The Atkinson Museum in Gaia hosts more than 30 actors for a haunted mansion; the 80-minute immersive experience costs between €25 and €40

This Halloween, the horror isn’t just something you see from afar. Between October 30 and November 1, the Atkinson Museum at WOW transforms into Atkinson House, a cursed mansion where visitors must explore, solve puzzles, and find their way out. There’s no stage or audience: every participant is part of the story.

The game, called Haunted Mansion: Halloween Experience, is a creation of Produções Imersivas in partnership with WOW. The production company has been developing immersive horror experiences in Portugal since 2019 and transforms real spaces into fictional settings.

It all begins with an invitation to an exclusive masquerade ball at the home of Robert Atkinson, an 18th-century aristocrat and collector. The lavish and mysterious party quickly reveals the dark side of the place: the house is cursed.

Over the course of about 80 minutes, participants make their way through the mansion’s rooms, talk to characters, search for clues, and face challenges. The game combines immersive theater, escape rooms, live-action role-playing, and special effects. Each player’s decisions can alter the path, and three lives determine how far each person can go. More than 30 actors bring the house to life, so danger can come from any room.

Two necklaces, two levels of scare. Before entering, each person chooses how much physical contact they want to have with the actors. With the Red Necklace (Absolute Terror), the actors can touch, separate, or guide participants along the route. With the Green Necklace (Contained Terror), the narrative and intensity are the same, but without direct physical contact.

The experience is recommended for those 18 and older, and each session has a maximum capacity of 15 people.

Location: Atkinson Museum, WOW, Vila Nova de Gaia.

Showtimes: Sessions begin at 6 p.m. on October 30, at 5 p.m. on October 31, and at 4 p.m. on November 1.

Prices: between €25 and €40, depending on the day and time. WOW Card members receive a 10% discount.

Tickets are on sale on the experience’s official website. With such a small maximum group size, it’s best not to wait until the last minute to make a reservation.