Blue Prince

The Blue Prince isn't for everyone. While most of the puzzles can be solved with whatever's in the room, there are some intricate solutions afoot that could elude casual players. The mansion's shifting layout and unpredictable room choices can make progress uneven -- or even bring it to a halt if luck isn't on your side. But it's by far one of the most unique games I've played in years, and a true treat for puzzle fiends and mystery fans.

A mystery-packed mansion that will crank open your mind.

If you hadn't gotten the message by now, Blue Prince is a marvel. [RPS Bestest Bests]

I’ll be 100 percent honest and say that it’s not a game I’m especially jazzed to play. (And while I’m drawing parallels, I’ll note that Lorelei had this same irritation baked into it: Intrusions meant to break up the puzzles, except I really like the puzzles, guys, I swear.) The key breaking point came the last time I stumbled onto some clue that gave context to a different puzzle in a different room of the house—and the broken sigh I let out when I realized the game would force me to jump through its various hoops before letting me test that newfound knowledge out. I know I’ll revisit the game at some point, crack back open that insane and rambling email draft, and start teasing out new mysteries again. But I also know I won’t be able to stop myself from asking: Dang, what if this was just the parts of the video game that I liked?

There is a story in Blue Prince but from what I’ve seen so far, it has little bearing on the puzzles and isn’t all that interesting. There’s a mystery involving members of your family’s political leanings, a missing author, and a disgruntled employee, but I’m so hungry to figure out how to open the door to the basement that I don’t pay it much mind. I’m about 27 hours in, which feels pretty hefty for a puzzle game. And I feel with all that I’ve uncovered and all I think I have left to uncover, I could go 30 hours more and it would pass in the blink of an eye.