Kings Island’s revamped dark ride uses Alterface’s new-generation interactive pointing system to replace score-based shooting with continuous, narrative-driven flashlight gameplay across 26 scenes.
Kings Island opened Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare on 22 May 2026 – a full reimagining of a classic dark ride, designed and manufactured by Sally Dark Rides. The attraction runs Alterface’s new-generation interactive pointing system at its core. Response times reach as low as 30 milliseconds. That speed makes flashlight-based gameplay feel immediate rather than mechanical.
Guests use spellbound flashlights to capture ghost notes released from a character’s pipe organ. The story drives the mechanics. Rather than targeting score zones, players illuminate environments to reveal hidden elements and progress the narrative. The system centres on continuous interaction and discovery. The result is a fundamentally different feel from traditional hit-based shooting rides.
The interactive pointing system integrates directly into the ride’s storytelling structure. Physical sets, animatronics and projection mapping sit alongside real-time digital interaction across all 26 scenes. Technology stays discreet. Stéphane Battaille, chief executive of Alterface, said: ‘I’m proud of the way our team works closely with Sally Dark Rides, continuously responding to their creative vision and finding solutions that bring it to life. Our technology enables this agility, offering the precision and flexibility needed to support every new bold idea our partners can imagine.’
Sally Dark Rides led a smart refurbishment strategy. The existing ride system was retained. Investment concentrated on scenery, animatronics and interactive content – the elements guests experience directly. Interactivity enters the narrative rather than layering on top of it. Returning visitors encounter something familiar and noticeably elevated.
Alterface, founded in 2001 in Belgium as a spin-off from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve, has received several Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement. The company’s interactive pointing system now operates in parks across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
