80
Minds Beneath Us is a truly interesting and cerebral adventure told with heart and, at times, prosaic writing. It is full of intimate character moments that make the people feel alive and fully rounded. It can be a little slow at times and sometimes quick time events come from nowhere but it's so satisfying and the story has some very well executed moments that really let it shine. If narrative adventure sounds like a delightful time then this game is the one, in a word; Recommended.
98
Minds Beneath Us sets a new bar for the world of choice-driven narratives. Whether it is the story, the art, or even the gameplay, Bearbone Studio excels in their creation of a game that is both compelling and fun; Seperating itself from its competition. It's unique yet familiar and while it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I implore those who are searching for a taste of a good story or even for a player who wishes to experience a more cinematic style of gameplay to try this game out. Minds Beneath Us may be an eye opener to both narrative fans and gamers alike.
tbd
Minds Beneath Us is one of the best stories that you will enjoy this year, and also one of the best science fiction tales about hidden secrets and really important decisions. [Recommended]
4
I'll start this off by first saying, the game is by no means awful, but it's not finished. I enjoyed the game and my several playthroughs investigating the different story branches but each playthrough I learned more that was displeasing that I wouldn't have seen had I not played several times. The first is that many mechanics the game teaches you slowly trail off and are never used again, which felt like it gave a lot more love to the games intro and a lot less to later scenes and there was no need to remember any mechanics which I guess could also be spun as a positive? Because there were no mechanics to learn. Some of the side quests were left unfinished or ended without tying up the story, this could have been done on purpose because I recall the developer saying they had plans for a second game but that is actually a huge issue to me because it means they purposefully withheld content and made the game unfinished in order to capitalise with a second market, meaning this was akin to a test run or beta or even early access you could say at which point it wasn't worth the buy. You couldn't enjoy the full story, many things remain unexplained prompting a requirement to buy the second entry which in my eyes is coercive and similar to tripple AAA companies in that they've prioritised greed over quality and consumer experince was never the interest. The game wasn't bad, I actually think many more will enjoy it, especially since it comes from a smaller studio. But we have enough developers already who cut corners and lazily push out whatever they can and I won't endorse someone going the same direction. We need to rebuild the industry on trust and quality content but that means giving praise and criticism as equally necessary
8
Digging sci-fi story and characters always; and Minds Beneath US is an engaging VN imo.
9
Combined Taiwan Cyberpunk Dystopia world setting, absolute amazing character cast and dialog writing, stunning visuals and handrawing giving a sense of unnecessity, just right music, and most importantly deep story touching told through all the decision-driven dialog. This game should be included in a list of best explained Cyberpunk and became one of my favourite story-driven indie game in years together with VA-11-Hall-A.Main flaws I can feel however, is the story went to fast in the last chapter and it feels somehow incomplete.
Minds Beneath Us
Released On:
Jul 31, 2024
Metascore
Generally Favorable
86
User score
Generally Favorable
7.5
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Aug 19, 2024
98
Minds Beneath Us sets a new bar for the world of choice-driven narratives. Whether it is the story, the art, or even the gameplay, Bearbone Studio excels in their creation of a game that is both compelling and fun; Seperating itself from its competition. It's unique yet familiar and while it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I implore those who are searching for a taste of a good story or even for a player who wishes to experience a more cinematic style of gameplay to try this game out. Minds Beneath Us may be an eye opener to both narrative fans and gamers alike.
Aug 13, 2024
90
There is some interactivity missing here and sometimes the dialogue sequences get so long that it feels like the game is standing still but if you are prepared for this and if you are looking for a story-heavy, thematically brilliant text adventure that is dripping with social criticism and naturally written dialogue, it is undoubtedly the surprise of the summer.
User score
Generally Favorable
71% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
14% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
14% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Sep 12, 2024
10
This game captivated me from start to finish with its compelling story, well-developed characters, and engaging dialogues. I was never bored and constantly eager to discover what would happen next. I sincerely hope a sequel is in the works.
Aug 2, 2024
10
Amazing piece. It's a rich story with a lot of characters in 5days. Not a blast ending but still good in its own way.
