The Worst Game of 2025 Goes Free: Is It Worth Your Time?
MindsEye: Experience the Thrilling Action-Adventure Game for Free

You can now experience the thrilling action-adventure game "MindsEye," designed by renowned developer Leslie Benzies (known for his work on the Grand Theft Auto series), for free, despite being ranked as one of the worst games of 2025. This game, once considered a potential competitor to "Grand Theft Auto 6" due to its ambitions for an open-world experience, launched last June and faced significant failure. "MindsEye" is set in the futuristic desert city of Redrock and follows the story of Jacob Diaz, a former special operations soldier. The game received widespread criticism from critics and was the subject of numerous viral videos highlighting its many technical flaws. This title is among the lowest-rated games of the year, with its PlayStation 5 version scoring only 28 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Reasons for MindsEye's Failure and Its Impact on Developers

The low player count on Steam, which did not exceed 3,300 players, directly contributed to the developer Build a Rocket Boy's decision to lay off a significant number of its employees. It is worth noting that the initial vision for "MindsEye" was to be a premium title within the larger, free "Everywhere" platform, a content creation tool similar to Roblox or Fortnite, indicating a grand ambition that ultimately went unfulfilled.
Game Updates and the Launch of a Free Starter Version

Despite the difficulties the game has faced, "MindsEye" continues to receive updates after launch to improve its experience. A free starter version was recently released, offering players a chance to explore a portion of its world. This version is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S, providing a selection of key activities to try. The free version currently includes the "Robin Hood" campaign mission and 14 "Arcadia" missions, which offer diverse challenges within the game's open world. Build a Rocket Boy studio has stated that this free version will be regularly updated, introducing new content and innovative ways to play.
Free-to-Play Model: A Golden Opportunity to Experience the Game

It is worth noting that this free-to-play model, offering a portion of the game, was previously used successfully by publisher IO Interactive with its popular game "Hitman World of Assassination." So, if you've been hesitant to purchase "MindsEye" after its initial reviews, this is your golden opportunity to experience the thrilling action-adventure game for yourself at no cost and discover if it's worth exploring.