Welcome to Redrock City
MindsEye is a chaotic experience that challenges conventional gaming norms. Developer Build a Rocket Boy has described its latest offering as improved, but anyone expecting a polished title might want to reconsider. My own journey through this glitchy world has been far from conventional, but somehow, I found joy in its absurdity.
The adventure begins as I step into Redrock City’s expansive Silva factory, where I play a security guard. My orientation involves a buggy tour of the enormous facility, but things take a darkly humorous turn when I accidentally run down a coworker. Rather than facing consequences, my boss merely remarks, “You better hope Mr. Silva doesn’t find out about that,” and we move on. This absurdity sets the tone for my time in the game.
I was tasked with eliminating malfunctioning robots, which quickly devolved into chaos. Upon returning to the security office, I discovered I could pull my gun in a supposedly safe environment. I shot my coworkers, and shockingly, nothing happened. They stood up as if I hadn’t just committed a massacre. This led me to realize that the game operates on a peculiar set of rules where my actions have little consequence.
As I continued my escapades, I noticed the lack of in-game reaction to my actions. Running rampant through Redrock, I felt like a character trapped in a bizarre simulation. Stepping onto a highway, I took down drivers with no repercussions. Cars stopped in a robotic line, waiting for their turn to meet their fate. At that moment, I started to understand MindsEye’s unique charm: it’s chaotic, glitchy, and downright silly.
In one sequence, I used a sniper rifle to prove my worth to an army buddy by taking out drones. Yet, even after attracting the attention of armored security trucks, I faced no real threat. I could rampage through Redrock City without fear of intervention, which was both liberating and absurd. Think of it as a twisted version of Grand Theft Auto where law enforcement simply doesn’t exist.
However, the core narrative is where MindsEye reveals its flaws. I was forced to assassinate a character I had previously saved, which felt jarring. Jacob, my in-game avatar, expressed reluctance to kill a man he had just rescued, but the game’s mechanics left me with no choice. This bizarre narrative choice made for an uncomfortable experience, highlighting the disconnect between character intention and player action.
Despite its flaws, the sheer unpredictability of MindsEye kept me hooked. The game’s refusal to acknowledge my chaotic actions leads to moments of dark humor and unexpected enjoyment. MindsEye doesn’t just bend the rules; it seems to ignore them entirely, creating an experience that’s uniquely entertaining. It's a confusing mess, but perhaps that’s exactly what makes it my favorite game of 2026.
