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Mindcop

Mindcop is an innovative detective experience with a killer style and well thought-out mystery. It blends non-linear gameplay with real-time puzzles and detective game aspects that fit pretty well together. This is due in part to time being at the forefront of every little action you make, from checking what’s in a bin to uncovering someone’s secrets, every minute counts which creates a tantalizing mystery to sink your teeth into. The game is gorgeous and quirky in its unique style and boasts a cast of fun yet troubled characters. However, Mindcop stumbles in how overwhelming it can be at times, penalising your mistakes and lacking just enough direction so you’re often running around like a headless chicken.
Mindcop Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, atmosphere
94% User Score Based on 178 reviews
Critic Score 90%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Steam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Mindcop Game Cover

About

Mindcop is a single player action game. It was developed by Andre Gareis and was released on November 14, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Mindcop is a single-player adventure game where you have 5 days to solve a murder mystery in Merrylin Crater Camp. Use your unique Mindcop abilities to explore suspects’ thoughts through real-time puzzle gameplay, make strategic time-based choices, and uncover hidden truths in a non-linear whodunnit with spectacular graphics, an excellent soundtrack, and a hilarious twist.

Play Modes
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 178 reviews
story25 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • Excellent writing and engaging characters that create a rich narrative experience.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics, including the time management and mindsurfing elements, add depth to the investigation process.
  • Stylish art direction and a captivating soundtrack enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The strict time limit can feel punishing, making exploration and thorough investigation difficult.
  • Some players may find the mindsurfing mini-game tedious and not well integrated into the overall gameplay.
  • Replayability is hindered by the need to rediscover all clues and dialogue, which can be frustrating after completing the game.
  • story
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a captivating blend of mystery and character depth, engaging players with its intriguing plot twists and well-rounded characters. While many players appreciate the rich narrative and the challenge of piecing together clues, some express frustration with the time constraints that can hinder full comprehension of the story on a single playthrough. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its humor, emotional weight, and the immersive experience it provides, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The story had me hooked from the start, full of intrigue and clever twists.”
    • “The story is rich, deep, and engaging!”
    • “Incredible game with rich storytelling, interesting characters, beautiful graphics, and engaging gameplay!”
    • “I was able to figure out the major points of the mystery on my playthrough, but due to the in-game time limit, I was left with a bunch of gaps in my understanding of the characters and story that I won't be able to fill without a second or even third playthrough.”
    • “The mystery that drives the story (and thus gameplay) is too basic for that, but its simplicity is required due to the game's design since you aren't going to find every clue on a blind playthrough.”
    • “After completing the game, you can revisit any day during the story to see things you may have missed, but the time management aspect still felt poorly implemented.”
  • gameplay
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mix of engaging detective mechanics and unique features like mindsurfing, which adds depth to the investigation experience. While some players appreciate the innovative elements and the charming art style, others find the time limit mechanic restrictive and the mystery too simplistic. Overall, the game offers a fun and immersive experience, though its mechanics may not resonate with everyone.

    • “Mindcop is a brilliant blend of engaging gameplay, clever mechanics, and immersive storytelling.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, and I really like the characters and the worldbuilding.”
    • “Its innovative gameplay, paired with a visually stunning, hand-drawn aesthetic and noir themes, delivers an experience as memorable as it is engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is basically, 'whose memory am I breaking into today?' Some are messy, some are terrifying, and one guy just really loved cats (you’ll see).”
    • “I thought the game had a really interesting premise, but honestly, what ruined it for me was the time mechanic and how tedious the mind surf puzzle became.”
    • “I felt the time mechanic was too restrictive and had way too many things dotted around purely just to waste your time.”
  • graphics
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and charming art style, which combines elements of cartoon-noir aesthetics with detailed animations. Reviewers appreciate the polished visuals and how they enhance the storytelling and gameplay experience, creating an engaging atmosphere that complements the game's mature themes and humor. Overall, the graphics are described as visually stunning and meticulously crafted, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The art style is fantastic, every screen feels like it’s been crafted with care and personality.”
    • “Incredible game with rich storytelling, interesting characters, beautiful graphics, and engaging gameplay!”
    • “Its innovative gameplay, paired with a visually stunning, hand-drawn aesthetic and noir themes, delivers an experience as memorable as it is engaging.”
    • “The graphics are underwhelming and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
    • “The visuals feel outdated and do not match the quality of the gameplay.”
    • “The art style is inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
  • music
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere, featuring a mix of ambient tracks and energetic pieces that complement both investigative and action scenes. Reviewers praised the catchy soundtrack, jazz influences, and overall immersive sound design, noting how it harmonizes with the game's art style and narrative. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, engaging, and a standout element that significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is wonderful as well, with great low-key tracks that accompany your investigation, alongside amazing high-energy tracks that play during more action-focused moments.”
    • “The sleek visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly set the tone for solving thrilling cases.”
    • “The music is beautiful and relaxing, and the overall vibe and art direction are simply gorgeous.”
    • “The art and soundtrack similarly complimented the rest of the game, despite their apparent simplicity.”
    • “Surprisingly catchy soundtrack!”
    • “The visuals, music, neo-noir climate, gritty humor here and there - everything is just on point and in perfect harmony.”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, blending light-hearted moments with darker themes. Players appreciate the balance between offbeat humor and serious topics, creating a unique experience that enhances the detective narrative. While some dialogue may not resonate with everyone, the overall comedic tone contributes significantly to the game's charm and entertainment value.

