Before you start with this review, we advise you to get a cup of coffee to drink while reading. Unconscious Mind invites players into a beautifully crafted, fantastical version of early 20th-century Vienna. Here, psychoanalysis comes alive in a way that seamlessly blends historical inspiration with the imaginative realms of dream interpretation and psychological exploration.
We first saw this gem at Essen Spiel 2024, and it instantly grabbed our attention. The bustling crowd around the Fantasia Games booth was a testament to this release’s excitement. As soon as we saw the intricate components and surreal artwork, we knew we had to get our hands on it.
Developed by Fantasia Games, a publisher renowned for their innovative and visually stunning board games, Unconscious Mind offers players a chance to experience the birth of modern psychology in a setting that is as thought-provoking as it is surreal. With Sigmund Freud and his circle serving as the theme’s backdrop, the game weaves history and fantasy elements into its intricate mechanics.
In this profoundly thematic Euro-style board game, we were balancing the demanding roles of treating patients, publishing treatises, and building reputations as leading psychologists. Its design, helmed by a talented team of developers, is a masterclass blending narrative and strategy. With mechanics like worker placement, engine building, multiple rondels, and cascading effects, the game’s structure mirrors the layered complexity of the human psyche it explores.
The collaboration between its designers and publishers has resulted in a game that challenges your mind and throws you into a fantastical interpretation of a pivotal moment in psychological history. We were hooked from the moment we first saw it at Essen, and our subsequent plays have only deepened our appreciation for this unique gaming experience.
Components
The game’s production quality stood out when we opened the box. The surreal dream cards, the tactile transparent client overlays, and the finely crafted components throw you in the psychoanalytic world. Each piece from the coffee tokens to the inkpot rondels feels deliberate and ties back to the theme. The artwork, evoking Vienna’s psychological and artistic renaissance, draws you deeper into the story of Freud’s Wednesday Psychological Society. Here’s a little peek at what the board game comes with:
Also, something that we can mention is how good the quality of the packaging itself is, we’ve reviewed a lot of board games but very rarely get this premium package, from the sealed plastic bags to the plastic boxes. But there’s one thing that we will tell you before starting to read this section – Buckle up because it is filled with unique and exciting components.
Meeting Table Board
The game’s centerpiece is that this board dictates the flow of player actions. Its structured Idea spaces and action zone grid sets up a balanced tactical challenge. Strategically placing Ideas here feels like solving a complex riddle while actively engaging in therapy sessions. The dual-use action spaces, allowing for repeated effects with careful planning, ensure every decision feels significant. Visually, the pastel tones and clever layout make it a joy to interact with.
City Map Board
The City Map feels alive with its depiction of early 1900s Vienna. Divided into districts, each with unique bonuses, it invites players to send their professors or Freud himself wandering through its iconic locations like the University or the Opera. Mechanically, it rewards long-term planning with its district and location bonuses while pulling you into the cultural heart of psychoanalytic exploration. The miniatures of Freud and the Professors give this map a charming physicality, though the map’s small size relative to its functional depth can feel cramped during busy rounds.
Player Boards
Each player board serves as your personalized psychoanalytic hub, blending function with thematic depth. At its core is the Insight Dial, a tactile mechanism that lets you manage Growth, Freedom, and Passion Insights. Advancing these resources feels intuitive and strategic, as they are essential for interpreting dreams and treating clients.
The board’s recessed edges ensure everything stays securely in place, from your Insight Dial to the Notebook Tiles, which power your engine-building efforts. Completing rows and columns of Notebook Tiles triggers satisfying chain reactions, especially when combined with the Inkpot Rondel, which tracks progress and activates cascading effects across your board. These mechanics reward forward-thinking, making each turn impactful.
From organizing Idea tokens to maximizing Heart-Shaped Boxes and Coffee, the player boards streamline gameplay while reinforcing the theme of crafting your psychoanalytic legacy. Every action feels like a step closer to mastering the unconscious mind.
Insight Dial
The Insight Dial, representing your grasp of psychoanalytic theory, allows for the generation, elevation, suppression, and transfer of Insights. Generating Insights requires resources in the center reserve, and suppressing Insights allows inward movement to trigger cascading effects. Careful planning to match Insights with requirements for treating clients and advancing personal goals is vital. Beginners may find the options overwhelming, but the dial’s tactile nature adds to the game’s strategic depth.
