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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 · 1 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (100%)
    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (3–5 vs 2–2) · scales to 5 · ~40 min longer · +0.7 heavier
    View Zendo on Amazon →
  2. 2. Visitor in Blackwood Grove (2018)
    3–6 players · 5–15 min · ★ 6.3 · Light
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction, Induction · 1 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (100%)
    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (3–6 vs 2–2) · scales to 6 · ~10 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
    View Visitor in Blackwood Grove on Amazon →
  3. 3. Azul (2017)
    2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~18 min longer · same complexity
    View Azul on Amazon →
  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 · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (3–8 vs 2–2) · scales to 8 · ~10 min longer · same complexity
  7. 7. Clans (2002)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy, Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (5–10 vs 2–2) · scales to 10 · ~10 min longer · same complexity
  13. 13. Secret Hitler (2016)
    5–10 players · 45 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    vs Mastermind: no player-count overlap (5–10 vs 2–2) · scales to 10 · ~25 min longer · same complexity
  14. 14. Captain Sonar (2016)
    2–8 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Deduction · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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 · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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
    Shares with Mastermind: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    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 · 0 of Mastermind’s 1 mechanics (0%)
    vs Mastermind: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 10 · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier
Check Zendo on Amazon →

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Frequently asked

What game is most like Mastermind?
Zendo (2001) is the closest match to Mastermind, sharing abstract strategy, deduction, induction. It rates 7.3/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Mastermind?
Zendo, Visitor in Blackwood Grove, Azul are the top-ranked alternatives to Mastermind in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium-light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is Zendo harder than Mastermind?
Compared with Mastermind, Zendo is +0.7 heavier and ~40 min longer (2.5 vs 1.8 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

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