If you’re diving into Blue Prince, the popular puzzle game about navigating a quirky mansion, let’s establish one thing: it’s perfectly okay if you’re not a pro at it. While critics and puzzle enthusiasts hail it as one of the top games this year, largely because it challenges you with some outlandish math, there’s no shame in seeking help to get past its hurdles. Trust me, consulting a guide won’t ruin your fun.
When I first tried out Blue Prince, I anticipated an experience similar to what you get with Outer Wilds—a game where solving puzzles gradually uncovers the storyline. Blue Prince somewhat aligns with that, but not entirely. As you explore, discarded notes and newspapers provide some backstory, yet the core of the game is more about outsmarting the mansion’s intricate design. Puzzles are scattered all over, often only loosely connected to the narrative, and their main function is to help you advance through the mansion each day.
Solving puzzles on your own can be incredibly rewarding, but let’s face it, you might enjoy the game more by occasionally peeking at solutions. Blue Prince doesn’t lose its charm if you rely on a guide. At most, you’re just uncovering the logic behind a puzzle—perhaps the sequence or the clues you need to pursue. Take the math challenges, for example. They’re dynamic and change daily, so even if you decipher the color codes, you’d still need to work out the actual equations on your own.
Some of the puzzles follow set patterns and aren’t randomized. Still, they often require you to know what clues to look out for before you’re even aware of their existence. Skimming through a guide to grasp the basics can be a great way to overcome roadblocks, especially when you’re stuck. It’s also a helpful strategy for understanding the game’s framework when you’re just getting started. Around day 30, I began noticing certain patterns in the rooms. After a quick Google search confirmed my suspicions, I decided to keep playing, trusting that it would all make sense eventually—and it did.
Blue Prince can be quite the test of patience when a day ends without you making any significant progress. Until you master room drafting, expect several unsuccessful runs ending in dead ends. Though it becomes less daunting over time, those unlucky runs haven’t completely vanished. At times, rooms crucial to certain puzzles don’t appear when needed, or you might find yourself without the appropriate items to move forward.
When you finally spot an opportunity for progress, don’t hesitate to consult a guide or ask a friend for hints. There are players who have stumbled upon new discoveries even after clocking over 100 hours into the game. Remember, not every puzzle clicks with everyone’s way of thinking, so a little guidance can sometimes point you in the right direction.
