Blue Prince Review: A Roguelike Puzzle Adventure That Will Keep You Hooked
A challenging, roguelike puzzle game that will keep you hooked with its eerie yet cozy atmosphere, rewarding progression, and a steep difficulty curve
Available on: PC, Playstation, Xbox, Xbox Game Pass
Genre: Puzzle, Roguelike, Exploration
Developer: Dogubomb
Publisher: Raw Fury
How Cozy? ⭐⭐⭐ There’s no threat but it’s not overly cozy in a typical sense
Game Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
Blue Prince is a puzzle game that’s taken the gaming community by storm. Combining roguelike mechanics with intricate puzzles, it offers a refreshing experience for fans of both genres. With its eerie yet cozy atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and rewarding progression system, Blue Prince stands as one of the best puzzle games of 2025 so far.
Story
The story of Blue Prince is cleverly woven into its gameplay. You play as a character navigating through mysterious rooms, with each run offering new challenges and puzzles. The main objective is to unlock new areas, solve difficult puzzles, and uncover the secrets of the Blue Prince to reach Room 46. While the plot isn’t overtly complex, the thrill of discovery keeps you coming back for more, especially with each new path that opens up with every game session.
For many players, the real appeal lies in uncovering these narrative fragments, which slowly piece together the story in a way that feels both rewarding and immersive. It’s not just about solving puzzles, it's about the experience of gradually learning about the strange and enigmatic world you’re in.
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Gameplay
The roguelike elements of Blue Prince are what set it apart from other puzzle games. Each day is a fresh run with procedurally generated elements, ensuring that no two experiences are quite the same. The unpredictability of the game adds a layer of excitement, or frustration, as you never know what new challenges you’ll face.
One of the highlights of the game is how progression works. Certain rooms reward you with permanent upgrades that make subsequent runs easier, giving you that satisfying sense of growth. The game’s difficulty can be brutal at times, especially when you’re trying to figure out certain puzzles, like The Parlour’s gem box puzzles or looking for clues to find letters or understand your path of progression. Shout out to the Blue Prince Reddit community, I may not have got through this without you! 🫶
While the game can be difficult I never found it punishing, there’s always a sense of hope that the next run will be more successful. The addictive nature of the gameplay keeps you hooked, pushing you to complete just one more day to get that little bit further. I found myself constantly trying again, knowing that tomorrow could be the day I finally cracked into Room 46.
Graphics and Visuals
Blue Prince strikes a perfect balance between eerie and cozy. The visual style is clean, minimalistic, and pleasing to the eye. The atmosphere is quiet and almost haunting at times, yet there’s an undeniable comfort to it. It’s a unique visual style that draws you in and makes the experience feel oddly intimate, despite the dark themes lurking beneath the surface.
The art direction contributes significantly to the game’s tone. Each room is designed to give you a sense of isolation, but the overall aesthetic never feels overwhelming. Instead, it manages to capture an oddly calming sense of quiet, making the intense moments of puzzle-solving feel all the more rewarding.
I was disappointed in how little music was utilised however. The small parts of music at the start of the day or occasionally from certain rooms was really strong, but there was so little of it. I really think including more of a score to the game could have added another atmospheric layer.
Longevity
In terms of gameplay length, some players claim the main story can be completed in around 15 hours, I found myself playing for about 30 hours before finally reaching Room 46. This stage felt like a massive milestone, and even though there’s more gameplay to explore after the main story, reaching that point was a huge relief.
The difficulty curve is steep, but it’s part of what makes the game so engaging. There’s something about the challenge that hooks you, every successful run feels like an accomplishment, and every failure teaches you something new. With more to explore beyond the main story, Blue Prince offers plenty of content to keep you coming back for more. I could see myself playing the game again at another stage to see if I can complete it quicker.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of roguelike mechanics and challenging puzzles, Blue Prince should be at the top of your list. Despite its difficulty, the sense of progression and roguelike mechanics make it incredibly addictive. The visuals are striking in their simplicity, and the gameplay offers just the right amount of challenge to keep you engaged. With its mix of mystery, puzzle-solving, and roguelike elements, I think Blue Prince may be a standout contender for game of the year.
The game is not without its flaws, there were a couple of minor bugs, like a box that wouldn’t open, but nothing that severely impacted the experience. Given the active development, I’m confident these issues will be resolved in future patches. And I really would have liked more of a score to the game to add to the atmosphere.
Overall, Blue Prince is a must-play for puzzle enthusiasts and roguelike fans alike. Just be prepared for the difficulty curve, it’s tough, but it’s also what makes the game so rewarding. Highly recommended!