Aug 1, 2024
90
A slow burn, Minds Beneath Us is a memorable dystopian sci-fi thriller in every individual component besides its gameplay.
Jul 30, 2024
90
Minds Beneath Us is an excellent visual novel, telling a heart-wrenching story with a ton of unique sci-fi concepts. Fans of visual novels and great stories are in for a treat with this dystopian treat.
Jul 31, 2024
85
Minds Beneath Us relies on confusion – a hell of a lot of good confusion – to get the player invested in its dystopian reality. Illusion of meaningful choices aside, it tells a compelling sci-fi tale of corporations gone awry and hits the sweet spot of good sci-fi philosophy that fans may be wanting in 2024. It’s gorgeous, too.
Jul 31, 2024
80
If you’re looking for an engaging science fiction story about identity, mind, and personal values in a society that seems to value none of the above? I would recommend this one without reservation. Good work, Minds Beneath Us. You impressed me.
Jul 31, 2024
75
Minds Beneath Us is a very peculiar graphic adventure with few puzzles and lots of dialogue. Its strength is the connection it manages to create between the narrative cue and what it requires of the player. The reward for the patience required is a game with an eerie atmosphere that is hard to find elsewhere.
Jan 2, 2025
9
Combined Taiwan Cyberpunk Dystopia world setting, absolute amazing character cast and dialog writing, stunning visuals and handrawing giving a sense of unnecessity, just right music, and most importantly deep story touching told through all the decision-driven dialog. This game should be included in a list of best explained Cyberpunk and became one of my favourite story-driven indie game in years together with VA-11-Hall-A.Main flaws I can feel however, is the story went to fast in the last chapter and it feels somehow incomplete.
Aug 7, 2024
9
The game has a stunning start and the gameplay is really immersive. The art is outstanding and the music is fine. However, many issues become more apparent during gameplay. Many side quests have unfinished stories, and some gameplay mechanics gradually disappear as the game progresses. The developer has mentioned plans for a sequel, but there are still too many gaps in this game's story, leaving players with insufficient clues to piece things together. In conclusion, the game's pros and cons are pretty clear, but it is still a good work worth trying.
Aug 5, 2024
9
Easily the best game I've played recently. The story is absolutely great and easily the highlight of the game, and even though the game only consists of walking, dialogue options and some qte's, I wasn't bored for a single second. Choices matter, the game design is beautiful and the characters are realteable. The price is absolutely fair for the length of the game. Would absolutely recommend.
Jun 25, 2025
8
Digging sci-fi story and characters always; and Minds Beneath US is an engaging VN imo.
Oct 27, 2025
4
I'll start this off by first saying, the game is by no means awful, but it's not finished. I enjoyed the game and my several playthroughs investigating the different story branches but each playthrough I learned more that was displeasing that I wouldn't have seen had I not played several times. The first is that many mechanics the game teaches you slowly trail off and are never used again, which felt like it gave a lot more love to the games intro and a lot less to later scenes and there was no need to remember any mechanics which I guess could also be spun as a positive? Because there were no mechanics to learn. Some of the side quests were left unfinished or ended without tying up the story, this could have been done on purpose because I recall the developer saying they had plans for a second game but that is actually a huge issue to me because it means they purposefully withheld content and made the game unfinished in order to capitalise with a second market, meaning this was akin to a test run or beta or even early access you could say at which point it wasn't worth the buy. You couldn't enjoy the full story, many things remain unexplained prompting a requirement to buy the second entry which in my eyes is coercive and similar to tripple AAA companies in that they've prioritised greed over quality and consumer experince was never the interest. The game wasn't bad, I actually think many more will enjoy it, especially since it comes from a smaller studio. But we have enough developers already who cut corners and lazily push out whatever they can and I won't endorse someone going the same direction. We need to rebuild the industry on trust and quality content but that means giving praise and criticism as equally necessary
SummaryMinds Beneath Us is an adventure about a guy and a data ghost who lived in his head and controlled his body. After society has become fully automated with AI, a new industry has emerged that replaces the hardware needed to operate the internet with linked human brains. As a result, the most disadvantaged of citizens have had no choice b... Read More
