Get off my lawn... this is my corner of the galaxy...
Mindbug
Designer: Skaff Elias, Richard Garfield, Marvin Hegen, Christian Kudahl
Artist: Denis Martynets
Published: 2022
Players: 2
Playing Time: 15-25 Mins
BGG Rating: 7.8
BGG Ranking: 447
Publisher: Nerdlab Games
Mechanisms: Hand Management, Duel Game, Take That
Sleeves: TCG 63,5x88mm
Game Description:
In Mindbug, you summon hybrid creatures and send them to battle against your opponent — but when you summon a creature, the opponent may use one of their Mindbugs to take control of it. Outwit your opponent in a fascinating tactical duel in which having the best cards and playing them at the wrong time can be deadly for yourself.
Quick play overview:
Each player will draw 5 cards and have another 5 cards as his deck out of the 48 cards.
On your turn you can play any card from your hand OR attack with one creature that you already have on the table.
When you play a card you simply place it on the table in front of you.. no mana requirements or anything, unless the opponent uses 1 of the 2 mindbug cards to steal the just played card and get all the effects of the card.
When you attack with a creature, the opponent has the chance to block with another creature or lose on of the 3 HP with which he starts, unless your creature is Sneaky or causes extra damage.
When 2 creatures clash, the creature with a bigger number will defeat the smaller one, unless the smaller creature is POISONOUS, then both creatures die.
Cards have a variety of effects that activate when a creature is played, it attacks or it's defeated.
The player who brings the opponent to 0 HP, wins the game. It's that simple, unless it's not.
Final thoughts:
The rules are so simple and yet every game is so fun and interesting. Each card played can be mindbugged so you better plan ahead what you want your opponent to steal, or you can push the strong card first and try to trick your opponent into thinking that you have even better cards in your hand.
I was never so surprised by a game, how much can designers pack into such a small box.
SCORE:
Gameplay & How often I want to play it: 10/10
Gameplay is a blast. Quick and yet interesting as every play can be the one that decides the match.
I played this game a lot and I will definitely continue to do so.
Art & Graphic Design: 10/10
Cards are beautiful and pop on the table.
Graphic design is clean and well done. Everything is visible from both sides of the table and once you know the cards, you will recognize the effects of the cards by just looking at the monster.
Rules & Complexity: 10/10
Rules are so simple and yet the game offer so many great decisions.
There is little to no cards that stop the gameplay because they are hard to understand. Everything flows smoothly and it only stops for the hard decisions that players have to take.
Theme & Mechanism fit: 7/10
Different aliens fight for the fun of it? Who knows.. the theme is aliens fighting and mind controlling big and small creatures.
Mechanisms do fit the theme of aliens sending monsters into a fight and also mind controlling them.
Fun & Replayability: 10/10
The game is fun. Really fun. It's fast and furious and yet impresively deep for such a quick game.
There is a ton of combinations as you only play with a part of the available. You should never see a repeated game. Ever.