Alright, so I’m sitting here thinking about video games and what makes them tick in the world of esports. Naturally, my brain jumps straight to those crazy fast shooters and MOBAs that make your head spin. But then, plot twist, it wasn’t one of those usual suspects grabbing attention. Imagine a puzzle game, yeah, just one person puzzling alone somehow becoming a crowd-pleaser. No kidding, I was way off with my prediction here. This year’s Summer Games Done Quick showed me the light, turning Blue Prince into, believe it or not, a heart-racing spectator sport. How? I’m still wrapping my head around it.
So, picture this—late Monday night, and I’m half asleep (because, who doesn’t love staying up too late?), the annual Games Done Quick event were doing their thing for Doctors Without Borders. You might think, “Oh, they’ll race to Room 46 or something, right?” Nope. Instead, Randringtail and BobbyBurm were tangled up in this “B Quest Bingo” race. What does that even mean, you ask? Yeah, I wondered that too. It’s complicated, but hang in there.
Before the race, both were handed bingo boards. Not your grandma’s bingo, but a grid straight out of Blue Prince. Each space was a quest of sorts—like unlocking gates or snagging room upgrades. They had 90 minutes to dart around, crossing stuff off as they went. The winner? First one to connect two spots on the board—entrance hall to antechamber. Simple? Ha! Not quite.
The whole scene was wild. People were cheering and yelling like it was a sports match and, weirdly, it worked. A lot of thanks to Gelly, whose commentary was like being at a horse derby. Blue Prince is already mind-bending. There’s this whole kit-and-caboodle of strategies: rooms, secrets, resources. And don’t get me started on the randomness. It was like speed chess with a tornado whirling around them. Seriously impressive stuff, like watching art, but with a lot more math and chaos.
You can catch this rollercoaster on Games Done Quick’s YouTube. Be warned, though—it’s packed with spoilers. I ended up learning new tricks for my 100-hour Blue Prince binge. Like, wait, there’s a secret in the entrance hall? Mind officially blown. If nothing else, it reminds you of how mind-bogglingly deep this puzzle roguelike really is.
There it is—my tangled ramble about a game that defies expectations. Who would’ve guessed?
