In Blue Prince, unlocking new areas isn’t just about discovery, it’s about strategy. One of the biggest early-game mysteries is the West Gate, a locked fence on the west side of the manor that seems to lead somewhere important. Spoiler: it does.

If you've been pacing the manor grounds wondering how to get past that gate, here's how to actually open it and why it matters.

Finding the West Gate

Every run begins in the same place: Simon stands inside the manor’s entrance. While it’s tempting to start drafting rooms right away, you can always head outside instead. Walk out through the front doors and explore the courtyard. Turn right, and you’ll spot the West Gate, a locked metal fence with the forest visible on the other side. You can’t open it from this side, but there’s a way around.

The Setup: What You Need

Opening the West Gate isn’t about keys or brute force. You’ll need to draft two specific rooms to trigger the sequence that lets you open it from the opposite side:

• Garage – Can only be drafted in the manor’s west wing (far left on the grid) and requires one Gem.
• Utility Room – A small, dead-end room you can place anywhere on the grid. Its only job is to supply power.

These two rooms don't need to be connected, but both must exist in the same run.

Getting Outside

Once both rooms are in place, power becomes the focus. Head to the Utility Room, interact with the breaker, and enable power for the Garage. If you've done this correctly, the control panel inside the Garage will now be active. Hit the button near the Garage entrance, and the Garage Door will open, letting you step outside into the back courtyard. Grab the three keys that spawn inside the Garage before you leave, they’ll be useful later.

Now that you're outdoors, head south. You’ll find a wooden plank bridging a stream. Cross it. On the other side, the path splits. Going right takes you to the Grounds, a special area for drafting Outdoor Rooms. But if your goal is to unlock the West Gate, take the left path instead.

Keep walking and you’ll eventually reach the other side of the locked gate. This is where the real unlock happens.

Unlocking the West Gate 

Once you're standing behind the West Gate, simply interact with the lock. The gate will swing open and stay open permanently from that point on. Every future run will start with the West Gate unlocked, giving you direct access to the outdoor areas from the front courtyard. There’s one catch: the wooden bridge you crossed earlier won’t appear again unless you open the Garage Door in that run. But with the West Gate open, you won’t need it.

Why It Matters

Opening the West Gate gives you access to Outdoor Rooms, unique additions that can’t be found inside the manor. These include:

• Toolshed - Grants several free special items.
• Shelter - Neutralizes the effects of Red Rooms.
• Trader Outpost, Root Cellar, and others - all with their own strategic value.

The earlier you can access these rooms, the more options you’ll have for building strong runs.

Opening the West Gate is more than a side objective,  it’s a major step forward in mastering Blue Prince. It requires some planning and resource management, but the long-term reward is worth the setup. Once it’s open, you’ll have faster access to some of the most valuable resources in the game. Don’t ignore the gate. Plan for it early, and the manor will start to feel a lot less claustrophobic.