Is MindsEye an open-world title?

MindsEye — the first game from Build a Rocket Boy, a studio founded by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies — is about to drop on June 10, 2025. 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, the title doesn't have an open world 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."

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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 players to focus on MindsEye's pacing, story, and big set pieces.

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 title 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

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About the author

Ishant Jadhav is an Esports and Gaming writer at Sportskeeda. He is currently pursuing a B.Sc. in animation and VFX — a course that integrates various forms of media — and has worked with game developers, journalists, as well as filmmakers. He's also a game designer who has lent his talents to multiple indie projects.

Ishant's love of gaming was inspired by the Witcher series, and though he prefers single-player experiences, he doesn't restrict himself to them and often plays It Takes Two and Chained Together with his friends.

When Ishant isn't analyzing or playing video games, he can be found indulging in the works of authors like Dan Brown, George R.R. Martin, and more.

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Edited by Abu Amjad Khan