# The Mind ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2018 - **BGG Rating**: 6.7 - **BGG Rank**: #1116 - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 20 min - **Weight**: 1.07 / 5 - **Designers**: Wolfgang Warsch - **Artists**: Oliver Freudenreich - **Publishers**: Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag, Arclight Games, Brain Games, Coiledspring Games, DV Games, FoxGames - **Categories**: Card Game, Number - **Mechanics**: Communication Limits, Cooperative Game, Hand Management ## Verdict If you're looking for a unique cooperative experience that tests your group's unspoken connection, The Mind is an absolute must-try. It's less a game and more a fascinating experiment in collective intuition. Uniquely engaging cooperative experience Tests unspoken group synergy Simple rules, profound depth Quick to learn and play Highly replayable and addictive Requires a specific group dynamic Can be frustrating with misplays Not for competitive players HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready for a gaming experience that goes far beyond just cards! The Mind is less a game and more an experiment in collective telepathy, where communication is forbidden, but the synergy between players is everything. The idea is simple yet brilliant: a deck with cards numbered 1 to 100. The goal? To complete a series of levels by playing all the cards from each player's hand onto a central discard pile, in ascending order. Sounds easy, right? The catch is that you cannot speak, gesture, or make any signals to your tablemates. It's all about eye contact, intuition, and that almost mystical connection that only the most attuned players can achieve. At the start of each level, you and your friends receive a number of cards equal to the current level. In level 1, one card; in level 2, two, and so on. The challenge is that each player must play their lowest card when they feel the time is right. If someone plays a card and another player has an even lower card in their hand, the team loses a life. The game starts with a number of lives equal to the number of players, and if they run out, it's game over! But not all is lost: you also start with some shurikens, which can be used for everyone to discard their lowest card, giving a 'peek' into hands and helping to advance. As you overcome levels, you might be rewarded with extra lives or shurikens. Successfully completing all levels is the ultimate victory! And for the brave, there's an extreme mode where cards are played face down, and the truth is only revealed at the end of a level, further increasing tension and fun. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Get ready to become one with your teammates in The Mind! This isn't just a game; it's a journey into collective consciousness. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to play all the number cards in your hands, in ascending order, into a single pile in the center of the table. The catch? You can't talk, signal, or communicate anything about your cards! If your team successfully completes all the levels in the stack, you achieve a glorious, collective victory. It's all about synchronicity, baby! Preparation (Setup) Setting up The Mind is quick, letting you dive straight into the mental magic: First, gather your team! The Mind can be played with 2-4 players. Lay out a certain number of life cards and throwing star cards face up on the table. The remaining lives and throwing stars form a supply to the side. The exact number depends on your player count: 2 players: 2 lives, 1 throwing star 3 players: 3 lives, 1 throwing star 4 players: 4 lives, 1 throwing star Next, find the level cards. Place the appropriate number of level cards in a face-up stack near the lives and throwing stars, with level 1 on top and the highest level on the bottom. Unused levels go back in the box. 2 players: levels 1-12 3 players: levels 1-10 4 players: levels 1-8 Shuffle the 100 number cards (numbered 1-100). For level 1, each player is dealt one card. Hold your card so no other player can see it. Place the remaining number cards face down in a stack. Once everyone understands the rules, it's time to get in sync! The Course of the Game The game unfolds level by level, testing your team's ability to "become one." Starting a Level To begin a new level, each player who is ready places one hand, palm down, on the table. Once everyone is ready, remove your hands, and the game begins! This collective concentration is crucial for survival. You can refocus at any time during a level by simply saying "stop." Everyone places a hand on the table, refocuses, removes hands, and the game continues. Playing Cards Players must play their cards into a single face-up pile in the center of the table, in ascending order. The lowest available card must be played first, then the second lowest, and so on. You don't take turns in any particular order. Whoever believes they have the lowest card currently available simply plays it. If you have consecutive cards (e.g., 36 and 37), you can play them one after another, but they are still played one at a time. Crucially: You are absolutely forbidden from disclosing any card values, showing cards, or using any secret signals or coordination. Non-verbal communication is allowed, but no pre-memorized secret signs! Completing a Level If your team successfully plays all their cards in the correct ascending sequence, you've completed the current level! High fives (silent ones, of course) all around! Moving to the Next Level Once a level is completed, the successfully completed level card is placed in the box. All 100 number cards are shuffled again. Each player is dealt a number of cards equal to the new level number (e.g., 2 cards for level 2, 3 cards for level 3, and so on). Players take their new cards, place a hand on the table to concentrate, and then start the next level. Rewards Successfully completing certain levels earns your team rewards! These are depicted in the bottom right corner of the level card: Level 2: 1 throwing star Level 3: Reward varies (1 life or 1 throwing star) Level 5: Reward varies (1 life or 1 throwing star) Level 6: Reward varies (1 life or 1 throwing star) Level 8: Reward varies (1 life or 1 throwing star) Level 9: Reward varies (1 life or 1 throwing star) Take the reward (a life or throwing star) from the supply and add it to your current stock. Your team can hold a maximum of 5 lives and 3 throwing stars. Errors and Losing