Kinda Funny Gamescast: Blue Prince Review – April 7, 2025

Hosted by Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and guest Jason Schreier, the April 7, 2025 episode of Kinda Funny Gamescast delves deep into the highly anticipated game Blueprints. This detailed review covers the game's mechanics, narrative depth, player experiences, and offers insightful conclusions about its potential as a game of the year contender.

1. Introduction and Overview

The episode kicks off with Roger McCordy welcoming listeners and introducing guest Jason Schreier, a renowned video game journalist from Bloomberg. The primary focus quickly shifts to Blueprints, an indie game that has been generating significant buzz online, especially after Jason's engaging posts about it.

Roger McCordy [01:15]:

"Blueprints has been in the air. It's an indie game that kind of has been bubbling in the background. And after Jason Schreier's posts... it seems like a game of the year contender. Seems like a game of the generation contender."

2. Gameplay Mechanics

Blueprints is described as a first-person puzzle game with roguelite elements. Players navigate a manor with randomized room layouts, aiming to reach the elusive "Room 46." Each room draft consumes a "step," and running out of steps necessitates restarting, embodying the roguelite structure.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [04:10]:

"When I boot up Blueprints, start playing it a little bit, and immediately it hits you with the premise of you are a kid who is tasked with going into this manor and getting to a certain room... But the twist is... every room you enter is randomized."

Jason elaborates on the complexity of the room drafting system, emphasizing the strategic layer where players must balance immediate objectives with long-term goals.

Jason Schreier [18:44]:

"Think of it as a roguelike, where the progression is through knowledge. The best way to make it through the game is by learning things and understanding things... The more knowledge you have, the quicker it will be, the easier it will be to get through each run."

3. Narrative and Story

A standout feature of Blueprints is its rich, hidden narrative that players unravel through exploration and discovery. Unlike many puzzle games that focus solely on mechanics, Blueprints weaves a deep story involving the manor's history and the protagonist's inheritance quest.

Jason Schreier [10:10]:

"This is one of the best games I've ever played in my life... It's an all-time great. This is like, an all-time great game of the year contender. It's so my shit, and I'm so obsessed with it."

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [11:57]:

"I think the game does a really good job of the more you pick it up, the more it'll give you in terms of trying to figure out what is going on with the thing... It gives you so many different things to pull on, so many different puzzles to solve at the same time."

4. Player Impressions and Experiences

The hosts share their extensive playtimes and personal milestones within the game, highlighting its addictive nature and the continuous discovery that keeps players engaged.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [07:18]:

"This is super tentative because, like, I feel like once I actually beat the game, my score could very much go up. Right now, I'm at a 9 out of 10."

Jason Schreier [48:40]:

"This is one of those types of games. It wouldn't hurt to take off a couple of weeks if you're planning on diving into it. It's just... this game... it's just like a discovery machine."

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Engaging Puzzle Design: The combination of room drafting with first-person exploration creates a unique and immersive puzzle-solving experience.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. [27:30]:

  "The more I play, the more I continue to just pick up new things or see rooms where I'm like, oh, I didn't know that there was this room in the game."

• Deep Narrative Integration: The hidden story elements and the need to piece together lore enhance the overall gameplay.

  Jason Schreier [36:08]:

  "It's as rich as any really great novel. It's a very literary game in a way that I really appreciate."

• Replayability: The roguelite aspects ensure that each playthrough offers new challenges and discoveries.

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: New players might find the combination of randomization and deep narrative overwhelming initially.

  Jason Schreier [38:46]:

  "My only complaint... there's no way to suspend a run. If you have to stop playing, you have to give up on potentially a good run, which is very annoying."

• Limited Save Options: The inability to suspend a game run can be frustrating for players who need to pause unexpectedly.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. [40:20]:

  "I wish there was some way to inform the player that this is a permanent unlock or something."

• Occasional Technical Issues: Some frame drops and stuttering were noted, especially on platforms like Steam Deck, though these are expected to be optimized over time.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. [38:44]:

  "There's some frame drops here and there, but for the most part, it works pretty flawlessly."

6. Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The consensus among the hosts is overwhelmingly positive, with all expressing their deep appreciation and high ratings for Blueprints. They recommend the game to both puzzle enthusiasts and those new to the genre, emphasizing its intricate design and compelling storytelling.

Jason Schreier [47:16]:

"Everybody needs to just play this game. It's really an incredible experience. I've never played anything like it."

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [51:16]:

"Don't look up online guides for this game. This is one where... keep playing or talk to a friend. I think those are the two things that you should do."

Barrett Courtney [51:16]:

"Just give yourself to this game... Dive in when it comes out later this week."

Roger McCordy [52:20]:

"Three days from now. Everybody check it out on Game Pass, also on PS Plus and Steam."

Blueprints emerges from this comprehensive review as a standout title in the gaming landscape of 2025. Its blend of strategic room drafting, rich narrative, and engaging puzzle mechanics sets it apart as a must-play for gamers seeking depth and innovation. Whether you're a seasoned puzzle solver or a curious newcomer, Blueprints promises an unforgettable journey through its enigmatic manor.