Unconscious Mind

About this board game

Unconscious Mind is a euro-style strategy game for 1–4 players, with play sessions lasting about 120 minutes. Set in early-1900s Vienna, it places you among the members of the Wednesday Psychological Society, the group that gathered at Sigmund Freud’s apartment to discuss psychology and dream symbolism.

As an aspiring psychoanalyst, you will work to formulate new therapeutic techniques, establish a practice, grow your clientele, and become Freud’s most distinguished contemporary. Sharing insights, discussing ideas with peers, publishing theories, and finding enough coffee to stay invigorated all contribute to your progress.

On your turn, place one or two Ideas—your workers—on the central Meeting Table. Their positions determine which actions you can access, including adding tiles to your player board, drafting and playing cards, and moving through the city of Vienna.

• Worker placement: Position Ideas on the Meeting Table to pursue different actions.
• Engine building: Develop your player board with tiles and card-based opportunities.
• Multiple rondels: Your placements also determine how far your inkpot advances.
• Cascading effects: Activating a row or column can trigger connected tile effects.

Treating clients and interpreting their dreams requires careful management of Insight on a multi-level dial. Guide clients from surface-level Manifest dreams toward deep-seated Latent dreams, using Insight to help them reach catharsis.

Each client card contains transparent layers that can be lifted as treatment progresses. Removing these layers unlocks ongoing special abilities and end-game scoring opportunities, adding another dimension to your developing practice.

Once the group’s reputation has solidified, the game end is triggered. In Unconscious Mind, the member with the most points wins.