Client Cards and Grief Layers
The heart of the game lies in treating complex, historically inspired clients (Routine & Case-Study). These can range from fictional characters to reimagined versions of real historical figures from Freud’s era. Each client card features unique characteristics, initial therapy points, and potential bonuses. The translucent Grief Layers overlaying the client cards add a visual and mechanical twist as we peel back their trauma to unlock ongoing effects or end-game scoring opportunities. Removing each layer feels like a victory, both narratively and in points. Some clients offer immediate benefits, while others provide long-term strategies or end-game scoring conditions. Balancing the therapeutic process against competing priorities keeps the tension high, making these cards the emotional and strategic crux of gameplay.
Dream Cards (Latent and Manifest)
The dual-layered dreams represent your journey into the unconscious, where the artwork truly shines. The cards are a visual feast, from subdued blues for Latent Dreams to vibrant colors for Manifest Dreams. Mechanically, layering dreams create a multi-step puzzle as you manage the resources (Insights) required to treat clients effectively. Matching dream and grief icons for bonuses adds yet another satisfying wrinkle.
Notebook Tiles
There are 60 Notebook Tiles (24 Level I; 24 Level II; 12 starting). Notebook Tiles are crucial to engine building, unlocking chain reactions when placed strategically. Each tile has dual effects, and filling rows or columns allows you to unlock additional Insights. Specific spaces on the player board require cured clients to be eligible for placement, adding another layer of planning to optimize tile usage. Completing rows and columns provides powerful advantages, making this aspect a gameplay highlight.
Miniatures: Freud and Professors
Freud’s figure serves as a game-end timer and actively participates in the City Map’s strategic dance. Professors are similarly engaging, hopping from location to location. The miniatures are detailed and satisfying to move but sometimes feel slightly disproportionate to the tightly packed board layouts.
Heart-Shaped Box and Coffee Tokens
These tokens, both thematic and mechanical, keep the game grounded in its psychological setting. Heart-shaped boxes represent emotional breakthroughs, converting excess resources into therapy points. Meanwhile, Coffee tokens offer flexibility, acting as an energy boost for critical moments. Their dual-purpose use within actions or for scoring adds delightful decision-making pressure.
Research Cards
Publishing treatises is one of the game’s most rewarding tasks, and at the heart of this process are the Research cards. These multi-functional components are resources for completing treatises and sources of ongoing bonuses. As we played, we constantly strategized how best to utilize these cards. Their dual-purpose nature adds a layer of decision-making that we found particularly engaging. Do you use a card for its immediate benefit or hold onto it for a potentially more lucrative treatise later?
We especially appreciated how the Research cards create a sense of academic progress throughout the game. Collecting and playing these cards felt like building a body of knowledge, mirroring the real-world process of psychological research. The ongoing bonuses provided by some Research cards allowed for interesting engine-building possibilities, as we found ourselves tailoring our strategies around the specific benefits we’d accumulated. The mechanic of citing another player’s published work to complete your own treatise adds a unique interaction element, bringing a welcome touch of player interaction to what could otherwise feel like a solitary optimization puzzle.
Bright Idea Tokens
Bright Ideas are small but impactful tokens that serve as versatile wildcards. They can substitute for Ideas on the Meeting Table, modify Inkpot movement, and boost Location effects on the City Map. Each token adds depth to decision-making, offering additional opportunities to trigger effects during critical turns. They can be spent for maximum utility in tight situations, with each leftover Bright Idea scoring Victory Points during endgame scoring.
Reputation Markers and Scoring Markers
Reputation and Scoring markers provide a clear framework for tracking progress and competition. Reputation markers advancing along the central track pace the game and deliver critical bonuses that can turn the tide of play. Scoring markers and circling the edge of the City Map keep everyone invested in the race for Victory Points. Though simple in design, these components heightened the competitive atmosphere, especially in the final rounds when every point felt earned.
Treatise Tiles and District Tokens
Treatise tiles and District tokens introduce long-term goals and strategic decisions. Publishing Treatises provides substantial points and rewards for specialization, while District tokens create a dynamic struggle for control on the City Map. The combination of these mechanics added layers of interaction as players jockeyed for position to secure bonuses and endgame advantages. Their bold designs made them easy to identify and integrate into our strategies.
Reference Aids
A practical and well-organized tool for quickly recalling rules and iconography, these aids were a godsend, especially in our first few games. They ensured smooth gameplay while diving into the game’s complex systems.
