PLATFORM: PC, PS4, SWITCH (REVIEWED), XBOX ONE | RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 20TH

Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a puzzle game in which players control Tommy Shelby as he guides the rest of his clan around various locations in the family stronghold of Small Heath, uncovering – and fighting back against – a plot to take them out of business. Tactics and cunning are the name of the game as complex scenarios are planned out in advance, moving time backwards and forwards to line up various characters’ actions in order to complete a range of objectives.

This time-based mechanic is the game’s main feature. Any action performed in the game will appear on a timeline which can then be revisited and complemented by additional actions – for example, you might get a character to hold a door open, then rewind time and walk through before the door closes. It’s possible to end up with multiple objectives on multiple timers, with several characters needing to be in sync with each other in order for Tommy to succeed. If things don’t go to plan, just rewind and try again – there’s no game over.

Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a bit of an odd game, really. Fans of the show are likely to expect something a bit more exciting than what’s on offer and those who are into puzzle games might find the gameplay to be a little on the lighter side. The lack of voice acting is disappointing, too – we get to see plenty of familiar faces, and hearing them speak might have gone some way to jazzing things up a bit. The game occupies a very specific niche intended for people who are both massively invested in the Peaky Blinders world and also have a thing for time-based puzzles. Anyone who isn’t completely on board with both of those things might struggle with this one.