I love that the video says "Episode 1". Bring on some more haha. I also would enjoy more videos where you talk about games you love. Also, would love more videos where you talk about CE aliens, I can never get enough of those. In short, more videos! haha
I felt soo happy and relieved when you said you hated the Mind and not a game that truly means so much to me! Lol - but to give my perspective , I actually really enjoy the Mind ! But, I've played it with a handful of different groups, and it's certainly one of my most polarizing games; people either love it or hate it. I think it's a little bit of a silly game, but I like being silly, so I don't mind playing it with new players just to see if they like it or not, but I agree that it does feel like less of a "board game" and more of an activity. I keep this in my collection, and I've had some really great experiences with it, but also some people really don't like it but still say that it was worth a shot but won't come back to it. Also, I agree with you about the "no talking or gesturing rule" because people always do glances and make faces and sometimes gesture - and that can defeat the purpose of the games intent - BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IT'S MEANT TO BE PLAYED BY BREAKING THAT RULE lol , I think it's more fun when you make faces and you're not supposed to , and then everyone ends of doing it and it's soo funny, I think having the rule and breaking it makes the game more fun lol but kinda defeats the purpose of having a "rule". Anyways, thanks for the video , totally understand and respect your opinion on this one, I have friends who agree with you on this :)
Had fun playing it at a friend's house once or twice, but not something I'd want to see again. Hanabi is the same concept but you have to choose what clues to give, giving it some actual strategy and decision making. Still not my favorite genre of game, but way better than The Mind.
I don't even need to read any rules, I will personally never buy any boardgame that says you can't talk to each other. I just think it defeats the purpose of getting people together to play a game. Maybe the game is good, but theres so many good games out there these days.
I absolutely agree with this. The whole point of board games is the social interaction. Also exactly why I don't understand why people want solo modes for board games.
You propably mean - not communicate with each other - we played a game "Magic Maze" where you could not talk to each other, but you could point at stuff and tap on specific space if you took the pointer peace. It was an interesting experience, a bit chaotic.
Counterpoint: The Mind has two phases - one where you can discuss and talk and do whatever you want. Then the silent gameplay. I think the tension of the silent gameplay adds to the discussion period!!
We played it once, it was ok as it was short, I wasn't bored. Reminded my of the part in poker where you need to find the tells in people, we also got pretty far in that game, I think it was level 10 out of 12. But there are better filler/party games, Dixit/Codenames, I don't like them that much, but it is similar concept and marginally better. I guess The Mind is preferable for people that want to play a game but can't really make a lot of noise, maybe kids are sleeping in the same room. Game I really loathe as much as you loathe The Mind is the Exploding Kittens - it was short and I was bored, the only game I gave 1 star on the BGG.
The mind is really just a synchronization task. If you would put a metronome onto the table, every group would win every time by counting the beat. But simulating a metronome isn't really something I would call a game.
'if you had a metronome... every group would win every time'.. but you don't have a metronome that's the point; It's like saying 'if you could just talk to each other you'd win every time' - yeh of course you'd win every time if you expressly break the rules. People's feeling on when a card should be played varies on a number of factors and it's about weighing them up; the current number, the value and number of the cards you have, the number of cards other people have, and reading other people at the table (some people play earlier / later than others). So there is a bit of timing, bit of logic / probability and a bit of social deduction. If you just count in your head and lay cards, you're gonna have a crap time.
@@DrHopeSickNotes Yes. You start by counting together: "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe", and then keep on going in your head 1,2,3.. and you play the card when it's that number. You win the "game" in 100 seconds, and have a crap time. Which is, why it isn't a good game.
@@hendrikd2113 but counting in your head isn't allowed in the rules. So what I'm saying is if you break the rules to ANY game you probably aren't going to enjoy it. It's like playing Resistance but showing everyone your card and then complaining that it isn't a game.
I don't loathe this game. However, I do agree with Jack though but I would argue that it's not actually a game; it's a puzzle. As a computer scientist, I often deal with such puzzles. Often the puzzles are framed like, "There is this problem ..., and communication is not possible, and all participants are completely logical (or something that indicates that they are smart enough to solve the puzzle). How do _they_ solve it?". I have solved this game. If we never discuss how to solve this game and I play with other people that have solved this game, then we will win *every* time. Once you know the algorithm, you can solve it every time without any communication *at all*. So, I think this is why Jack loathes this game; because deep down he can feel that there isn't a game, but a puzzle with only one completely non-communicating 100% winning algorithm. I won't say what that algorithm is, so that there is no spoiler. But, I guess the spoiler is that there is an algorithm. If you don't know the algorithm, the game is essentially just pure luck where the players are the random number generator. I guess that's a loatheable thing that a product advertises itself as a game where there is advanced thinking but it is really just luck in disguise and there is no strategy other than knowing the winning algorithm. Once you know that algorithm, the game becomes a task, like Candyland. Please feel validated, Jack! I want to make a comment about the experience/feeling that people feel/experience but I need to refer to the algorithm that solves this game.