Components in Solo Mode
Special mention goes to the thoughtfully crafted solo mode, which uses the “Id” AI opponent. Its streamlined actions ensure an engaging challenge without bogging down the pace. Using the Journalist and Fireworks standees in this mode adds variety and flavor.
The Setup – A Beautifully Constructed World
Before we say anything, unconscious mind has a very big setup, so before buying the board game consider checking if you have enough space on the table.
Setting up the game was an event in itself, as we arranged the pieces, we couldn’t help but feel like we were recreating one of those famous salon gatherings in a Viennese coffee house, where intellectuals would debate the latest theories over steaming cups of Melange. With multiple layers of components and a sprawling tableau, it’s a table hog that demands ample space and attention. The Meeting Table board, City Map, and personal player boards create a dense but visually appealing layout, blending functionality with thematic flair.
We begin by preparing the City Map Board as the table’s centerpiece. Start by sorting the District tokens by color and placing them on their respective spots across the map. The Reputation Marker is placed on the first space of the Reputation Track, marking the shared progression of Freud’s influence. Next, the Freud figure is randomly assigned to a location using one of the Location Goal Tiles, which adds variability to each game. It’s always fun to see where Freud starts his journey, it almost feels like setting the stage for a psychological drama.
Once the map is ready, we populate the Meeting Table Board. This is where the action happens. You’ll reduce Idea spaces depending on the player count (removing two spaces for two-player games, for instance) and fill the remaining slots with Idea tokens. Shuffle and place the Notebook Tiles along the board’s banner slots, carefully matching their labeled positions. The Notebook Tiles offer a wealth of opportunities, so seeing them laid out is a tantalizing preview of the strategies ahead.
Next up are the various decks of cards. Shuffle the Case Study and Routine Client Cards the place them nearby and reveal two of each, then place the Grief Layer decks next to them and place 1 grief layer on top of every client revealed (4 total). The Dream Decks—Manifest and Latent—are also shuffled and placed next to them, then reveal 4 manifest cards, ready to provide their dreamlike puzzles.
Note: If you question why the routine and case-study clients look weird in this image, it is because they have grief layers over them (part of the game setup).
The Research Cards and Treatise Tiles are set up in their respective slots, ensuring all players have access to critical game objectives and scoring avenues. Finally, distribute the Bright Idea Tokens in a central pile so everyone can grab them when inspiration strikes.
Player Setup
As we mentioned in the beginning of the setup section, keep in mind that the setup is quite big, especially the player board considering that there are almost two boards as you can say.
Each player receives their Player Board and corresponding components: an Insight Dial, starting Idea tokens, Heart-Shaped Boxes, and Coffee Markers. Players also place their scoring marker on the Victory Point Track and their Professor figure on the map. The final step is selecting starting cards from the Latent Dream and Routine Client decks, laying the groundwork for individual strategies.
While the setup may take some time, it’s a rewarding experience as the game’s intricate mechanics come into view. Each element serves a purpose, hinting at the depth of gameplay to come. By the end, the table becomes a masterpiece of strategy and storytelling, ready for players to dive into Freud’s Vienna and unravel the mysteries of the unconscious mind. And yes, while setting it up might take longer than your morning coffee, it’s well worth the effort once the gears start turning. By the end of the setup, your table should look like this:
Well not like this considering that the upper player boards barely have any space, but you get the point.
Gameplay Mechanics: A Symphony of Complexity
As we dove into Unconscious Mind, we quickly realized we were in for a treat. The game offers a deeply intricate gameplay experience, with mechanics that intertwine in fascinating ways to illuminate the theme of early 20th-century psychoanalysis. At first, it felt like we were trying to juggle while riding a unicycle, but the core actions became second nature as we got into the rhythm.
State Ideas: The Art of Mental Chess
This action became our bread and butter, the Meeting Table is a battleground for tactical choices, as placing Ideas unlocks actions. Players can amplify their turn when Ideas are paired with Bright Ideas by triggering action spaces multiple times. However, placement is limited by the availability of spaces, encouraging foresight. The Meeting Table’s structure ensures every turn feels meaningful, with the Inkpot adding another layer of complexity by dictating cascading effects based on its movement. We remember one particularly satisfying turn where one of us aligned our Ideas perfectly, triggering a fall of the impact that had the rest of us groaning in envy.
