Peaky Blinders: Mastermind

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 127 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind Game Cover
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind has some clever mechanics that highlight the meticulous planning Tommy Shelby is capable of, all whilst providing an interesting story and plenty of variety in character actions.
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"Peaky Blinders: Mastermind" is a single-player puzzle-adventure game, based on the TV show, where you join the Shelby family's criminal gang and help Tommy uncover a plot to put the family out of business. As the "Mastermind," you control key characters and manipulate their actions to solve increasingly complex puzzles, with an emphasis on stealth and coordination. The game features exceptional music and allows you to experience Tommy's unique ability to plan complex scenarios in his head.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 127 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Peaky Blinders: Mastermind features innovative time manipulation mechanics that enhance the puzzle-solving experience, allowing players to feel like strategic masterminds.
  • The game captures the essence of the Peaky Blinders series with well-written character dialogues and a solid soundtrack that complements the gameplay.
  • Despite its brevity, the game offers enjoyable and challenging puzzles, especially in the later levels, making it a fun experience for fans of the show.
  • The game is relatively short, with only ten levels, leading to a lack of replayability as most puzzles have a single solution.
  • Technical issues such as being locked at 30 fps and clunky controls, especially on PC, detract from the overall experience.
  • The absence of voice acting and a deeper narrative leaves the game feeling superficial, which may disappoint players looking for a more immersive experience.
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its unique time manipulation mechanics, allowing players to control multiple characters and synchronize their actions to solve puzzles, which many find innovative and enjoyable. However, some players feel that the puzzles can be straightforward and lack depth, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, while the mechanics are praised for their originality and execution, the gameplay experience varies, with some players finding it engaging and others considering it lacking in variety and challenge.

    • “The final chapters are more enjoyable because you feel like you have mastery of the mechanics at that point and the difficulty is greater with less time and more characters to control, but the early chapters are fun too.”
    • “Gameplay is super unique with complex mechanics that were easy to learn but require a flexible mind to apply in a variety of ways; I would completely overlook some strategies until I was several attempts in.”
    • “I enjoy the mechanic of time travel and how the player controls many characters and synchronizing the events to move smoothly is amazing.”
    • “Awful game, really weird mechanics.”
    • “Gameplay and dialogues are abysmal - this seems like a very cheap mobile game port, sorry devs.”
    • “However, there aren’t the eureka moments you’d expect from better puzzles nor mechanics worth mastering in replays.”
  • story36 mentions

    The story in "Peaky Blinders: Mastermind" is set before the events of the TV show, appealing to both newcomers and fans, though it is often described as simplistic and lacking depth. While some players appreciate the clever time manipulation mechanics and the authentic character interactions, others find the narrative weak and unengaging, with a few missions standing out as more enjoyable than others. Overall, the story provides a basic framework that supports the gameplay but fails to deliver a compelling or immersive experience.

    • “The story takes place before the TV show, making it easy for Peaky Blinders newcomers and fans of the show alike.”
    • “Peaky Blinders: Mastermind has some clever mechanics that highlight the meticulous planning Tommy Shelby is capable of, all whilst providing an interesting story and plenty of variety in character actions.”
    • “Fun mystery puzzle game, with an intriguing story to tell.”
    • “The designers and developers could have done a better job if the story/script was more solid.”
    • “The narrative story, if you can discern it, is weak and frivolous.”
    • “The story feels shallow, offering nothing major to draw you in.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise the soundtrack as dynamic and well-composed, particularly in the menu and intro scenes, others find it forgettable or poorly integrated during gameplay. The absence of voice acting detracts from immersion, and although the music aligns well with the game's themes, its overall impact varies significantly among players. Despite these criticisms, many recommend purchasing the soundtrack for its quality.

    • “The music is good, but modern - a detail I was pleasantly surprised really works with the themes.”
    • “I've no idea where they got the soundtrack of the intro, level select, and level clear scenes, but they're killer.”
    • “Props for the excellent soundtrack by Feverist as well.”
    • “Game mechanics are lame, the music sucks and the overall story line is weak.”
    • “Bad controls, no voice, not really fitting soundtrack.”
    • “3 chapters in, the music (which they emphasized in a trailer) isn't that great, voice acting is non-existent and the timer makes me ignore the nicely designed world.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as mediocre, with a simple art style that lacks advanced options and is locked at 30 fps. While some players appreciate the attention to detail and find the visuals adequate for gameplay, others criticize them as unimpressive and reminiscent of older titles. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but do not elevate the game significantly, with many reviewers noting that they are not a major draw.

