blue-prince-review Adventure/Open World

Blue Prince Review

Blue Prince is an intricate first-person puzzle and strategy experience developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury. Set entirely within a mysterious and ever-changing mansion, the game blends roguelite mechanics, exploration, and tactical decision-making into a richly rewarding journey. With no multiplayer features and full compatibility on Steam Deck, it delivers a deeply personal experience that evolves with every run.

Players inherit a sprawling manor, but earning the right to keep it means navigating its 45 rooms and unlocking a final, secret 46th chamber. The twist? The mansion is constructed in real-time by the player using room cards. Each draft opens up a selection of three rooms, ranging from common spaces like kitchens and bedrooms to rarer finds like observatories and aquariums. What begins as a foyer quickly expands into a unique, player-built labyrinth. This game also included in April’s PS Plus.

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Build, Explore, and Strategize

The game world is structured on a 5×9 grid, where careful planning is crucial. Each room holds unique effects: some may block visibility, while others allow redrafts or contain locked doors with valuable rewards. Along the way, players collect items such as keys, coins, and tools like magnifying glasses or metal detectors, all of which help uncover hidden secrets or unlock previously inaccessible features.

Resource management becomes a critical element, especially as each in-game day starts with a limited 50 steps. Every move through a doorway costs one, and running out means the mansion resets completely. All progress is lost—except for one thing: knowledge gained during past attempts. This loop of learning and adapting is where Blue Prince shines.

A Unique Puzzle Experience With Lasting Impact

What sets Blue Prince apart is its layered puzzle design. Some are isolated to individual rooms, like logic challenges or numerical conundrums, while others span across multiple runs. Clues discovered in one session may not become relevant until many days later. The result is an intricate tapestry of interconnected riddles that demand attention, memory, and deduction.

Keeping a notebook becomes essential. Players often find themselves mapping out the mansion, sketching symbols, or tracking room effects across pages. These detailed notes are more than just helpful—they’re integral to success. The sense of achievement from solving a multi-day puzzle or finally unlocking a persistent gate is deeply satisfying.

Evolving the Mansion and Yourself

Even though each daily run starts from scratch, certain decisions and discoveries create lasting changes. Special rooms can be modified permanently, items can be stored for future retrieval, and mechanics like mailrooms allow for planned rewards. Eventually, players can even enhance their own character—extending their step count or adjusting which types of room cards are more likely to appear.

This evolving progression transforms the house from a random assortment of tiles into something far more personal. By the time players reach the 46th room, the sense of ownership over the mansion becomes palpable.

Triumphs and Trials in a Living, Breathing Puzzle Box

Not every run will be smooth. Bad drafts, locked doors without keys, and missed opportunities can lead to frustrating dead ends. But the occasional stroke of bad luck is balanced by moments of joy—like discovering a room that perfectly complements your current resources or finding a shrine that grants luck across future attempts.

Even setbacks feel meaningful, as each failure equips players with the experience needed to go deeper next time. The game’s mechanics reinforce the idea that nothing is wasted if it contributes to your understanding of the mansion.

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A Game That Encourages Patience and Curiosity

Blue Prince is more than a puzzle game—it’s a journey of deduction and discovery. The recommendation is clear: avoid spoilers, guides, and external help. The joy lies in connecting the dots yourself, whether it’s recognizing patterns, unlocking a puzzle days after first encountering it, or simply marveling at how elegantly the systems interlock.

The game is filled with moments of revelation and thoughtful design, where persistence is rewarded with exhilarating breakthroughs. Every mystery solved feels personal, every eureka moment hard-earned.

A Lasting Legacy of Mystery and Mastery

By the end of the journey, Blue Prince transforms from a game into a lived experience. Whether preparing rooms for future runs, tweaking the odds in your favor, or finally cracking a mansion-wide mystery, the title delivers a sense of mastery that few games achieve. Even after completing the main goal, many puzzles remain unsolved, keeping players returning for more.

It’s a game that respects your intelligence, encourages patience, and leaves you feeling like the true heir to something extraordinary. Blue Prince isn’t just about solving puzzles—it’s about becoming part of the house itself.

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