It's certainly no surprise that Grand Theft Auto 6 is on many people's minds as the natural fit for 2025 Game of the Year, even though it hasn't been released yet. The high levels of excitement and anticipation for the latest in this popular series are setting expectations high, and so far the trailers have left little doubt that it will be an incredible game. Even as other massive titles are seeing good reviews at their launches, there is still the undercurrent of expectation that GTA 6 will be the game to blow everyone away this year.

However, as the community is anxiously awaiting more details and marketing for GTA 6, one game was released earlier this week that, surprisingly, might have what it takes to compete for that coveted Game of the Year award. Recent years have shown that indie developers have a way of sneaking under everyone's radar with impressive and thought-provoking games, which is exactly what developer Dogubomb just did with their first game release, Blue Prince. While it certainly comes from a different style and genre than GTA 6, it is already receiving strong reviews and capturing the attention of many.

Indie Roguelike Puzzle Game Blue Prince Is Starting Strong

Masterfully Crafted And Seeing A Lot Of Hype

Blue Prince is a roguelike puzzle experience, filled with mysteries requiring critical thinking skills and careful attention to detail. Players take on the role of Simon, who has just inherited the Mt. Holly estate. The only catch is that in order to receive the inheritance, Simon must find the rumored 46th room of the 45-room estate. Adding to the challenge is the fact that rooms don't seem to stay in one place here. Each day, as Simon comes to the doors in Mt. Holly, players decide which rooms will appear behind the doors based on possible room drafts.

Clues must be discovered and patience used as players slowly become better at getting through the building each day. The more time a player spends with the game, the more they come to realize the true depth of the experience and the genius behind all of its connecting clues.

Despite not having much notoriety prior to its release on April 10, 2025, buzz about this intriguing puzzle quickly began circulating on social media. Because Blue Prince offers unique gameplay and truly impressive details in everything from artistry to the clever machinations of each varied puzzle, talk has already spread about awards it could find itself in line for. As part of both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game subscription services, it is easy to find for many players looking to try out the game for themselves.

Indie Games Like Blue Prince May Stand A Better Chance

AAA Games Like Monster Hunter Wilds Could Suffer From Comparison

Recent years have proven that indie games have a knack for stealing the show through their use of off-beat, unique game mechanics and the way they approach games that can be incredibly different from what is often seen in AAA developer titles. Monster Hunter Wilds has proven itself to be a great game, but isn't likely to have enough of the special magic that it needs to beat out a game like GTA 6 at The Game Awards. Other strong contenders include Ghost of Yotei, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and many other large titles.

Of course, the year is still young, and the list of Game of the Year contenders will naturally shift and evolve with more launches and announcements. These big AAA games often have a lot of hype behind them, and budgets to go along with it, but aren't always as prone to pushing the limits of their creative approaches. Yet, the surprise critical acclaim and wide interest that Blue Prince has garnered might just be enough to stand up to GTA 6, and is due in large part to its unique style and gameplay.

Past Years Have Shown That Indie Games Are Not To Be Ignored

Meanwhile GTA 6 Stands Against A Mountain Of Expectations

Though often large-developer games such as GTA 6 are the first to come to mind when considering the big games of the year, recently there have been many indie titles which have broken through to get GOTY nominations as well as many other awards. In 2021, It Takes Two won the prestigious honor of being Game of the Year. In 2024, though it did not win GOTY, Balatro took home several awards from The Game Awards and top honors in several other award ceremonies. Vampire Survivors received awards in 2023, and several other indie developers have been recognized over the years.

Indie games certainly need to have an extra quality to them in order to stand up against big-budget competition, but they shouldn't be overlooked for the creativity they bring to the table. In fact, while Blue Prince entered the market with little expectation, GTA 6 may find itself suffering from the very fact that so much is anticipated for it. After many have waited for six years for GTA 6 to be released, the conjectures in peoples' minds may have become overinflated. Similarly, even if GTA 6 delivers on every promise, it could still find itself undervalued due to the wait.

Blue Prince Is Already A Game Worthy Of Attention, Whether GOTY Or Not

Currently Holding The Best Metascore Of 2025

The Game Awards are still a long way off, and many more games will be entering the ring in the coming months. Whether Blue Prince ends up winning GOTY or is not even recognized, that doesn't diminish the fact that it is a game worth people taking a look at. In addition to being talked about on social media a lot, Blue Prince has become the best-reviewed game of 2025 according to Metacritic so far, reaching a Metascore of 93 in the first few days following its launch and a general "universal acclaim" title.

Numerous streamers have been playing the game for their audiences, and people are enjoying working together to solve the difficult puzzles. It stands out as a creative game with stunning artwork and high attention to every detail. The puzzles wind their way across several rooms and days, with players needing to truly work their minds to unravel the mysteries that are presented. Though it can be overwhelming at first, particularly to anyone who is not used to playing games with puzzle mechanics, it also features a calm aspect with no time limits or jump scares.

This certainly is a vastly different experience than what players will enjoy in GTA 6 when it releases, yet that doesn't mean it should be valued less. Blue Prince may have come as a surprise to many, but the quality of experience that it offers certainly puts it in a category worthy of challenging even Grand Theft Auto 6.

Source: Metacritic