    • “Graphics are simple, but levels have a good amount of detail.”
    • “The art, graphic stylization, and soundtrack are all just icing on the cake!”
    • “But I quite like the art style of the game; it has nice attention to detail and there's something happening everywhere.”
    • “Graphics are mediocre and there are no advanced graphics options to make the game neater; it also seems to be locked at 30 fps.”
    • “Visually, it's something like Desperados or Commandos - the graphics are more or less up-to-date, but the levels are much less interesting than in those games.”
    • “For such a simple game, the graphics and physics are terrible, and there is literally zero voice acting.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers multiple levels with time-based rewards that encourage players to perfect their performance, many puzzles have only one solution, limiting long-term engagement. Some players find the challenge and fun in striving for gold awards, but others criticize the lack of depth and complexity, leading to a perception of minimal replay value. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those seeking to refine their skills, but it may not sustain interest for everyone.

    • “There are currently 10 levels which are rewarded based on time (gold/silver/bronze) and are replayable in the campaign.”
    • “It's a shame that it takes quite so long for it to up the ante to the point that missions are really satisfyingly complex, but what's here is certainly both fun and highly replayable for those who want to perfect each job on offer and grab gold in every mission.”
    • “[A fun and addictive puzzle game that makes good use of its license. The time manipulation system is highly flexible and easy to use. Perfecting missions and grabbing a gold award adds plenty of replayability, and the final handful of missions are properly challenging.]”
    • “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 beaten them once.”
    • “Too short and has no replay value at all due to puzzles having one real solution. As interesting as they are, there's nothing to draw you into the story or characters, even the blinders feel one-dimensional.”
    • “Execution of concept could be better; comic-style cutscenes are underwhelming, clunky controls, and next to no replayability.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, especially for fans of the TV show, featuring enjoyable music and a nostalgic setting reminiscent of bustling, industrial streets. However, the absence of original voice acting from the show's cast is noted as a drawback. Overall, it creates a fun and engaging environment that complements the puzzle gameplay.

    • “So, as for the atmosphere of the series, it's great!”
    • “You will love that atmosphere if you are a fan of the show and enjoy the old-timey manufacturing-laden streets - where industry was booming and races were being run.”
    • “It's a fun puzzle game and the atmosphere is good.”
    • “The atmosphere is decent, but it feels empty and lacks the depth that the original series had.”
    • “While the music sets a nice tone, the overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
    • “The game captures some elements of the show, but the atmosphere is marred by a lack of engaging voice acting.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, particularly in docked mode, with noticeable stuttering issues. Despite its simple graphics and physics, players find the optimization lacking, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “For such a simple game, graphics and physics-wise, the performance is terrible and there is literally zero voice acting.”
    • “Nice soundtrack, meh gameplay, bad optimization.”
    • “There is some stuttering here and there, which is more pronounced in docked mode.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is appreciated by fans of the TV show, though some feel the absence of the original voice actors detracts from the experience. While it diverges from expectations of a typical shooter associated with "Peaky Blinders," it still delivers a funny and engaging experience through its strategic puzzle elements.

    • “Funny if you watched the TV show; the music and atmosphere are good, but there's a cruel lack of voice acting from the original actors.”
    • “When you hear the game with the Peaky Blinders name, you might think it must be a shooter game with a lot of action, but this game is different. That doesn't mean it's a bad game; it's actually a very funny game with good strategy-puzzle elements.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, with multiple reviews noting that it can feel a bit grindy at times.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “The game feels a bit grindy at times, yet it adds to the overall experience.”
    • “It can feel a bit grindy at times.”
    • “The game is a bit grindy overall.”
    • “There are moments when the grinding becomes excessive.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by various bugs, including issues with achievements and graphical glitches, which detract from the overall experience. Additionally, players have noted a lack of quality of life features that could improve gameplay, such as easier action management.

    • “I guess the achievements are also buggy.”
    • “Nothing to write home about for the tactics genre; it could use some quality of life improvements, like easier means of deleting actions. Collectibles are bland and could have just been left out entirely, and there are some hurtful graphical glitches.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

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