Doncaster Fear Factory 2025 Review

Doncaster Fear Factory is back for 2025, with a whopping seven attractions in total – five scare mazes (of which two are new) and two scare zones (of which one is new). The atmosphere feels considerably amped up this year; fairground rides, roaming actors, a stage for live performances, a bar, music, and spooky lighting all combine to create a buzzing environment, rife with the sound of roaring chainsaws and terrified screams.

The two scare zones served as good pops of adrenaline in between the mazes. The vibrant and chaotic Uncle Donk's Scare Zone was a fun contrast to the shadowy and dingy Crimson Harvest. Whereas the darkness brings anticipation and tension in the latter, the colourful lights in the former place the scareactors front and centre, setting the stage for some crazed interactions.

And so, onto the mazes! Beware of spoilers…

Quinlens & Co

Bring out your dead! These renowned piemakers would ordinarily be serving up their finest pies for hungry guests, were it not for the small matter of The Great Plague. This maze is an utterly foul experience in the best possible way. Rotting food in a decrepit kitchen, crazed cooks driven mad by their sickness, the air thick with pestilence and the stench of death; all of the theming and the sensory elements in this maze convey a stomach-churning sense of decay and despair. Add to this an environment primed for some intense jump scares and some plague doctor imagery, and you’ve got unique attraction that is both memorable and something you’d rather forget! With scares on all sides and merciless splitting of the group, this was an absolute blast from start to finish. Now where did I put my hand sanitiser…

Crackle Hill: The Summoning

Nestled amongst the trees and looking bewitchingly realistic underneath a dark October sky, this creepy old house is packed with ancient spirits and haunted tales, all of which are presented via well executed mini setpieces and good old fashioned storytelling, with fantastic theming throughout. As was the case with a prior iteration of Crackle Hill, the storytelling aspect created a bit of confusion as we moved through the scenes. We lingered to hear the actors speak, but from a practical standpoint, the maze can’t accommodate an entire group standing in each scene (and to be fair, nor should it; the spiels aren’t particularly self-contained). Continuous movement maintained flow, but always left me feeling like I might be missing something. Nevertheless, there’s something irresistibly spooky about Crackle Hill, brought to life with amazing scareactor performances.

Shellton Motel

This bold and ambitious addition for 2025 is an absolute riot; the imposing façade alone is enough to indicate what kind of experience lies within. Brash, loud, and highly cinematic with a touch of camp, this scare maze delivers gore and shocks, mixed with storytelling and some decent scares. We loved the reception scene; the breaking news segment was a great touch, and the actor behind the check-in desk was nothing short of legendary. This memorable intro gave way to a decently themed and well-paced experience. The build up to the finale was perhaps a tad overcooked in our case, as our encounter with the killer was a bit anticlimactic, but everything that preceded it was intensely chaotic fun (the police raid being a particularly memorable flourish!)

DIABOLUS: VISUM MORTIS

I’m a follow-the-rope naysayer, but only when it’s utilised in a hooded maze, which is usually the case with this format. I was pleasantly surprised that in this instance, blackout conditions were used instead of hoods, with torchlit pops of one-on-one scareactor interactions building great tension as we fumbled through. Shout out to the fantastic makeup in this maze – the scareactors looked great and it really enhanced the scares they delivered. As for the finale… well, I think about it constantly and I’m not even joking. Total darkness gave way to a breathtakingly themed setpiece, with multi-level scares and wickedly executed misdirection, all lit with intense and disorienting strobe. Strangely understated yet wildly effective old school scares; this is what October nights are all about.

Friargate Foundry

Friargate Foundry is back, and the concept still feels like catnip to scare fans. Bringing multiple concepts together into a formidable fusion maze at the hands of the overarching creator; a sinister figure presiding over the entire Doncaster Fear Factory operation. It sets the stage for completely unrestrained creativity, which I love, but it also has its drawbacks. The constant switching-up of different environments makes it hard to buy into any given scene, but likewise, it keeps you guessing; you truly never know what’s around the corner! Despite the stylistic differences across the scenes, the team’s enduring commitment to immersing guests in detailed theming and stories is evident throughout, and this goes for the park as a whole too.

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We had a fantastic night at Doncaster Fear Factory. Even without the mazes, the location and layout of the park add so much to the experience as a whole. Weaving along dark woodland paths to reach the attractions, with the surrounding trees lit in eerie purples and greens – it’s truly an embodiment of proper Halloween fun, enhanced by the roaming scareactors, one of whom I need to give a special shoutout to. Loitering by Shellton Motel and linked to its story, this guy was outrageously funny and quick off the bat with his banter, carrying a hilarious back-and forth with ease. Great physical characterisation, unhinged mannerisms and a convincing accent all combined to make this a memorable interaction.

For the 2025 season, Doncaster Fear Factory is open on select nights in October and on 1st November. For more information and tickets, visit their website.