I found this was just a game of your group deciding, before the start, how to cheat by prearranging ways to passively communicate like counting a beat in their heads like a music time signature.
Love that thumbnail it's very cheeky. I have played the mind and for me and my group it's really not that remarkable. Having played social deduction games such as secret hitler and social gambling games like Skull, it doesn't really feel that unique to me, which I think it's the big appeal. We've played plenty of microexpression-reading games. But it could be like how I absolutely adore Mau, the card game that is different every time, even more than Cosmic, and yet some people hate Mau with a burning passion. So maybe the Mind is like a Mau for a different kind of person than me haha.
@7:00 "There is no strategy. There is no real reading of the other people. There's just a lot of sitting around waiting and oh either we lost or oh we didn't lose". *You are missing something.* There is more to this game. There is a strategy. There is a way to win. There is a twist! By your explanation of the game, I don't think you have experienced it yet. There seem to be spoilers in the other comments which I won't repeat. But you're missing out! @10:20 "You could probably play the mind solo by flipping over random cards..." *You are definitely missing something.*
I literally played the mind the first time with a deck of cards that wasn't the minds cards (it was 6nimmit) and yea i felt a same way. Its got as much strategy as snakes and ladders. Playing the mind solo sounds like a lonely time hahahaha
I hear your problems with this, for sure. I only played this for the first time recently and had a blast playing 5 games in a row. Certainly at a point there's a codified "this is the correct thing to do" which really manifests in the worst way possible as "why did you do that? That's not how long you're supposed to wait for that card". I would still bring this out, as you say, as an experience to see what the medium can play with, with so little rules
This game falls flat every time I play with my family. They want to use hand signals or tapping on the table. Anything but following the rules of the game.
I don't like this game either. Hanabi is another similarly frustrating and empty experience, although at least Hanabi has *some* amount of clue-giving, so it's marginally more palatable than The Mind. That's not saying much, though.
I love that the video says "Episode 1". Bring on some more haha. I also would enjoy more videos where you talk about games you love. Also, would love more videos where you talk about CE aliens, I can never get enough of those. In short, more videos! haha
I felt soo happy and relieved when you said you hated the Mind and not a game that truly means so much to me! Lol - but to give my perspective , I actually really enjoy the Mind ! But, I've played it with a handful of different groups, and it's certainly one of my most polarizing games; people either love it or hate it. I think it's a little bit of a silly game, but I like being silly, so I don't mind playing it with new players just to see if they like it or not, but I agree that it does feel like less of a "board game" and more of an activity. I keep this in my collection, and I've had some really great experiences with it, but also some people really don't like it but still say that it was worth a shot but won't come back to it. Also, I agree with you about the "no talking or gesturing rule" because people always do glances and make faces and sometimes gesture - and that can defeat the purpose of the games intent - BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IT'S MEANT TO BE PLAYED BY BREAKING THAT RULE lol , I think it's more fun when you make faces and you're not supposed to , and then everyone ends of doing it and it's soo funny, I think having the rule and breaking it makes the game more fun lol but kinda defeats the purpose of having a "rule". Anyways, thanks for the video , totally understand and respect your opinion on this one, I have friends who agree with you on this :)
Had fun playing it at a friend's house once or twice, but not something I'd want to see again. Hanabi is the same concept but you have to choose what clues to give, giving it some actual strategy and decision making. Still not my favorite genre of game, but way better than The Mind.
I don't even need to read any rules, I will personally never buy any boardgame that says you can't talk to each other. I just think it defeats the purpose of getting people together to play a game. Maybe the game is good, but theres so many good games out there these days.
I absolutely agree with this. The whole point of board games is the social interaction. Also exactly why I don't understand why people want solo modes for board games.
You propably mean - not communicate with each other - we played a game "Magic Maze" where you could not talk to each other, but you could point at stuff and tap on specific space if you took the pointer peace. It was an interesting experience, a bit chaotic.
Counterpoint: The Mind has two phases - one where you can discuss and talk and do whatever you want. Then the silent gameplay.
I think the tension of the silent gameplay adds to the discussion period!!
We played it once, it was ok as it was short, I wasn't bored. Reminded my of the part in poker where you need to find the tells in people, we also got pretty far in that game, I think it was level 10 out of 12. But there are better filler/party games, Dixit/Codenames, I don't like them that much, but it is similar concept and marginally better. I guess The Mind is preferable for people that want to play a game but can't really make a lot of noise, maybe kids are sleeping in the same room. Game I really loathe as much as you loathe The Mind is the Exploding Kittens - it was short and I was bored, the only game I gave 1 star on the BGG.
