MindsEye, the debut game from Build a Rocket Boy, founded by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies, is about to drop to on June 10. As the creative mind behind legendary titles like GTA III through GTA V, Benzies has set high expectations for this upcoming title.
Since the game comes from Leslie Benzies, many players are wondering if MindsEye will also be an open-world title. The answer is no, but not in the traditional sense.
Is MindsEye open-world?
While MindsEye certainly looks like an open-world title in the trailers, with high-speed car chases, drone tech, shootouts, and flashy cityscapes to boot, it’s actually what the developers are calling a «fake open world.»
Think of examples like Mafia or L.A. Noire rather than GTA 5. The game offers a cinematic, guided experience within large, connected areas rather than giving you total freedom to roam and do whatever you want.
You’ll still get to explore urban environments, drive vehicles, and experience missions in diverse settings, but don’t expect a fully sandbox-style world with random side quests and endless freeform exploration. This approach will allow the players to focus on pacing, story, and big set-pieces in MindsEye.
Interestingly, this title will also be part of the Everywhere platform — Build a Rocket Boy’s ambitious hub, where users can remix, repurpose, or create games using assets from MindsEye. This could open up player-driven content in the future, but the main game itself isn’t a traditional open-world experience.
So, while MindsEye looks like an open-world game in its trailers, it’s ultimately a cinematic, mission-driven experience set in a large world. That said, the game could still deliver the kind of tightly structured action that fans of Mafia, Cyberpunk 2077, or even GTA 4’s story missions enjoy.
Also read: Hitman to appear in MindsEye, confirms IO Interactive CEO at Summer Games Fest 2025
