Mastermind / Similar games

18 games like Mastermind

The best games like Mastermind are Zendo, Visitor in Blackwood Grove and Azul — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Zendo shares abstract strategy, deduction, induction with Mastermind.

Every alternative below links to its own Mastermind-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy / deduction shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Mastermind’s 1.8 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 

   1. Zendo (2001)

   3–5 players · 60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium

   Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy, Deduction, Induction · 3 shared tags

   vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (3–5 vs 2) · scales to 5 · ~40 min longer · +0.7 heavier

   Check price for Zendo →
2. 

   2. Visitor in Blackwood Grove (2018)

   3–6 players · 5–15 min · ★ 6.3 · Light

   Shares with Mastermind: Deduction, Induction · 2 shared tags

   vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (3–6 vs 2) · scales to 6 · ~10 min shorter · 0.4 lighter

   Check price for Visitor in Blackwood Grove →
3. 

   3. Azul (2017)

   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · See Azul alternatives →

   Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 1 shared tag

   vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~18 min longer · same complexity

   Check price for Azul →
4. 

   4. Confusion Espionage and Deception in the Cold War (1992)

   2 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light

   Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy, Deduction · 2 shared tags

   vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · ~18 min longer · +0.6 heavier
5. 

   5. Chronicles of Crime (2018)

   1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · See Chronicles of Crime alternatives →

   Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

   vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~55 min longer · +0.3 heavier
6. 

   6. Decrypto XL (2018)

   3–8 players · 15–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · See Decrypto XL alternatives →

   Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

   vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (3–8 vs 2) · scales to 8 · ~10 min longer · same complexity
7. 

   7. Clans (2002)

   2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium-light · See Clans alternatives →

   Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy, Deduction · 2 shared tags

   vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~10 min longer · +0.2 heavier
8. 

   8. Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)

   2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light · See Patchwork Winter Edition alternatives →

   Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 1 shared tag

   vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
9. 

   9. Codenames XXL (2015)

   2–8 players · 15 min · ★ 7.6 · Light · See Codenames XXL alternatives →

   Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

   vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 8 · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
10. 

    10. War Chest (2018)

    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light · See War Chest alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier
11. 

    11. Calico (2020)

    1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · See Calico alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~18 min longer · +0.4 heavier
12. 

    12. The Resistance Avalon (2012)

    5–10 players · 30 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light · See The Resistance Avalon alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (5–10 vs 2) · scales to 10 · ~10 min longer · same complexity
13. 

    13. Secret Hitler (2016)

    5–10 players · 45 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light · See Secret Hitler alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (5–10 vs 2) · scales to 10 · ~25 min longer · same complexity
14. 

    14. Captain Sonar (2016)

    2–8 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light · See Captain Sonar alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 8 · ~33 min longer · +0.3 heavier
15. 

    15. Codenames Duet XXL (2017)

    2–99 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.6 · Light · See Codenames Duet XXL alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 99 · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
16. 

    16. Shadows in Kyoto (2017)

    2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light

    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy, Deduction · 2 shared tags

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
17. 

    17. Santorini (2016)

    2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light · See Santorini alternatives →

    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 1 shared tag

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · same complexity
18. 

    18. A Gamut of Games (1969)

    1–10 players · 30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light

    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy, Deduction · 2 shared tags

    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 10 · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier

Looking for the original? See the full Mastermind fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.