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Blue Prince Review: An addictive labyrinth of challenging yet delightful puzzles
Although I consider myself quite the puzzle connoisseur, I felt like a complete novice when faced with Blue Prince. It stands as one of — if not the most — challenging puzzle games I've encountered, and it does so in the most exquisitely rewarding manner. Blue Prince is the debut creation of Dogubomb, an indie developer working alongside Raw Fury — the publisher behind games like Cassette Tapes and Call of the Sea. Enter the mansion of Mt. Holly, where your mission is to seek out the elusive Room 46 to prove your worthiness as the heir of the household. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not exactly. The manor is less a home and more a shifting labyrinth, with its layouts transforming and resetting daily. Another day, another puzzle The day typically begins with three doors presented before you, depicting a layout similar to that of the Clue board game. Open one, and you'll be presented with the choice of three new areas — sometimes ones you've encountered before — whether it's a bedroom, pantry, or billiard room. It's the same cycle with the other destinations as if each one were a layer of a Russian doll, gradually unfolding to reveal what lies within. Image via Dogubomb Occasionally, the rooms unveil intricate puzzles, leading to hidden clues and rewards, while at other times, they offer nothing at all. It's the purest form of the thrill of the hunt, and I wholeheartedly revel in it. Yes, there are moments when it feels tedious, especially when opening already-discovered rooms or reaching a dead end. Yet, there are days when you're simply on a roll, discovering one new room after another. It feels almost like a trance, each step drawing me closer to the hope of uncovering Room 46 before the day ends. The puzzles often take a traditional approach, presenting challenges you may be familiar with, such as the classic conundrum of three boxes: one that tells lies, one that tells the truth, and the last containing a prize. A simple deduction puzzle; however, some challenges have continued to perplex me despite countless hours spent in Blue Prince. One such puzzle involves a dartboard and a cryptic mathematical equation. To be honest, math has never been my strong suit, and the vague instructions made the solution feel nearly impossible to decipher. What's more, the answers to these challenges are never the same, so even if you manage to conquer one, you may find yourself struggling with it all over again the next time. Screenshot by Destructoid I view the puzzles in two lights: they're a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a fresh challenge. On the flip side, Blue Prince can quickly leave you stumped, proving to be overwhelmingly difficult at times. There were moments when I found myself with a headache just from overthinking. Blue Prince is far from casual; it demands your full attention, particularly with the intricate combination of puzzles within the rooms and the complexities of the house's layout. Heck, the game even suggests that you grab a notepad in real life to create your own personal guide. You are also confined to a limited space, restricted to only 50 steps per day. This allowance can fluctuate, as certain rooms may either subtract from or add to your step count, depending on where you are. Any time you run out of steps, you must call it a day and see how far you'll get with the new day reset. Or, you can be like me and end the day out of pure frustration from challenges. No detail is too small In addition to the puzzles and the limited number of steps, you'll also need to exchange items to access certain rooms. These items, ranging from gems and keys to coins, pop up every once in a while, unlocking higher-tier rooms or acquiring unique tools. It's crucial to collect them, as failing to do so will lock you out of various areas. I found this aspect incredibly challenging, as it forces you to decide whether to enter a room for resources or venture into something entirely new with hidden surprises. Fortunately, unlocking tools can help streamline your progress, from running shoes that aid in covering longer distances to sleep masks that offer step increases in bedrooms. While you'll most often acquire these items by solving puzzles or purchasing them from a shop-based room, you might also get lucky and find them casually resting on a table. That's another thing to stay alert to: you must keep your wits sharp and thoroughly analyze each room. There's always a hidden detail that could easily be overlooked, appearing in various forms: extra resources, a clue for a future puzzle, or deeper insight into the story. There were countless times when I overlooked small details, only to realize later that I should have paid closer attention to them. Even a simple piece of paper with a few words from the beginning of your Blue Prince playthrough may prove invaluable later on, which is why keeping a notepad nearby is highly recommended. I'm particularly fond of how the smallest elemen
Although I consider myself quite the puzzle connoisseur, I felt like a complete novice when faced with Blue Prince. It stands as one of — if not the most — challenging puzzle games I've encountered, and it does so in the most exquisitely rewarding manner.
Blue Prince is the debut creation of Dogubomb, an indie developer working alongside Raw Fury — the publisher behind games like Cassette Tapes and Call of the Sea. Enter the mansion of Mt. Holly, where your mission is to seek out the elusive Room 46 to prove your worthiness as the heir of the household. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not exactly. The manor is less a home and more a shifting labyrinth, with its layouts transforming and resetting daily.
