Pen and Paper Needed: Blue Prince, developed by Dogubomb

 A death. A will. A challenge to keep the mansion. Welcome to Blue Prince, where your steps are limited and the rooms reset everyday. You can’t sleep in the mansion, but for a younger child, you know how to camp and don’t mind doing so. There’s lots to discover - you just have to open the door.

Never lose your child-like wonder.

Blue Prince is a game about discovery. Throughout, there are challenging puzzles, interesting lore, and a lot of frustration. It’s not the bad kind of frustration, the kind that reminded me of my days playing Myst (I might be dating myself just a bit, as I played it when it originally came out). It’s definitely a game where you want to take notes, unless you have photographic memory. Each day can see many different rooms and different tools, depending on the “draft”. Your initial goal is to get to Room 46 - but (minor spoilers), the game really doesn’t end when the credits roll. There is still a lot to discover about Mt. Holly.

The story unfolds as you go through your days and find letters, notes, and various other bits that tell the story of a mother who left her son to rebel against a harsh regime. You learn about the history of the world you are in, of the various countries and kingdoms that your uncle has visited. Most importantly, you learn about yourself and what you are capable of. 

I finished the main game, and I’m still discovering more. I still have unlocked all the room types or one of the outside areas. I haven’t solved all of the puzzles - and I don’t mind playing it longer just to open all the doors. There is no right way to beat this game - and no sure way to know if you’ve discovered all the secrets without looking up a guide.

This game came out around the same time as the Oblivion remaster and Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, but I had seen a demo of it before release. The uniqueness of this game, the care with the puzzles, the beautiful imagery, and the interesting lore definitely make this game a heavy contender for Game of the Year, in my book. 

Blue Prince was developed by Dogubomb, and published by Raw Fury. It’s available on Steam, XBox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. 

So remember, when the last step is tread, and Room 46 is open, I shall be there waiting for another suggestion.