Room Escape Artist

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

When you play the game of Jumanji, you win or you die.

Location:  Albuquerque, NM

Date Played: December 15, 2021

Team size: 4-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $31 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: To fully experience this game, you need to be able to go up and down stairs.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

This was the strongest representation of Jumanji that I’ve seen in an escape room.

Bust Out Escape Room started with an Indestroom game and heavily modified it, making it their own. The mid- and late-game effects within Jumanji really sold this adventure.

The early game wasn’t especially engaging… which is a common trait of Jumanji escape games. There was also an opportunity for Bust Out to add some spot lighting in key areas to facilitate gameplay.

Beyond that, this was a fantastic game. When we visited Bust Out at 8:30pm on a Wednesday night, this was the only game on our schedule… after playing it we ended up booking two more games. Needless to say, we had a great time. If you’re in the area, I recommend Jumanji, especially if you’re already a fan of the book or movies.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Jumanji fans
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Wonderful Jumanji-inspired props
• Engaging effects sequences

Story

We entered a home where a game of Jumanji was already in progress: the drums beat, the jungle was alive, and the animals were hungry. The only way out was to finish the game.

Setting

Like any good Jumanji adventure, it began in a home… and then things escalated.

The initial setting was unremarkable, but as we pressed deeper into the game, Bust Out’s skill and attention to detail emerged in both the set design as well as the effects.

Gameplay

Bust Out Escape Room’s Jumanji was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ With this escape room, Bust Out captured the vibe of the source material. If you grew up with Jumanji, you won’t be disappointed by this theatrical representation.

➕ The sets were well built and fun to inhabit. Bust Out used lighting to add drama. The initial living room set was nothing special (and didn’t really feel lived in) but it delivered by setting up an impactful reveal when we opened it up more of the game.

➖ We struggled with dim lighting throughout the majority of this experience. While the lighting choice provided ambiance, it proved frustrating for puzzle solving. This could be mitigated by spotlighting specific areas of the set.

➕ The Jumanji centerpiece – the board game – was beautiful and functional. It reacted to inputs, turning every solve into an event. We appreciated that it marked our progress, so that we never risked losing information by moving the pieces.

➕ The gameplay flowed smoothly. It was structured around the board game such that throughout each act of the experience, we had a good sense of our progress and could easily deduce what to work on.

➖ Oftentimes, what opened was not meaningfully connected to what had just been solved. We expect smaller or newer teams to find the game flow in one section a bit bumpy because of this.

➖ A few of the puzzles felt thematically disconnected from the rest of the experience, and just a bit out of place.

➕ We really enjoyed one prop, and the consistency with which it landed.

➕ A late transition sequence didn’t let us down.

➕ /➖ One central late game set piece was fun, and not overly contrived, as is a risk with such a prop. However, it could have been more impactful if it were activated earlier, rather than relying on player curiosity. It felt under-utilized for something so impressive.

➕ The use of effects was outstanding. Combined with lights and sound, Bust Out heightened the drama to deliver an exciting, memorable moment.

Tips For Visiting

• Jumanji 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 Jumanji, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

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.