Pick a room! Any room! Blue Prince.

Author’s Note: In an attempt to keep things as spoiler-free as possible, I decided to not include screenshots in this review. Enjoy!

By now, gamers know that the market is saturated with “roguelikes”. It seems that every indie developer wants to make a game where players take control of a hero, put them through challenging paces, have said hero meet a quick death, and make the player try again from the start with nothing but frustration and determination. My kneejerk thought when I was told that Blue Prince had roguelike elements was, “…cool story bro.” But, a free price tag and some word of mouth convinced me to take a look. I’m glad I did because it combines mystery, strategy, and roguelike elements in a unique way that will appeal to gamers of all skill levels.

Developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury, Blue Prince puts you in control Simon P. Jones. Recently willed his great uncle’s estate, Simon unknowingly finds himself in a unique multi-roomed manor that has a special, hidden 46th room. In order to claim his new fortune, Simon must find it in a single day’s time. If he runs out of energy or daylight, then he has to start over. Starting over is a bit unique within this manor because it means every room in the house will reset. In other words, no two ventures through the manor are the same. It’s a unique premise, topped with some mystery about Jones’ family and the massive mansion. The narrative unfolds compellingly as you unlock more rooms, secrets, and discoveries. It can be tricky putting the story pieces together yourself, but that’s a minor nitpick.

The core gameplay involves “drafting” rooms as you explore. The variety of rooms is worth noting because when you feel like you’ve seen it all, you soon realize you’re still just scratching the surface. Rooms include bedrooms, observatories, dark rooms for developing photos, lounges, kitchens, dining rooms and so much more. Some rooms contain puzzles, others contain resources like keys and gems, and clues that help you progress. Moving from room to room costs “steps”, which sort of act like a life bar for Simon. Running out of steps means starting over. However, you’re more likely to run out of space before you run out of steps.

What do I mean by that? Well, remember, Blue Prince is a roguelike, and with that comes randomness. Some rooms don’t have hallways. And, if you run out of rooms with hallways as you attempt to make it to the end, then your only choice is to start over. It’s definitely frustrating. You’ll feel like you’re having a good run, only to run into some sort of obstacle that prevents you from connecting one room to the next. However, along with that randomness comes the addiction of wanting to try “just one more time.”

And the neat thing about Blue Prince is that the calming atmosphere alleviates frustration quickly. As soon as the game began, it felt like I was transported back to the mid aughts and was playing a beautifully crafted, cel-shaded masterpiece. Think of something like Dark Cloud 2. That should give gamers of a certain age an idea of what they’ll be looking at. There’s also an ambient soundtrack that is equal parts soothing and haunting. Blue Prince keeps its presentation simple in the best way possible and is all the better for it.

Reaching the 46th room will depend entirely on luck. You can unlock some permanent bonuses on the way towards the end, but doing so will also require luck. Yes, there is some strategy and thought involved, but patience is the biggest requirement for success. This is one game that really surprised me. Its unique mechanics, ever-changing environments, and intricate puzzles create an experience that feels fresh with every playthrough despite the inevitable frustrations. While it may challenge your patience at times, the rewards of discovery and the satisfaction of solving its mysteries make it a journey worth taking.

Overall, 8.5/10: Blue Prince blends strategy, mystery, and innovation in a one of a kind way. While tricky at times, the rewards for getting beyond each hurdle are worth it.