# Mastermind board game

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/mastermind/

9 people recommended Mastermind board game in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and none criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 12 months, in 8 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** People recommend this turn-based deduction board game as an enjoyable challenge. Caveat: one line of attack on the solution can get a little boring.

Summary written by Claude from 7 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Enjoyable, challenging deduction game (2 comments in the sample): "which explained to me instantly why I really liked Mastermind" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45848385)) "The ultimate "Mastermind" challenge." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46812674))

## What people warn about

- Solution can become a little boring (1 comment in the sample): "there is a line of attack on the solution that can render it a little boring" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46295774))

## Other board games people recommend

- [1D Chess](https://hackerapproved.com/p/1d-chess/): 16 recommend, 0 mixed, 2 criticize
- [Azul board game](https://hackerapproved.com/p/azul/): 9 recommend, 0 mixed, 2 criticize
- [Root by Leder Games](https://hackerapproved.com/p/root/): 9 recommend, 2 mixed, 4 criticize
- [Stratego](https://hackerapproved.com/p/stratego/): 9 recommend, 0 mixed, 1 criticize

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Mastermind board game", https://hackerapproved.com/p/mastermind/ (9 recommend, 1 mixed, 0 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.