    • “This game is so hilariously well written I bought it within 5 seconds of trying the demo.”
    • “[b] Clever, funny, and philosophical—a whodunit adventure that'll keep you hooked.”
    • “Its humorous and grim undertones are balanced by clever writing and simple, but engaging mechanics that help to sell the story of being a cop able to read people's minds, or as the game calls it, mindsurf.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its non-linear structure and the necessity to prioritize investigations, ensuring players will miss information on their first playthrough. Many reviewers noted the urge to replay the game to uncover secrets, try different approaches, and optimize their paths, making it a compelling experience despite its brevity. Overall, players found the combination of clever mechanics and narrative choices to provide a rich replay value.

    • “You can't just mindlessly investigate everything and you really have to pick and choose your priorities, making its replay value great as well, as you will 100% miss a chunk of info on the first play-through.”
    • “The game is non-linear, and offers replayability - even when you're lucky and find a killer in the first run you'll feel the urge to start a new game right away, either to uncover more secrets of this not so innocent town, or to try a different approach with its inhabitants.”
    • “It adds a bit of replayability, but I got the gist of the story by catching the killer, so I was not interested in playing it again just to get some details I missed.”
    • “Even with its brevity, every moment is brimming with clever mechanics, thoughtful design, and compelling narrative choices that invite replayability.”
    • “It has some replayability achievements-wise and to get to know how everything else pieces together.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its atmospheric and creative approach to the detective genre, featuring a pseudo-monochrome color palette that enhances its mysterious and unnerving tone. The combination of sleek visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack effectively immerses players in the story, creating a compelling environment that balances tension with comedic undertones. Overall, the game successfully captivates players, making it easy to become engrossed in both the narrative and its eerie ambiance.

    • “The sleek visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly set the tone for solving thrilling cases.”
    • “The dev did a great job creating an eerie atmosphere :)”
    • “I absolutely love the pseudo-monochrome color palette that is used here, establishing an unnerving, mysterious atmosphere.”
    • “It's very easy to get lost in both the story and the atmosphere.”
    • “Really liked the story, the pressuring atmosphere to catch the killer before they get away with it and the comedic undertone the main characters have.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have praised the game for its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from heartwarming moments to unsettling experiences tied to trauma. The combination of beautiful music, well-written characters, and impactful voice acting enhances the emotional depth, making the gameplay feel urgent and meaningful. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling experience that resonates deeply with players, particularly those who enjoy the detective genre.

    • “This was an amazing experience, a very bizarre concept, but it made me feel all types of emotions, both good and bad, while giving me a satisfactory ending.”
    • “The music was beautiful and emotional, the characters were well written, and the voice acting was well done.”
    • “This ranges from heartwarming and sweet memories to half-truths that may or may not hold answers, to downright unsettling nightmares stemming from severe trauma.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the slow pacing and repetitive mind surf puzzles, which detract from the overall experience and discourage replayability. The time mechanic and the necessity to revisit dialogue further contribute to the frustration.

    • “At the same time, the slow pacing of the game makes replaying it feel very tedious, so I don't see myself revisiting the game any time soon.”
    • “I thought the game had a really interesting premise, but honestly, what ruined it for me was the time mechanic and how tedious the mind surf puzzle became.”
    • “I understand why this isn't a feature, but it was a bit tedious having to go through every mind surf again and all the dialogue.”
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7h Median play time
6h Average play time
5-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Mindcop is a action game.

Mindcop is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Mindcop.

Mindcop was released on November 14, 2024.

Mindcop was developed by Andre Gareis.

Mindcop has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Mindcop is a single player game.

Similar games include A Case of Distrust, Paradise Killer, Lacuna, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, Chicken Police – Paint it RED! and others.