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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.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

  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 · games like Azul →
    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 · games like Chronicles of Crime →
    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 · games like Decrypto XL →
    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 · games like Clans →
    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 · games like Patchwork Winter Edition →
    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 · games like Codenames XXL →
    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 · games like War Chest →
    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 · games like Calico →
    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 · games like The Resistance Avalon →
    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 · games like Secret Hitler →
    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 · games like Captain Sonar →
    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 · games like Codenames Duet XXL →
    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 · games like Santorini →
    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 →

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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.