A post on Bluesky from the developers of Blue Prince made me realize today, November 7th, is the day that their game begins.

I started playing Blue Prince a while back and found myself obsessed with it. I haven't opened it again in a few months, but I did play some hundreds of hours before uninstalling; I'm familiar with the mechanics and mysteries.

There are some quirks to the way I play video games overall.

For instance, I virtually never watch cut scenes or play lore. Yes, it does mean I get confused sometimes. But I consider video games to largely be fidgets that keep half my brain occupied while the other half is doing something else (usually watching TV).

I don't play things with an intention of finishing them, either. I love restarting games from the beginning. They tend to be simpler at the start, which makes them better fidgets.

Finally, I cheat a lot--if you consider looking up answers online to be cheating.

Where's the fun in fidgeting when you have to think about something?

Blue Prince is a difficult game, and I've never been inclined toward doing puzzles. I ragequit so quickly. I have always played with the Wiki open, or my genius 12yo telling me how to do things in it. He gave me loads of tips starting out, like how to get into the orchard.

So I've played a lot of Blue Prince, but I haven't...played Blue Prince?

The Rules of Engagement

My memory is dreadful. I used to be so sharp, but I found this to be a burden, and I started using cannabis to excess in my late twenties partially to numb down my brain a bit. I don't know if my failing memory is from slamming cannabis (although I seldom use it now) or a natural consequence of age and perimenopause.

Either way, I have forgotten many things in the few months since I last played Blue Prince.

I've decided to see this as an opportunity to properly play the game.

My rules are thus:

  1. 1.

    I won't look up anything on any wiki.

  2. 2.

    If my genius 12yo comes around, he is allowed to give me tips and codes again. I can hardly stop him. I won't stress about it.

  3. 3.

    I'm allowed to utilize anything I actually remember on my own.

  4. 4.

    I will not treat it as a fidget: I will watch cut scenes, read lore, and keep the TV off for the duration of the day.

  5. 5.

    Even if I don't feel like sharing a whole post, I will try to post my Blueprint for the manor on any given day.

  6. 6.

    If I miss any days, I can catch up.

  7. 7.

    It ends when I forget about it or when I get tired at a natural break point (like reaching the throne room).

The Fallibility of Memory

It turns out I've forgotten most of the codes. I remember the one in the boudoir, but not the ones in the office or the orchard.

There are also a lot of little details I don't remember. I'm not sure I've actually noticed much of this.

I am just this side of clueless.

That's kind of fun, right?

There will be lots of spoilers in these posts, but incompletely so. It's not a guide. I expect you've played the game before so you won't really care, and I don't need to explain very much.

Let us embark.

Notes on exploring

  • Since I reached the office for the first time, I found an upgrade disk, this one for the closet. One of the offerings takes everything out of the closet unless it's drafted from a Red Room, whereafter you receive four items. I am tempted to do a red run, but I already know that will just frustrate me. Instead, I've taken it as a hallway closet. I always do that.

  • Although I was initially stymied by a keycard door on the third rank (which feels unfairly early on day one), drafting the guest bedroom gave me a keycard.

  • They served fish in the dining room. I don't think I have the aquarium yet? I can't remember if you have to find the blueprint for that one.

  • I got page 8 of the sheet music in the workshop. I have never paid any attention to the sheet music before--or the stone slab with a letter on it. Is that always a G?

  • The billiard room math is my favorite in the early game. I didn't need to puzzle it out again.

  • I drew the garage, but couldn't take it. No gems. It's a shame because I did turn the power on at the breaker. I do not have the shed area.

  • The den didn't have a chest in it. I thought it always had a chest in it. Clearly this is not the case.

  • In the office, I requested a delivery of a magnifying glass. I'll need to scrutinize things I've always overlooked in the past.

  • A letter from my father (who seems affectionate) warns me not to play too much Dirigiblocks. What the heck is Dirigiblocks? Did I ever actually play this game?

The Blueprint for my map on Day One. I got many items and added one gold to my allowance.
The end-of-day graphic showing that I made a Corporate Manor thanks to the conference room, office, and mail room.

It's not a bad run on day one. I left a few pieces of gold in the chapel and none in the fountain, but at least I got to 1g on my allowance.

See you tomorrow.