Lives Mistakes happen, but they come at a cost! If someone plays a number card out of order (i.e., a higher card is played when a lower card is still in someone's hand), the game pauses immediately. Any player (or players) holding a lower value card than the one just played must shout "stop!" Your team loses 1 life. A life card is taken from your current stock and returned to the supply. Next, any cards being held that are lower than the incorrectly played card must be set aside (discarded). The team then refocuses their concentration, and the current level continues (it is not restarted). Playing a Throwing Star Sometimes you need a little help to get back in sync. A throwing star can be used at any point during a level: A player suggests playing a throwing star by raising a hand. If all players agree, one throwing star is deployed (returned to the supply). Each player then discards the lowest card in their hand by placing it face up to the side of the playing area. All players refocus, and the game continues. End of Game and Scoring The game of The Mind can end in two ways: Collective Victory! If your team successfully completes all the levels in the stack, you have achieved a collective victory! Congratulations on becoming one! Collective Failure! If your team loses its last life, the endeavor has unfortunately failed. Better luck next time, and maybe try to get more in sync! The Blind Challenge (New Challenge) If your team achieves a collective victory, the game isn't necessarily over! You can immediately continue in blind mode: The team starts again at level 1 with all its remaining lives and throwing stars. This time, however, all cards are played face down on the deck in the center of the table. At the end of each level, this stack is turned over, and the sequence of cards is checked. If a player has made a mistake (cards are not in ascending order), this costs one life. The remaining rules are unchanged. How many levels can your team complete blind? Tips for Winning While there's no "secret" to The Mind that you should read before playing, here are a couple of pointers to help your team find that collective rhythm: Embrace the Silence: Seriously, the lack of communication is the core of the game. Don't try to invent secret signals. Instead, focus on the collective feeling of "now is the moment." Timing is Everything: The game is all about your sense of time. Lower cards are typically played more swiftly, while higher cards are held longer. Over time, you'll develop a shared understanding of how long to wait before playing a particular number card. It's not about counting seconds, but developing a collective internal clock. ## FAQ ### What is the average duration of a game of The Mind? A game of The Mind is super quick! It usually takes about 20 minutes, but the urge to play 'just one more' is almost irresistible, so set aside some extra time for fun. ### How many players can participate in The Mind? The Mind is ideal for small groups, playable with 2 to 4 people. The experience changes a bit with the number of players, but fun is guaranteed in any configuration. ### Is The Mind a complex game to learn? Not at all! The beauty of The Mind lies in its simplicity. The rules are explained in minutes, and the focus is on the gameplay experience and the synergy between participants, not on complicated rules. ### What are the main components of the game? The game is quite compact and comes with a deck of cards numbered 1 to 100, level cards, life cards, and shuriken cards. Everything you need to get into your friends' minds! ### Is The Mind a good game for board game beginners? Absolutely! It's an excellent gateway game. The easy rules and unique experience make it perfect for those starting in the world of board games and wanting something different and engaging. ### Are there any expansions for The Mind? Yes, there is an expansion called 'The Mind: Extreme', which adds a new level of challenge to the game, with cards played face down and the possibility of playing with two discard piles in different orders. ### Who will enjoy The Mind? The Mind is for those who enjoy cooperative games, seek an innovative experience, and don't mind 'reading their friends' minds'. It's great for warming up the table, playing with family, or challenging intuition in a casual get-together. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 69,89 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07YZQ66S6?tag=bgbot26-20) - **Capivara Jogos**: R$ 46,41 (https://www.capivarajogos.com.br/produtos/the-mind-novo/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **CaldeirãoJogos**: R$ 53,10 (https://www.caldeiraojogos.com.br/produtos/the-mind/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Meca dos Jogos**: R$ 62,46 (https://www.mecadosjogos.com.br/the-mind-galapagos-meca-p154?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Caixinha Boardgames**: R$ 64,17 (https://www.caixinhaboardgames.com.br/produtos/the-mind/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Place Games**: R$ 64,99 (https://www.placegames.com.br/the-mind?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/the-mind ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 6.35 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1435118&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 8.55 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3440045&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 9.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6570425&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 10.77 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3376679&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 10.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4887574&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 11.49 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1435117&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 11.86 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3440046&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 12.07 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1048364&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 12.07 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6765234&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 12.07 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7042605&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/24429/the-mind?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com