MindsEye Video Game Review: 5 Red Flags That Signal a Triple-A Disaster in the Making

MindsEye, an action-adventure thriller slated for release on June 10, 2025, has been pitched as a groundbreaking experience from Build A Rocket Boy, led by former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies. Promising “best-in-class cinematics, high-octane driving, and explosive combat” in a near-futuristic Americana, the game follows Jacob Diaz, a former soldier with a mysterious neural implant, navigating a world of AI threats and corporate espionage. Sounds thrilling, right? Don’t hold your breath. Beneath the glossy trailers and lofty promises lies a project riddled with red flags—technical issues, opaque development, and a suspicious marketing strategy that reeks of hype over substance. This essay dissects five reasons why MindsEye shouldn’t be trusted, casting a skeptical eye on its claims and warning gamers to approach with caution.

MindsEye’s development history is a mess, and that’s putting it politely. Originally announced as part of Build A Rocket Boy’s Everywhere platform—a nebulous “user-generated content” ecosystem—the game was pivoted mid-development into a standalone title. Posts on X from early June 2025 reveal that MindsEye is less a cohesive game and more a “proof of concept” for the Everywhere engine, a tech demo masquerading as a premium product. This shift reeks of a studio unsure of its vision, cobbling together a game to justify an engine rather than crafting a focused experience. Reports of significant technical issues, including flickering visuals, stutters, and lackluster animations, surfaced in previews just weeks before launch. Early copies sent to select reviewers were allegedly a “broken mess,” with two top executives bailing before release—a classic sign of a sinking ship. For a game helmed by Benzies, whose GTA pedigree should inspire confidence, this chaos suggests either mismanagement or a cynical cash grab.

If a game is truly great, why hide it? MindsEye’s marketing has been suspiciously cagey, with Build A Rocket Boy tightly controlling access. The first proper gameplay trailer dropped on May 27, 2025, a mere two weeks before release—a bizarre move for a title supposedly ready to ship. Previews were limited, with reports of the studio refusing review codes to most outlets and creators, opting for curated sessions where cheats were allegedly used to mask flaws. This secrecy screams damage control, as if the developers know the game can’t withstand scrutiny. Compare this to Elden Ring, which offered extensive previews to build trust. MindsEye’s approach feels like a used-car salesman hiding the rust under a fresh coat of paint, banking on pre-order hype rather than transparency. A 2025 X post called it a “scam” disguised as a platform for future minigames, further eroding confidence.

MindsEye’s gameplay, as shown in its trailer, looks like a generic mishmash of third-person shooter tropes—think Cyberpunk 2077 without the polish or soul. Critics on X have slammed its “stiff” driving mechanics and uninspired shooting, with one likening it to “a fake video game in a TV show.” The inclusion of a CPR rhythm minigame feels like a gimmick, not innovation, evoking the kind of throwaway mechanics you’d find in a budget title. The studio’s bold claim that MindsEye is a “home of infinite entertainment” hinges on user-generated content, a promise that sounds exciting until you realize it’s a hollow buzzword. Games like Roblox or Minecraft thrive on community creativity because they provide robust tools and clear frameworks; MindsEye’s vague roadmap of “special collaborations” and “more missions” feels like a desperate bid to offload development to players. Without a strong core game, this vision collapses, leaving buyers with a half-baked product and empty promises.

The story of MindsEye—a former soldier with memory loss, uncovering a conspiracy—sounds like a recycled sci-fi trope, lacking the originality of, say, Elden Ring’s mythic lore. The trailer’s “best-in-class cinematics” are visually impressive but feel like a distraction from the gameplay’s shortcomings. Cutscenes may dazzle, but if the core experience is lackluster, they’re just lipstick on a pig. The narrative’s reliance on a neural implant and AI threats feels like a lazy grab at Cyberpunk’s aesthetic without the depth, with Jacob Diaz coming off as a generic action hero rather than a compelling protagonist. Fans on X have mocked it as “GTA 2077” or “Cyberpunk at home,” highlighting its derivative vibe. A game banking on cinematic flair to mask weak mechanics is a classic bait-and-switch, and MindsEye’s refusal to show substantial gameplay only fuels skepticism.

MindsEye arrives in an era where gamers are increasingly cynical about AAA releases, and for good reason. The PS3/360 era, with its dodgy DLC practices and buggy launches, taught players to distrust overhyping developers. Recent flops like Anthem and Starfield (pre-patched) showed that even big names can fumble, and MindsEye’s red flags—technical issues, executive exits, and limited previews—fit this pattern. Build A Rocket Boy’s insistence that negative feedback comes from “paid spam bots” is a laughable deflection, echoing the defensiveness of studios caught cutting corners. The industry’s shift toward microtransactions and incomplete launches makes MindsEye’s “platform” pitch—a game reliant on future updates and user content—feel like a trap to nickel-and-dime players. Trust is earned through transparency and quality, and MindsEye offers neither.

MindsEye might want to be the next GTA or Cyberpunk, but its troubled development, secretive marketing, generic gameplay, derivative story, and reliance on industry hype tactics make it a risky bet. Leslie Benzies’ involvement is a draw, but even his track record can’t salvage a project that feels like a tech demo dressed up as a blockbuster. Gamers deserve better than a buggy, half-formed experience sold on promises of “infinite entertainment.” With reviews embargoed and previews painting a grim picture, the smart move is to wait—let others brave the launch and see if MindsEye delivers or crashes like so many overhyped titles before it. In a world where trust in game developers is already thin, MindsEye gives every reason to keep your wallet closed and your skepticism high.