I had the chance to play Mindseye three days before its official release, and while the initial promise of the game seemed exciting, it ultimately falls short in several key areas. At first glance, the game evokes comparisons to titles like GTA or Saints Row, with a similar aesthetic and setup. However, the gameplay struggles to live up to that expectation.
The game world initially appears expansive, but this sense of scale is quickly undermined by the lack of a proper in-game map – players are left relying solely on a minimap. This omission makes exploration feel restricted and renders the larger world largely irrelevant. The minimap itself functions adequately for basic tasks like driving or scanning for nearby enemies, who briefly appear highlighted after a scan, but it fails to support meaningful or immersive navigation.
Gameplay is frustratingly linear, moving from one cutscene to the next with little room to deviate or explore. The experience is dominated by driving and shooting, offering limited variety. Adding to the frustration is the fact that cutscenes are unskippable, forcing players to sit through story beats whether they’re engaged or not. With no side missions, collectibles, or additional content to discover, the game lacks the depth and freedom that could have made it compelling.
The only break from this monotony comes in the form of challenge missions, which task players with objectives like rescuing hostages or preventing thieves from escaping. These missions, accessible through the in-game menu, provide brief diversions but fail to overcome the game’s overall repetitiveness. Occasionally, players must complete mandatory minigames, such as performing CPR or using a drone to locate objects. These sequences, while adding some variation, cannot be skipped – so if you get stuck, you’re left with no way to progress.
The driving mechanics, though reminiscent of GTA or Saints Row, are restricted to shuttling between predetermined destinations. With no world map available, fast travel isn’t an option, forcing players to drive long distances while enduring complaints from story characters about the delays. The absence of a map or the freedom to chart your own course turns driving into a monotonous task rather than an opportunity for exploration. This rigid, story-focused design diminishes the sense of scale and makes the world feel smaller and less immersive.
Combat fares no better, offering simplistic and repetitive encounters that lack depth or nuance. Battles often devolve into defeating waves of enemies to progress, with predictable AI that always knows your location, ruling out any chance of creative strategies like flanking. The small selection of weapons further adds to the sense of monotony. The combat feels more akin to an old arcade game than a modern, immersive experience.
Ultimately, Mindseye feels like a missed opportunity. Although I didn’t have high expectations going in, the game still failed to justify its full release price. In hindsight, waiting for a significant discount would have been the wiser choice. Repetitive, overly restrictive, and lacking in engaging content, Mindseye is a disappointment that struggles to leave a lasting impression.
Mindseye
Release: June 10, 2025
Developer: Build A Rocked Boy
Publisher: IO Interactive Partners A/S
Official Website: mindseye.game