Another day, another puzzle
The day typically begins with three doors presented before you, depicting a layout similar to that of the Clue board game. Open one, and you'll be presented with the choice of three new areas — sometimes ones you've encountered before — whether it's a bedroom, pantry, or billiard room. It's the same cycle with the other destinations as if each one were a layer of a Russian doll, gradually unfolding to reveal what lies within.
Occasionally, the rooms unveil intricate puzzles, leading to hidden clues and rewards, while at other times, they offer nothing at all. It's the purest form of the thrill of the hunt, and I wholeheartedly revel in it. Yes, there are moments when it feels tedious, especially when opening already-discovered rooms or reaching a dead end. Yet, there are days when you're simply on a roll, discovering one new room after another. It feels almost like a trance, each step drawing me closer to the hope of uncovering Room 46 before the day ends.
The puzzles often take a traditional approach, presenting challenges you may be familiar with, such as the classic conundrum of three boxes: one that tells lies, one that tells the truth, and the last containing a prize. A simple deduction puzzle; however, some challenges have continued to perplex me despite countless hours spent in Blue Prince. One such puzzle involves a dartboard and a cryptic mathematical equation. To be honest, math has never been my strong suit, and the vague instructions made the solution feel nearly impossible to decipher. What's more, the answers to these challenges are never the same, so even if you manage to conquer one, you may find yourself struggling with it all over again the next time.
I view the puzzles in two lights: they're a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a fresh challenge. On the flip side, Blue Prince can quickly leave you stumped, proving to be overwhelmingly difficult at times. There were moments when I found myself with a headache just from overthinking. Blue Prince is far from casual; it demands your full attention, particularly with the intricate combination of puzzles within the rooms and the complexities of the house's layout. Heck, the game even suggests that you grab a notepad in real life to create your own personal guide.
You are also confined to a limited space, restricted to only 50 steps per day. This allowance can fluctuate, as certain rooms may either subtract from or add to your step count, depending on where you are. Any time you run out of steps, you must call it a day and see how far you'll get with the new day reset. Or, you can be like me and end the day out of pure frustration from challenges.
No detail is too small
In addition to the puzzles and the limited number of steps, you'll also need to exchange items to access certain rooms. These items, ranging from gems and keys to coins, pop up every once in a while, unlocking higher-tier rooms or acquiring unique tools. It's crucial to collect them, as failing to do so will lock you out of various areas. I found this aspect incredibly challenging, as it forces you to decide whether to enter a room for resources or venture into something entirely new with hidden surprises.
Fortunately, unlocking tools can help streamline your progress, from running shoes that aid in covering longer distances to sleep masks that offer step increases in bedrooms. While you'll most often acquire these items by solving puzzles or purchasing them from a shop-based room, you might also get lucky and find them casually resting on a table. That's another thing to stay alert to: you must keep your wits sharp and thoroughly analyze each room. There's always a hidden detail that could easily be overlooked, appearing in various forms: extra resources, a clue for a future puzzle, or deeper insight into the story.
There were countless times when I overlooked small details, only to realize later that I should have paid closer attention to them. Even a simple piece of paper with a few words from the beginning of your Blue Prince playthrough may prove invaluable later on, which is why keeping a notepad nearby is highly recommended. I'm particularly fond of how the smallest elements can evolve into something more significant down the line; there's something satisfying about knowing that even the tiniest details hold meaning. Exploring the room in its unique 3D art style is also a treat. Even if it's not the most vibrant, the subtle blending of dark colors enhances the enigmatic atmosphere of the manor.
Though the story isn't as overt as in other games, you can gain a deeper understanding of Blue Prince's lore through the items you collect along the way. Letters from staff, newspaper clippings, and other tidbits gradually reveal the mysteries of the mansion. It's a subtle approach, but I appreciate how new pieces of information surface over time as if you're slowly uncovering the fragments of a much larger puzzle.
With all these elements combined, Blue Prince emerges as a masterful puzzle game. It's challenging, addictive, and will keep you engaged for hours, with multiple playthroughs required for the rare chance of discovering Room 46. If you're in search of a puzzle game that offers no hand-holding and no easy paths to follow, Blue Prince is the perfect choice. It may be tough to conquer, but the sense of accomplishment that comes with unraveling its complexities is unparalleled to any puzzle game I've played before.
This new puzzle experience will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025. It's also available on Day One for Xbox Game Pass users, so no waiting is required.
The post Blue Prince Review: An addictive labyrinth of challenging yet delightful puzzles appeared first on Destructoid.
