Room Escape Artist

Rattlesnake Bend is one of the best games in Albuquerque. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in Albuquerque.

Have your run of the town

Location:  Albuquerque, NM

Date Played: December 15, 2021

Team size: 4-8; we recommend 4-6

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $31 per player

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock (One small section was locked at the time we played, but we believe this will be changed even before this review publishes.)

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The thing that makes escape rooms special is their ability to suddenly transport you to a place and time that you never expected. At Bust Out Escape Room we stepped out of their hallway… and into Old West Santa Fe. And it was joyous.

Rattlesnake Bend blended realism with cartoon… and we couldn’t get enough of it.

Additionally, the puzzles were layered and brought a level of complexity that wasn’t brutal, but really made us work for the wins. This was difficulty done right.

There are a few regional standouts in Albuquerque that make it a fantastic escape room destination, and Rattlesnake Bend is one of the top offerings.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Western fans
• Best for players with at least some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• A brilliant intro sequence
• They built a whole Western town!
• Layered puzzle play
• Memorable sequences and interactions

Story

We stepped into a town in the Old West where our new friend Cactus Jack needed some help freeing himself from jail. In return, he offered to help us liberate some gold from the town’s bank.

Setting

In Rattlesnake Bend, we stepped out of a wagon and into an Old West Santa Fe. There were multiple businesses to explore and characters to encounter.

There were many little details scattered throughout the space that fed the Western vibe. A lot of love went into this set.

Gameplay

Bust Out Escape Room’s Rattlesnake Bend was a standard escape room with a moderate-to-high level of difficulty. There was a lot of content in this escape game.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and puzzling.

Analysis

➕ Our introduction to Rattlesnake Bend was top notch. The audio track and visual selection worked beautifully to set the stage and bring us to town.

➕ There we stood, in the center of Main Street. We looked around at the different storefronts, and the road heading out of town. It was the perfect blend of a cartoon-y look with a genuine, detailed build. Wow.

➕ Rattlesnake Bend started with a soft onramp that engaged the entire team. From there, the gameplay opened up into parallel paths and flowed well.

➕ /❓Rattlesnake Bend packed a lot of puzzles, including some more complex layered solves. The puzzles were well varied, requiring many different types of skills to solve. One in particular might prove overly frustrating without a certain intelligence on the team.

➕ Our heads were spinning over the fact that we’d never seen this one prop used in an escape room before. The implementation was great.

➕ The hint system was a lot of fun and well integrated into the story.

➖ While we liked the concept for the finale, as a fun twist to add intensity in the final moments, the implementation fell flat. The puzzles felt random and less engaging than what had come before. One puzzle was more annoying than fun. Plus this scene didn’t make sense narratively. With some tweaks, this ending could up the ante and the fun.

➖ At the time we played, a short segment near the finale would have benefited greatly from a safety release. We’ve been told that one will be added.

Tips For Visiting

• Rattlesnake Bend is located at the Paseo location.
• Parking: There is a parking lot.
• Food: We recommend La Reforma for excellent tacos, beer, and cocktails.

Book your hour with Bust Out Escape Room’s Rattlesnake Bend, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Bust Out Escape Room comped our tickets for this game.

Escape Immerse Explore: New Mexico

This game will be featured on our next escape room tour: Escape Immerse Explore: New Mexico 2022. If you’re looking to play outstanding escape rooms with other players who are just as excited about these games, we hope you’ll join us in New Mexico this June.