For those of us who find ourselves struggling with Blue Prince, that intriguingly quirky puzzle game that takes you through a mysterious mansion, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Featuring complex puzzles with some unusual math rules, it’s hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the year’s top gaming experiences. Don’t worry if you find yourself needing to look up the rules or solutions when you’re stuck. Trust me, it won’t diminish your enjoyment of the game at all.
When I first started playing Blue Prince, I was expecting something along the lines of Outer Wilds, where solving puzzles gradually unravels the storyline. In some ways, Blue Prince delivers on that promise, but in other ways, it diverges. You’ll come across discarded notes and old newspapers that offer glimpses into the backstory, but the real thrill lies in navigating through the clockwork mansion itself. The myriad of puzzles peppered throughout the game tend to have a slight connection to the narrative, yet often serve mainly to aid in your daily progress within the mansion.
There’s definitely something satisfying about cracking every puzzle on your own. However, there are moments where checking a solution can actually enhance your experience. Blue Prince isn’t the kind of game that gets ruined by consulting a guide. Typically, if you look something up, you’re only revealing the logic or steps behind a puzzle — not really a full spoiler. For instance, the math puzzle changes daily. Even if you figure out what each color represents, you still need to tackle the equations independently.
Some puzzles aren’t random, but they require knowing what to focus on before you even realize there’s a puzzle at hand. A glance at a guide can be just what you need to get through those moments when progress feels stalled. Plus, getting a sense of how the game is structured early on can be really beneficial. Around day 30, I started spotting patterns in the rooms. A quick online search confirmed my hunch, but I refrained from diving deeper and decided to let the discovery unfold naturally—and sure enough, it did pay off later.
At times, Blue Prince can be exasperating, especially during runs that seem to yield no progress. It takes practice to master the strategy of drafting rooms, and until you do, you’ll often find yourself at dead ends. This aspect improves with more gameplay, but you’ll still encounter runs where things just don’t go your way. Special rooms linked to particular puzzles don’t always appear when needed, and you might not have the necessary items on hand to proceed.
In those rare moments when everything seems to align and you’re eager to make headway, turning to a guide or a friend for suggestions can be invaluable. Even seasoned players, with over 100 hours logged, continue to stumble upon new discoveries. Keep in mind, not every puzzle will intuitively click with every player, and sometimes a small hint is all it takes to steer you in the right direction.
