My family used to play Mastermind a lot back in the 70s and 80s. I’m sure my parents liked it mainly because it was quiet and didn’t require batteries.

https://preview.redd.it/te5frcfonxme1.jpeg?width=220&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dccd013311ac921945ba4511559b8dba7036ebc5 The couple from the box art reunited for a recreation a few years ago.

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Ok-Mathematician8461@reddit

He still has a bit of the ‘bond villain’ look going on.

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Mr_SunnyBones@reddit

I think he was actually a hairdresser who really just LOOKED like Bond Villain

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MBGBeth@reddit

My older brother used to play this with me. The time he let me wear his coveted mirrored sunglasses while playing was an especially, um, telling day. What a jerk! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Realreelred@reddit

Yeah, I had three big brothers and big cousins. I am glad I did. We can all be jerks and still love each other to this day. Knuckleheads.😁🤣😂😇

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Mutant_Autopsy@reddit

My nine year old plays this when we visit the in-laws. Great game!

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Littleleicesterfoxy@reddit

I loved the Mastermind game because I could play mastermind but also create colour pictures :)

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MowgeeCrone@reddit

I would only play battleship with my brother if he played mastermind with me. Loved this game. Still got it in storage somewhere, if the mice haven't trashed it.

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I loved playing this as a kid, mainly with my dad as I was an only child (luckily he loved playing it too!). Then about 15 years ago I found a secondhand one by chance in a charity shop. Showed my own kids how to play it and they quickly became hooked too. Even now, when they are all grown up and have all these other distractions, we still dust it off for a game occasionally. I would have loved to challenge my dad to a game again but he sadly passed away over 30 years ago.

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PdxPhoenixActual@reddit

I played w my friend in Jr hi in the library during lunch. The guys at the next table over were playing DnD... & would make fun of *us*. Ugh.

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Leprrkan@reddit

I hated this game so much. Noe we have Wordle.

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FletchWazzle@reddit

The bar I work at recently stocked a copy

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ZurEnArrh58@reddit

I effing loved this game. Almost no-one would play it with me though.

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71Crickets@reddit

Not only did I love this game, but also still have it, lol

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elliesee@reddit

It helps me with Wordle

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Boocat1927@reddit

Still a great game-

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ReeseIsPieces@reddit

I miss this fkn game. Wish I could find it again

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JustFaithlessness178@reddit

I always felt highly intelligent playing this game, I think because I was so intrigued by the people on the cover.

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tmmao@reddit

Loved this game. When my kids were little, I found a copy at the thrift store. Still play it with my 12 year old too. Such a clever simple game.

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curiouslywanting@reddit

My kids play it with me! :)

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ileentotheleft@reddit

Precursor to Wordle. I used to select HYMN when I chose the word.

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prowipes@reddit

I have this one. Great game. Even better packaging.

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mcsnee76@reddit

This explains a lot--I could never figure out how the batteries fit in.

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dandellionKimban@reddit

I had the same one, light blue if my memory still serves me. Early 80's in socialist Yugoslavia.

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not_that_one_times_3@reddit

That was one of the wet weather games in the library in primary school - don't think we actually knew how to play it!

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Astrostuffman@reddit

I beat my then 11 year old daughter in the first move because I know her so well that I figured out the colors she would pick and in what order. Drop the mic.

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GladosPrime@reddit

I'm surprised no video games have adapted this as a hacking minigame.... or you will correct me😂

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UncleAlbondiga@reddit

Fallout computer hacking is basically the same thing but with letters

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3Cogs@reddit

Nethack. :-) https://nethackwiki.com/wiki/Passtune

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dawnchs@reddit

Dave Gorman's sketch about Mastermind always makes me laugh. [Dave Gorman on Mastermind](https://youtu.be/lRUy_aFCWy8?si=R3_kc1tNLEte6FNj)

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ithinkiknowstuphph@reddit

Same. The couple were what I thought rich sophisticated folks looked like. Unlike some folks who pose as that and are still around in the public eye but really there’s no reason to make this political. But seriously I thought these two were the height of sophistication and smarts

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Minnow125@reddit

This was a great game. As was Battleship.

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Full-Association-175@reddit

I accidentally got all the colors before I had to guess. My friend never asked me to play that game again.

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snyde21@reddit

Whoa! Memories of playing this with my cousins just came flooding in. Love this game

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hazelquarrier_couch@reddit

I had the brown board one and I spent many a quiet night playing it with my mom.

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intecsys@reddit

Here is a really good article about the couples in different countries: [https://wearethemutants.com/2017/03/27/cunning-and-logic-the-international-imagery-of-mastermind/](https://wearethemutants.com/2017/03/27/cunning-and-logic-the-international-imagery-of-mastermind/)

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l_rufus_californicus@reddit

This was a great, fun read. Thanks!

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bigredthesnorer@reddit

I still have mine. But my wife and kids never enjoyed playing.

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operatorx4@reddit

I bought the retro version at target during covid. Still is a great game.

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IntrovertMTK@reddit

Loved that game. Always played it as a kid. Bought a newer version a few years ago. Couldn’t remember how to play

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helluvadame@reddit

I loved this game!

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Realistic_Young9008@reddit

I loved that game but no one would play it with me. I was 100% convinced I had psychic powers.

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jessek@reddit

I always liked the box art but rarely played the game

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Hour_Recognition_923@reddit

I got the same box, but brown board.

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intecsys@reddit

Same. As a kid i was always wondering about who that couple was.

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Taco_El_Paco@reddit

Same. It was the 'classy' version

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Capable_Ad4123@reddit

Same. I wouldn’t have remembered that of you didn’t say it.

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Dillenger69@reddit

Unlike Merlin https://preview.redd.it/sevjiu2ltxme1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6d739f19b17d2c66d34fa4e0eb35493fd25ae42

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3Cogs@reddit

One of Merlin's games was a Mastermind knock-off wasn't it?

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Dillenger69@reddit

Possibly? The only game I distinctly remember is tic-tac-toe. It's been a while

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HK-Admirer2001@reddit

4 spaces, that's the baby's version. I like 6 spaces with 11 colors (including black and white and blank spaces) with optional duplicate colors.

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QuickRiver2008@reddit

I just found this in a closet last week and taught my nephew how to play. He thought it was awesome.

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SarahRecords@reddit

I have a very 70s travel version of this with a denim pantsuit on the lady.

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LVmokie@reddit

YES!!!

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Prize-Grapefruiter@reddit

it was a great game . in fact I recently got a knockoff of it from aliexpress . still fun to play

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RaneeGA@reddit

We had this game, but I never saw it being played.

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Tasty-Building-3887@reddit

We LOVED this game. Holy cow menory unlocked!

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MaximumJones@reddit

Our GT teacher in 3rd grade let us play this in class to teach us "critical thinking skills". I think she just liked to goof off too.

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AppropriateAmoeba406@reddit

We played this regularly on my gifted pull out program. Which is to say: A teacher that saw us one day per week still didn’t want to deal with actively teaching us.

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HiddenUser1248@reddit

I still have mine and break it out occasionally.

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socksagain1968@reddit

I LOVED this game.

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redlorri@reddit

Loved it as a kid. My kids have an updated version called “Code Breaker” and they love it. Also bought them Battle Ships. Such classic, timeless games.

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Fancy_Average5440@reddit

My sister and I used to play this all the time. I loved this game!

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Ok-Anything1888@reddit

I remember playing this when we went to visit our grandparents house. They had all the good games!

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