A Second Chance for Redrock City?
When MindsEye launched in 2025, it was a game that generated a significant amount of excitement. Crafted by Build A Rocket Boy – the studio founded by ex-Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies – it promised a third-person action-adventure set in a futuristic city, complete with driving, shooting, and a cinematic narrative.
However, when the game was initially released in June of that year, the true horror of its state was quickly revealed. Bugs, visual dropouts, and a multitude of other issues haunted the game from day one, severely harming its reputation. It was in such a state that it really shouldn’t have launched, and it reviewed poorly.
The positive takeaway, however, is that the developers didn’t give up; patches have come thick and fast. This review covers MindsEye in 2026, just after the latest patch, which claims to overhaul many of these lingering issues based directly on community feedback. This is our first time playing MindsEye too, skipping it on release for good reason. So let’s see what all the fuss was about.
The Post-Patch Performance Boost
My first impression is that MindsEye is definitely no longer the broken mess it once was. It runs quite smoothly, even if there are still a few jarring moments and minor visual anomalies here and there. For the most part, it is pretty good overall. From the menus, you can dive straight into the main campaign or jump into a series of races, sub-missions, or horde modes, all created via the game’s built-in development tool.
The MindsEye Mystery
The campaign is set in the near future, featuring a world where you can ride in drones like taxis and where robots act as wardens at the local penitentiary. You play as Jacob, an ex-soldier who has come to the city of Redrock after a friend secured him a security job at a high-tech robot factory. Jacob soon finds himself promoted and entangled in a massive cover-up involving the local mayor, a hacker love interest, and an Elon Musk-esque CEO.
Jacob also has an implant behind his ear from his days in the military, known as the “MindsEye”. He wants to find out how he got it and what it truly means. This mystery takes the plot down a strange route involving AI and ancient civilisations, adding another mind-blowing layer to the story. As a narrative, it had me hooked; the game’s triple-A roots are definitely on display when it comes to the story and the presentation of the cutscenes. It is a good tale with great twists and turns, though it does overstay its welcome slightly and suffers from a rather saggy middle section.
Linear Narrative vs Open-World Expectations
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about MindsEye was that it would be an open-world experience akin to GTA. While Redrock is indeed a city, the game is very much a linear adventure. Your progression involves moving from one location to another, completing a specific series of missions, and then moving on. There aren’t really side missions to speak of in the traditional sense, and you cannot freely wander about because, frankly, there isn’t much to see or do outside the main path.
Combat and Traversal
The first element of the gameplay worth discussing is the driving. This mechanic feels very good and is highly reminiscent of GTA. However, you can’t simply break into any car on the street; you only get to drive what is explicitly put in front of you, with the exception of some buggies in the robot factory. You do also get the chance to fly drones through the air. There is sometimes an option to skip your journey from A to B, but I never used it, as driving was easily my favourite part of the gameplay.
The shooting mechanics work well enough, but they aren’t the most exciting. Combat serves its purpose and offers a decent choice of weapons, but by the eight-hour mark, I found myself getting quite bored at the prospect of yet another shootout. There are a few mechanics in the firefights that aren’t as polished as one might like too, and the enemy AI can be a bit predictable. On the plus side, you do have a drone you can switch to that can stun enemies and even turn robots against one another, which is a neat little trick. And then there are also some stealth sections where you need to rely on your little robot buddy, and I actually found these moments quite enjoyable.
Beyond the Campaign
Throughout the game, you will encounter little ‘wormholes’ that transport you to bite-sized side content, such as a race or a shootout. The idea is that this content will continuously evolve and be expanded upon throughout the game’s lifespan. It serves as a nice diversion, though I chose to concentrate primarily on the main campaign for this review.
Visually, the game is impressive at times, particularly during its cutscenes. There are genuine standout moments, such as the inspection of a massive rocket booster and a tense prison break. However, I feel that the city of Redrock and its surrounding desert are a bit bland and lifeless. There are people milling around, but it simply lacks the vibrant, lived-in feeling of other virtual cities in this genre. The combat animations also start to feel quite repetitive after a few hours. That said, the technical performance is now rock solid, as is the voice acting, which remains of a high standard across the cast. I also really liked the sci-fi trance soundtrack, though you shouldn’t go in expecting licensed music on the radio stations.
A Solid Recovery
MindsEye is no longer the broken mess it was when it launched in June of 2025. The developers have clearly worked hard to iron out the bugs and elevate the game to a higher standard. I enjoyed the campaign and much of the core gameplay, even if it felt more like a game from yesteryear rather than a cutting-edge release of today.
There’s no doubt I wanted a bit more from it overall, but at the same time, I had a genuinely good time with its story and pretty graphics. If you were curious but held off, now might finally be the right time to give MindsEye a go.
Important Links
Unplugged and Unleashed: The GTA-like MindsEye Launches on Xbox, PlayStation and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/unplugged-and-unleashed-the-gta-like-mindseye-launches-on-xbox-playstation-and-pc/
MindsEye Update 7 – A Turning Point For Build A Rocket Boy’s Sci-Fi Thriller? – https://www.thexboxhub.com/mindseye-update-7-a-turning-point-for-build-a-rocket-boys-sci-fi-thriller/
MindsEye: A Cinematic Thriller from the Visionary Behind Grand Theft Auto Unveiled | Release Date Confirmed! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/mindseye-a-cinematic-thriller-from-the-visionary-behind-grand-theft-auto-unveiled/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/mindseye/9PJ9WXK3V9FN/0010
Go Deluxe – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/mindseye-deluxe-edition/9P3LPB2X2DT6/0010
