Dethroning Monster Hunter Wilds and Split Fiction, this surprise roguelike has instantly become the best-rated game of the year

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2025 is only halfway through, yet it’s shaping up to be an impressive year for potential Game of the Year nominees with titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Split Fiction in the mix. Surprisingly, a new indie game has suddenly emerged as the front-runner for Game of the Year.

As a devoted admirer, I must confess that I wasn’t entirely convinced by the hype surrounding Blue Prince at first – the creators of Inscryption and Balatro had been lavishing it with praise, and it had made an appearance in several high-profile gaming events. However, I didn’t anticipate the game would garner such extraordinary acclaim, becoming the top-reviewed game of 2025 as we speak. It’s a testament to its quality that it has managed to surpass expectations and capture the hearts of gamers everywhere.

On Metacritic, the puzzle game boasts an exceptional average score of 93, derived from 32 critic reviews, all of which are positive and many of which are exceptionally favorable. This rating surpasses both Split Fiction, the co-op blockbuster, and The Talos Principle Reawakened, the remastered puzzler, which hold an equally impressive average score of 91. Monster Hunter Wilds and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 follow closely behind with scores of 88 on Metacritic.

If you’ve never encountered Blue Prince or aren’t familiar with a ‘roguelike puzzler’, let me explain it in simpler terms. You are tasked with claiming your inheritance from a vast mansion, but there’s a catch – to gain access, you must find the 46th room, yet the mansion only contains 45 rooms! This means you’ll need to explore, uncover hidden mysteries, and collect hints during multiple attempts as the layout of the mansion may vary each time.

GamesRadar’s review of the Blue Prince game echoed excitement, stating that it “distinctively stands out by taking a basic concept and weaving intricate strands of mystery throughout. This exploration-focused roguelike is unlike any other game I’ve played, capturing my attention as a captivating puzzle that held me spellbound throughout numerous playthroughs. Even after finishing the game, the enigmas of Mt. Holly still manage to astonish me.

Blue Prince is out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass.

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2025-04-12 15:39