For example, we carefully aligned our ideas with that space when we wanted to gain a research card. Adding a Bright Idea token allowed us to activate the action twice in one turn. The flexibility allowed for satisfying combos, especially as we manipulated our player boards to unlock stronger effects. Moving the Inkpot along its track added another layer of strategy. It was like creating a little symphony of productivity with every turn!
This action was extremely rewarding, though we’ll admit there were moments when we stared at the board for what felt like ages, trying to optimize our move. The combination of spatial planning, resource generation, and engine-building moments gave us a sense of accomplishment. Even a single turn felt impactful, though it occasionally led to moments of analysis paralysis that had our resident timekeeper tapping his watch.
Recharging Your Cognitive Arsenal – Recall Ideas
Recalling Ideas is more than a reset, it’s a move to gain Coffee and claim bonuses on the City Map. Each Recall action earns Coffee equal to the number of spaces on the Meeting Table. Players can then use Location or District bonuses, which may require player-colored Insights for District actions. These bonuses can unlock powerful effects like Reputation gains, adding dynamic elements to this phase.
After recalling Ideas, we enjoyed the added bonus of claiming Location or District bonuses from the City Map. It often felt like a mini game within the larger framework as we jockeyed for position to claim the best spots. This action gave us a nice breather from heavy planning and let us rethink our priorities.
Recalling Ideas struck an outstanding balance between utility and timing. While less flashy than other actions, it proved crucial to keeping our momentum in check. It became a strategic pivot point, often signaling a shift in our game plans.
Treat Clients: Peeling Back the Layers of the Mind
This game mechanic really showed us what some board games can reach in terms of productivity and theme. The way that you have to heal the clients out of their grief really expressed what the game is on about.
Matching Dream icons with Grief Layers provides extra bonuses, encouraging players to plan their treatments carefully. Therapy markers track progress, and peeling away Grief Layers advances your score and offers ongoing benefits. This aspect perfectly marries gameplay with the psychoanalytic theme, providing both strategic and narrative satisfaction.
We’ll remember the satisfaction of finally unlocking a particularly stubborn client’s Catharsis moment. As we discarded their Grief Layer and activated their ongoing abilities, we all felt a genuine sense of accomplishment, as if we’d actually helped someone overcome their trauma. It was a small but meaningful victory or each time.
This mechanic felt incredibly beautifully awakened the theme of the board game, perfectly balancing strategy and satisfaction. Timing our treatments to maximize their effects while managing limited Insights was both a challenge and a joy. We were genuinely invested in our clients’ progress, often cheering each other on as breakthroughs were made.
Movement on the City Map
Moving Freud and Professors on the City Map offers tactical opportunities to trigger Location effects. These effects can be activated based on the number of figures present or the tags accumulated through gameplay. Bright Ideas can further enhance these effects, adding flexibility. The map is a hive of activity, balancing immediate rewards with long-term strategy.
We particularly enjoyed sending our Professors to the University, generating Insights, and drawing Research cards like true academics. Meanwhile, Freud’s presence added another layer of benefits that had us all vying for his attention. The movement felt strategic, especially when paired with the Bright Ideas mechanic to maximize the number of triggers.
The Race for Psychoanalytic Supremacy – Reputation and Endgame Trigger
The Reputation track serves as both a timer and a key strategic focus. Advancing Freud’s marker triggers the endgame and provides bonuses along the way. Players must carefully balance Reputation actions with other objectives, as they can significantly impact final scoring.
In our games, the race for the highest Reputation became a game within the game, with the endgame bonuses adding another layer of competition. It was not uncommon to hear a triumphant or a disappointed groan as final Reputation totals were tallied.
Overall, the intricacy of Unconscious Mind’s mechanics created a deeply engaging experience that had us eagerly planning our next session even as we packed up the game. While the learning curve was steep, mastering these interconnected systems felt incredibly rewarding.
How Well Does the Game Capture Freud’s Vienna?
The elements of the theme are flawlessly put into the gameplay. Treating clients feels like engaging in real therapeutic processes: gathering resources, interpreting dreams, and unlocking catharsis. The transparent overlays for grief and dream layers are not just a visual novelty but also a mechanical representation of peeling back the layers of the unconscious mind, we found ourselves mimicking Freud’s famous ‘talking cure,’ coaxing out hidden traumas and repressed memories from our cardboard patients with each carefully placed worker.
