Matthew BaileyAfter a series of less serious reviews, let’s move on to something really good.
Game 38 of the “Bailey Family Summer 2023 Board Game Bonanza” is “Mind Bug,” played by Jack (8.) and myself.
“Mind Bug” is a head-to-head card game created by the original designer of the popular trading card game, “Magic: The Gathering.” In case you haven’t come across “Magic: The Gathering,” it’s essentially a go-to trading card game, with perhaps the more famous counterpart being Pokemon. However, “Magic: The Gathering” remains the preferred choice for many adults.
“Mind Bug” can be best described as my first experience with “Magic: The Gathering,” all wrapped up in a single box.
The game includes a deck of character cards that is shuffled, and each player is randomly dealt 10 cards. Additionally, each player possesses two “Mind Bug” cards, which serve as the game’s central mechanic. Each player also starts with three health points, which can be increased through various card effects. The game concludes when one player’s health is reduced to zero.
From your initial deck of 10 random cards, you select the first five to form your hand. This means that at the start of the game, you can already see half of the available cards. Players take turns, and on your turn, you can choose between playing a card from your hand or attacking with a card already on the table.
Several cards feature play effects that trigger when played. These effects might involve stealing your opponent’s card, shredding their deck, destroying their card, or healing yourself. The pivotal mechanic, however, lies in the “Mind Bug” cards. Each player possesses two of these, and when an opponent plays a card, you can decide to play a “Mind Bug” card, immediately stealing their card and applying any associated effects.
This seemingly simple mechanic forms the brilliant core of the game’s bluffing aspect. As the attacker, do you play your powerful cards early, hoping your opponent will save their “Mind Bug” for later? Or do you attempt to bait out their “Mind Bug” early so you can unleash a strong card once they’ve exhausted their “Mind Bug” options? Given that you only use 10 cards from a larger deck, neither you nor your opponent truly know which cards are in their hand or the rest of their deck.
After a single game, we quickly realized how well-balanced this game is. Even the most potent cards can be neutralized by a well-timed “Mind Bug.”
Another action you can take on your turn is to attack. By attacking with a card, you aim to deal damage to another player, deducting one of their life points. The attacked player can opt to block your attack with one of their creatures, and the creature with the lowest health will be destroyed and removed from the board.
If you’re familiar with “Magic: The Gathering,” you’ll notice many similarities in the gameplay mechanics. A lot of the keywords and mechanics resemble those found in “Magic: The Gathering.” For example, some cards are marked as “sneaky,” which can only be blocked by other “sneaky” cards, similar to the “flying” keyword in “Magic: The Gathering.” Other mechanics include “frenzy,” where a creature attacks twice; a “hunter” creature that can choose which of the opponent’s creatures to block; and “poisonous,” which destroys the other creature in a fight even if it perishes itself. These resemblances make “Mind Bug” an excellent introduction not only to “Magic: The Gathering” but also to other trading card and digital games like Hearthstone.
We had an absolute blast playing this game and enjoyed several rounds of it. The cost of entry is quite reasonable. I purchased everything currently available, including the first season of cards, the expansion set, and the promo set. This provided a substantial deck, ensuring that we didn’t encounter the same cards every time. There were genuinely surprising moments when one of us was certain they had outwitted the other player, only to be foiled by a clever card play. The card designs are excellent, and they interact seamlessly with one another. None of the cards are overly complicated, and a child familiar with playing Pokemon cards will have no problem with “Mind Bug.”
The artwork is impressive, featuring creatively combined creatures. My personal favourite is the “Gorillion.”
If you’re considering dipping your toes into card battlers without wanting to get engulfed in the vast worlds of games like “Magic: The Gathering” or Pokemon, “Mind Bug” is an excellent starting point. It’s perfect for young children, where you play with a single deck, the rules are straightforward, and the essential components of a card battle are present.
I wholeheartedly recommend “Mind Bug” to anyone interested in this type of game.
I’ve already ordered three more sets, which I intend to use in my school’s board game club come September. I have a feeling that this will become a highly popular choice for the boys during lunchtime sessions.
Mindbug is available to play on Tabletopia and also has a digital version coming soon you can currently sign up to beta test. The upcoming second set is available to pledge for now as a super deluxe set on Gamefound.
