your phone's light feature to follow the course. Accessing the game's clues requires a smartphone to scan QR codes found in the provided booklet. Registration is required to take part in this scientific investigation held at the Espace des Sciences Pierre-Gilles de Gennes.