Publishing treatises, an action tied to the game’s engine-building aspect, adds a competitive edge. It reflects the academic rivalry of Freud’s circle, as players race to publish and cite each other’s work for additional points. This aspect introduced light player interaction, a welcome touch in an otherwise solitary optimization puzzle.
How Does Unconscious Mind Fare with Different Player Counts?
Across multiple playtests Unconscious Mind revealed its versatility with different player counts, but keep in mind that the setup of unconscious mind is very big as we said before, so you do need a larger table, especially when there are four players. The game became a bustling yet contemplative affair with four players as we juggled overlapping objectives on the Meeting Table and City Map. The pacing felt tighter and more strategic at three players, with more explicit opportunities to react to opponents’ moves. The solo mode, using the automated “Id,” provided a surprisingly challenging experience, emulating a competitive second player with its own objectives and actions.
Replayability comes from the vast array of components clients, dream cards, and treatises ensure no two setups are alike. However, the game’s learning curve means new players may need multiple sessions to grasp the strategies available. The dense ruleset, while rewarding, might deter casual players, making it best suited for groups who enjoy heavy euros.
Solo Gameplay: Facing the Id
The solo mode pits you against the Id, an automated opponent that uses a streamlined deck to mimic player actions. The Id automation mirrors player actions through Coffee and Heart-Shaped Boxes, creating a competitive challenge. Its efficient use of resources and streamlined decision-making effectively emulate human opponents. It’s an excellent way to explore strategies or enjoy the game when your group isn’t available.
What We Like and What We Don’t
What we like about Unconscious Mind
- Theme: Unconscious Mind masterfully captures the essence of psychoanalysis through its mechanics and components.
- The strategy behind this game: The interplay of rondels, resource management, and tableau building offers countless avenues for strategic exploration.
- Production Quality: From the surreal artwork to the transparent overlays, every detail enhances the tactile and visual experience.
- Historical Flavor: The game’s setting in early 20th-century Vienna and its nods to actual historical figures add an educational element to the game itself.
What we don’t like about Unconscious Mind
- Overwhelming Complexity: The abundance of interconnected mechanics might feel daunting for first-time players. So, try something lighter before this.
- Solo Nature: Despite some player interaction through treatises and districts, much of the game feels like a solitary optimization puzzle.
- Game Length: With a runtime exceeding two hours, it can feel protracted, especially for groups prone to analysis paralysis.
- The Rulebook Labyrinth: Learning this game felt like navigating Freud’s ego, id, and superego all at once. A more intuitive layout would’ve saved us some headaches.
- The space of the board game: We know that we mentioned it a lot, but we had some difficulties trying to fit the 4-player setup in one table.
Final Thoughts: A Journey Through the Psyche
After several intense sessions with Unconscious Mind, we’re still fascinated by its intricacies. We first encountered this creation by Alexander Pfister and Dennis Rappel at Essen Spiel 2024, and it’s been a cerebral expedition that’s left a lasting impression on our gaming group.
We’ve found that Pfister’s signature multi-use cards and interconnected systems reach new heights here, brilliantly serving the psychoanalytic theme. The game’s ability to be both deeply strategic and thematically immersive is its strongest suit, in our opinion. We’re in awe of the production quality, especially Ian O’Toole’s art direction. Those surrealist dream cards had us debating their meanings long after we’d packed up the game.
However, we must admit the learning curve is steeper than even some of Pfister’s previous works we’ve played. Our first playthrough was a marathon of rulebook consultations. Yet, this complexity fits, given the intricacy of the human mind itself. We’ve been particularly impressed with the solo mode, designed by Dávid Turczi. It offers a challenging experience that captures the multiplayer essence.
If you enjoy games that reward repeated plays and deep strategic thinking, Unconscious Mind will be right up your alley. It reminds us of brain-burners like On Mars or Anachrony but with a distinct Pfister twist.
One small critique we have is that the endgame scoring can feel anticlimactic compared to the rich narrative we built throughout the game.
Despite this, we agree that Unconscious Mind isn’t just a game; it’s an experience. We’ve found it intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant, making us feel like we’re engaging in ludic psychoanalysis.
If you’re willing to invest the time and mental energy, it offers a rich, rewarding experience that few other games can match. Just be prepared that once you start peeling back the layers of Unconscious Mind, you might find it hard to stop. And isn’t that what Freud was all about in the end? Every playthrough feels like an intellectual and artistic journey worth taking.
