Dogubomb's puzzle-roguelike, Blue Prince, which was recognized as Polygon's best game of 2025, is now transitioning into a competitive esport. The game, known for its intricate mansion exploration and secrets, will feature a dedicated tournament organized by its developer, offering a substantial $20,000 prize pool.
The Blue Prince Invitational will adopt a bingo-style format, similar to the challenges seen during its debut at Summer Games Done Quick. This format combines the primary objective of reaching the game's antechamber, designated as room 46, with various secondary objectives. Players will need to master specific game mechanics and understand nuanced rules, such as the allowance of prism key warps and the lint roller trick, while prohibitions exist against intentional glitches and closing the game to reset a day.
Two online qualifiers are scheduled for July 12 and July 19. The top four participants from each qualifier will earn a spot in the main tournament, joining eight invited players. Among the invitees is RadRingtail, a competitor featured in the SGDQ 2025 event. BobbyBurm, who hosted the SGDQ race, will serve as the host for this tournament. The competition will feature diverse game modes, including a 5x5 board where the first player to reach 13 wins, and a 7x7 board that awards victory to the player who accomplishes the most goals within one hour.
In addition to the cash prizes, participants and viewers can win in-game keys that unlock exclusive rewards. These prizes include the Blue Prince original soundtrack on vinyl, original concept art, and physical books based on in-game items, complete with inscriptions from Tonda Ros, the game's director. Further details regarding the tournament rules and structure can be found on the official Blue Prince wiki. The latter stages of the tournament, from the top eight onwards, will be streamed on BobbyBurm's Twitch channel on August 8, 9, 15, and 16.