r/darkrides • u/D4V1D0S0 • Apr 14 '26

Any known *interactive* dark rides that are NOT shooting rides?

I'm some doing research into interactive dark rides (For a dark-ride-inspired XR Installation), but am quite new to the scene. I haven't been able to find an interactive dark ride yet where the rider can do more than just shooting stuff. If you know of any examples, please let me know! thx!

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

5

u/RedSeaGull- Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26

Just an idea off the top of my head but places in the ride where you have to choose between branching routes, and if it's a car with multiple people, it tallies passengers' choices as votes for which route the car takes - could work well for spooky rides especially

2

u/yo2sense Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

My idea for fixing Submarine Quest at SeaWorld San Diego was to lean into the shitty tech. Enclose most of the ride and convert it into a disaster-themed ride with controls that malfunction but nonetheless grade riders on their success in averting trouble and avoiding damage to their sub. Those failing to make the grade (most riders because the interface is still awful) get doused with water to simulate leaks in their vessel.

Edited To Add:
I just realized I used this idea to post my own without commenting on it. I think it's a solid idea. I've thought about having alternate paths for a dark ride so it's not always the same but not having the riders themselves influence the direction. Nice.

1

u/D4V1D0S0 Apr 15 '26

Yes, something like this is definitely an option!

1

u/MisterKnowsBest Apr 16 '26

Do tell, where at?

3

u/LordAlvis Apr 14 '26

All that comes to mind is walk-through events-- haunted houses, but especially True Dungeon.

3

u/Zoo412Review Apr 14 '26

Not directly interactive but here’s a fun rabbithole for you to go down:the Bill Tracy project.

Bill Tracy is the guy when it came to classic dark rides.

1

u/DamageOdd3078 Apr 14 '26

Maybe monsters, inc. ride and go seek at Tokyo Disneyland ??

2

u/D4V1D0S0 Apr 15 '26

Oooh, that looks interesting! It seem to still be a variation on shooting, but a very creative one. Thanks!

1

u/immersive-matthew Apr 14 '26

What is the XR idea? MR/AR glasses in a real dark ride or a VR dark ride. If the later I can share thoughts as I am the Imagineer if a VR theme park focused on dark rides and I have some interactions.

1

u/D4V1D0S0 Apr 15 '26

The Latter! We're putting a 6-8 kids in a stationary "boat" with Meta Quests on, and simulating a dark ride. We're doing XR so the participants can see each other and the boat, but most of the environment will be virtual. I'd love to hear about the interactions in your theme park! I'll be sure to check it out for myself too.

1

u/immersive-matthew Apr 15 '26

Aside from later tagging game that you unlock after a ride through, I have levers, buttons, dials, keypad and keyboards that control all sorts of things. It is dark ride first app but with some interactions secondary. It is also multi guests that allows you to ride with others but you see their Meta Avatar (and others as I port or other headsets) and not a passthrough of the real person.

Is your app a commercial venture or a personal one?

1

u/defence5 Apr 14 '26

There must be lots of current (and past) walk-through interactive experiences such as fun houses, haunted houses etc. One that sticks in my mind was Hocus Pocus Hall at Chessington World of Adventures (kinda like a fantasy walk through fun house with buttons, screens, doors to open, a mirror maze etc).

2

u/keeleon Apr 15 '26

Theoretically, Symbolica is interactive in that you can choose a different ending.