Peaky Blinders: Mastermind Reviews
A few issues aside, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a celebration of the TV sensation that translates much of what is loved about the show into tangible game play systems. The last third of this game is a brilliant showcase of the time manipulation mechanics and puzzle depth that can really push the player and offers oodles of tension. It’s simply a shame that it takes two thirds the game for that to be realised and for it to end so soon after it begins.
Developer FuturLabs has been quoted often about their choice to use the puzzle genre for the Peaky Blinders foray into the gaming world. Many soundbite worthy quotes about it being linked to Tommy Shelby’s mind and the way in which he can see the perfect plan unfold do make sense. However I can’t help but feel that with a bigger budget, this puzzle based element would have merely been one part of a much larger game world. Perhaps more in the vein of Mafia 3 with the added time manipulation on offer here in Mastermind. However, I should point out that FuturLab has done a good job with the limited resources on hand, it is just a shame we couldn’t have played around inside the Peaky Blinder world with a little more depth.
It’s abundantly clear that James Marsden and the team at Futurlab put a lot of love into developing Peaky Blinders: Mastermind. Not only is it a fun game that gets satisfyingly more challenging the closer you get to the end, but it also shows great respect for its source material, hitting all the right story beats for a Peaky Blinders tale.
Although the game is far from perfect, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is the title Peaky Blinders fans have been waiting for. While the rather disappointing campaign length and slightly underwhelming form of storytelling may leave players desiring more, the expertly designed puzzles offer a satisfying time manipulation system that few games ever master. We just crave more.
While I’m glad that some publishers are still keeping the licensed title flame alive (an Achilles’ heel of mine), a source of inspiration like Peaky Blinders deserved a much better product than what we ended up getting.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind’s puzzle-solving is intuitive and clever, whilst it manages to capture the vibe of the TV series perfectly – even if it is lacking voice acting and the iconic theme music. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t have a whole lot of depth, with the puzzles themselves only offering one real solution and lacking any real replayability after you’ve beat them once. Still, that initial playthrough is thrilling and you’ll feel as clever as Tommy Shelby when a plan plays out perfectly. Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is one of the better TV show adaptations out there and fans of the series will certainly enjoy the puzzling-action that the team at FuturLab have whipped up.
GOOD - Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a good puzzle game with some cool time travel elements. If you’re a fan of the show, you can easily give it a half point extra for that since you’ll understand the characters and who they represent. For a non-fan, this game is still a solid puzzle experience and a good amount of fun.
Although it’s not the longest or most immersive game out there, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a brilliant mix of puzzles, strategy and time-manipulation which will keep you hooked for hours. Taking control of each individual then swapping so that you can work in conjunction with your past self is very creative and the whole process works seamlessly. The lack of voices is a shame, as it loses some immersion due to this, but I enjoyed the narrative and dialogue, it held the game together nicely and linked all ten levels into one long story. As far as TV show tie-ins go, this is one of the best I’ve played for a while and will be enjoyed by puzzle and strategy fans whether you’ve actually seen the show or not.
If you’re a big Peaky Blinders fan and need to know what happens, then this will be an essential purchase for you. However, as someone who had no prior interest, this didn’t really click. As a game, it is a passable entry into the puzzle genre, but the license didn’t do much to add to the experience. You’ll probably know early on if this is the title for you.
When Peaky Blinders: Mastermind was first announced it didn't feel like a good idea but after some presentation, it started to look like a good idea. At the end it seems like the developers achieved what they set out to do but the shallow level design and elementary story telling stopped it from amounting to much.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind surprised us with a very satisfying and well-thought-out "time rewind/record" mechanism that makes us feel like a real gang mastermind like Tommy Shelby was, perfectly orchestrating and timing all our companions actions. Some controls might have been better refined, but it's definitely a game to try, even for people who never watched the TV series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is an interesting puzzle game, whose well-matched mechanics offer a very welcome experience to the genre. Even for those who don't know the series, it's a title worth checking out.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I can Peaky Blinders: Mastermind featuring in the upcoming end of year Christmas sales and this would be the best time to pick this up simply because of the very ‘one and done’ feel once you know how to complete the levels. But as a puzzle game, this certainly has enough clever elements to offer a fun experience particularly if you know the show and just as a puzzle game it works well. It just needed more substance to the earlier levels and the story to really make it stand out more and perhaps if there will be DLC or a sequel, they can focus on that and perhaps storylines from the seasons to help give the game the punch this sadly lacks.
It’s the Year of Our Lord 1919, and things are changing around the industrial backstreets of Birmingham. The streets of Small Heath are about to run red with blood, sweat, and tears. The Shelby family means business, and they are gonna take what they want. Remember “This place is under new management, by order of the Peaky Blinders”.
This puzle adventure puts you in the shoes of the cast of the series to solve a bunch of challenges. It’s presentation is limited and it feels kind of repetitive having just one way to solve it’s challenges.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While I've heard of the series I've never seen Peaky Blinders, and in general it seems like a curious choice for a license since I know maybe only one or two people familiar with it...
In truth, I probably had high expectations, as did most fans of the show. I was expecting maybe more action scenes, bigger maps or more sophistication and variety in mission completion. Unfortunately, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind didn't deliver anything I was looking forward to. So the only positives for me are the enjoyable play with time and being set in the world of Peaky Blinders. Honestly, if you want a quality RTS in a similar style, reach for Desperados 3 instead - you'll definitely get more fun.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Even with its clever premise, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind's campaign doesn't feel all that consequential yet it remains somewhat enjoyable.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind's gorgeous aesthetic and solid puzzling are no match for its lack of depth, emotion, and substance.
The gameplay itself is inventive, engrossing and rewarding. It’s a great feeling to reach the end of a mission having carefully planned each character’s route and actions, watching them all play out like clockwork.