The mind is really just a synchronization task. If you would put a metronome onto the table, every group would win every time by counting the beat. But simulating a metronome isn't really something I would call a game.
'if you had a metronome... every group would win every time'.. but you don't have a metronome that's the point; It's like saying 'if you could just talk to each other you'd win every time' - yeh of course you'd win every time if you expressly break the rules.
People's feeling on when a card should be played varies on a number of factors and it's about weighing them up; the current number, the value and number of the cards you have, the number of cards other people have, and reading other people at the table (some people play earlier / later than others). So there is a bit of timing, bit of logic / probability and a bit of social deduction.
If you just count in your head and lay cards, you're gonna have a crap time.
@@DrHopeSickNotes Yes. You start by counting together: "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe", and then keep on going in your head 1,2,3.. and you play the card when it's that number. You win the "game" in 100 seconds, and have a crap time. Which is, why it isn't a good game.
@@hendrikd2113 but counting in your head isn't allowed in the rules. So what I'm saying is if you break the rules to ANY game you probably aren't going to enjoy it. It's like playing Resistance but showing everyone your card and then complaining that it isn't a game.
I don't loathe this game. However, I do agree with Jack though but I would argue that it's not actually a game; it's a puzzle. As a computer scientist, I often deal with such puzzles. Often the puzzles are framed like, "There is this problem ..., and communication is not possible, and all participants are completely logical (or something that indicates that they are smart enough to solve the puzzle). How do _they_ solve it?". I have solved this game. If we never discuss how to solve this game and I play with other people that have solved this game, then we will win *every* time. Once you know the algorithm, you can solve it every time without any communication *at all*. So, I think this is why Jack loathes this game; because deep down he can feel that there isn't a game, but a puzzle with only one completely non-communicating 100% winning algorithm. I won't say what that algorithm is, so that there is no spoiler. But, I guess the spoiler is that there is an algorithm. If you don't know the algorithm, the game is essentially just pure luck where the players are the random number generator. I guess that's a loatheable thing that a product advertises itself as a game where there is advanced thinking but it is really just luck in disguise and there is no strategy other than knowing the winning algorithm. Once you know that algorithm, the game becomes a task, like Candyland.
Please feel validated, Jack! I want to make a comment about the experience/feeling that people feel/experience but I need to refer to the algorithm that solves this game.
I found this was just a game of your group deciding, before the start, how to cheat by prearranging ways to passively communicate like counting a beat in their heads like a music time signature.
Love that thumbnail it's very cheeky.
I have played the mind and for me and my group it's really not that remarkable. Having played social deduction games such as secret hitler and social gambling games like Skull, it doesn't really feel that unique to me, which I think it's the big appeal. We've played plenty of microexpression-reading games. But it could be like how I absolutely adore Mau, the card game that is different every time, even more than Cosmic, and yet some people hate Mau with a burning passion. So maybe the Mind is like a Mau for a different kind of person than me haha.
The thumbnail is hilarious hahaha
@7:00 "There is no strategy. There is no real reading of the other people. There's just a lot of sitting around waiting and oh either we lost or oh we didn't lose".
*You are missing something.*
There is more to this game. There is a strategy. There is a way to win. There is a twist!
By your explanation of the game, I don't think you have experienced it yet. There seem to be spoilers in the other comments which I won't repeat. But you're missing out!
@10:20 "You could probably play the mind solo by flipping over random cards..."
*You are definitely missing something.*
I literally played the mind the first time with a deck of cards that wasn't the minds cards (it was 6nimmit) and yea i felt a same way.
Its got as much strategy as snakes and ladders.
Playing the mind solo sounds like a lonely time hahahaha
Also another point... I'm a tee-total-er.... but it's a drinking game!
As a fellow hater of "the mind" I preciate this content
I pretty much prefer Hanabi, although it's different as it is turn based
I hear your problems with this, for sure. I only played this for the first time recently and had a blast playing 5 games in a row. Certainly at a point there's a codified "this is the correct thing to do" which really manifests in the worst way possible as "why did you do that? That's not how long you're supposed to wait for that card".
I would still bring this out, as you say, as an experience to see what the medium can play with, with so little rules
I was tempted to impulse buy this because of the price but thankfully read the rules and decided it sounded awful. More hated games please!
This game falls flat every time I play with my family. They want to use hand signals or tapping on the table. Anything but following the rules of the game.
Finally gets around to saying the title over 2 minutes in.
I don't like this game either. Hanabi is another similarly frustrating and empty experience, although at least Hanabi has *some* amount of clue-giving, so it's marginally more palatable than The Mind. That's not saying much, though.
I hate “The Mind” too, but I hate even more that you took two minutes and 10 seconds to get around to saying the title of the game.
@@ChazM003 have to create a safe space to soften the blow for delicate personalities but I suppose there’s only so much one can mitigate.