MindsEye: A 60-Euro Question Mark Wrapped in a Short Demo

The long-awaited MindsEye, developed by Build A Rocket Boy, promised to be a revolution in narrative action games. Released earlier this year in June, the game still commands a premium price tag of €59.99. But does the gameplay justify the cost? A hands-on look at the demo reveals a title that feels caught between two eras—delivering slick cinematics while stumbling over mechanics that feel surprisingly dated for a 2025 release.

Visuals: A Blast from the Past?

Stepping into the world of MindsEye, the first thing that strikes you is the graphical fidelity. Despite running on modern hardware with settings cranked to “Epic,” the game struggles to impress. For a title released in 2025, the visuals feel oddly reminiscent of a previous generation.

This “old” feeling extends to the animation work. Navigating the protagonist through the world reveals a heaviness that doesn’t translate to realism; rather, it feels cumbersome. There is a distinct “cheapness” to the movement when running, lacking the fluidity and weight distribution players have come to expect from triple-A action adventures.

Gunplay and Mechanics: Hard to Pin Down

Combat is the bread and butter of this genre, yet MindsEye serves up a gunfight experience that is best described as “odd.” It isn’t necessarily broken, but it feels poorly managed. There is a lack of feedback or “crunch” that makes shooting satisfying.

Destructibility in the world is present and serviceable—described as just “okay”—but it doesn’t elevate the combat loop enough to distract from the strange gunplay feel. The HUD (Heads-Up Display) follows suit, opting for a basic design that gets the job done but adds little stylistic flair to the experience.

Behind the Wheel: The Watch Dogs 2 Effect

One of the game’s most distinct features is its driving, which evokes strong memories of Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs 2. The vehicle handling is dynamic, offering a fun arcade-like responsiveness initially. However, this enjoyment is fragile.

The physics engine seems to struggle with momentum; oversteer even slightly, and the car enters an aggressive drift that destroys the flow of driving. It’s a jarring shift that makes the vehicle suddenly feel incredibly heavy, fighting against the player rather than working with them. Perhaps the biggest sin for a game featuring high-speed chases is the sensation of speed itself—or the lack thereof. You know you are driving fast because the speedometer says so, but the game fails to communicate that thrill viscerally.

The Silver Lining

It’s not all bad news. MindsEye shines where many expected it would: the cinematography. The cutscenes are smooth, stylish, and hint at the narrative thriller the developers intended to make. These moments of polish stand in stark contrast to the uneven gameplay, suggesting a game that might be better watched than played.

Verdict

The MindsEye demo is a brief taste of a larger, expensive package. While the cinematic flair is undeniable, the core gameplay pillars—shooting, driving, and movement—feel stuck in an identity crisis. With “odd” mechanics and dated visuals, asking players to drop €59.99 feels like a tall order. If the full game doesn’t evolve significantly beyond what this short demo offers, players might be better off waiting for a deep sale.