Cryptic clues, challenging investigations, and mysterious murderers not only make for a great novel, but they are also the perfect setup for a fun, thematic board game. If you’re a fan of the classic whodunit, then you’ll enjoy each of the ten murder mystery board games on our list. Every title we’re highlighting here has fun puzzles, interesting twists, and gripping gameplay that will make you feel smarter than Sherlock Holmes when you finally solve the case.
1. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
In Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, each player is dealt a secret role and must convince the others that they’re innocent. One of the other people at the table is a killer, and depending on the number of players, they might have an accomplice. The person who draws the role of the forensic scientist helps the investigators by identifying some of the key details amongst available the clues and potential murder weapons. If everyone’s accusations are incorrect, or if the time runs out, the killer gets away.
2. Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game
Detective blends classic clue gathering with FBI forensics, and to great effect. This mix ensures that every crime is satisfying to solve because of how many tools are at your disposal. You’ll of course need to break out the pin board and some red string, but you’ll also get to spend some time perusing the Antares Database, an online resource that aids the investigators in their work with key details about each suspect.
3. Whitehall Mystery
A mysterious killer is on the loose in London, and your team of investigators in Whitehall Mystery needs to track him down and catch him. One player takes on the role of the murderer himself, aiming to cover up his tracks by landing on four different spaces spread across the board. The detectives will have to deduce which roads, alleyways, and boats the killer will take. They’ll also need to investigate locations to find out if the killer has already been there. It’s a great board game if you want to skip right to the most action-packed part of the case.
4. Suspects: Claire Harper Takes the Stage
Three mysteries await you in Suspects: Claire Harper Takes the Stage, each with a unique theme and twist that matches the 1930s setting in which the stories take place. The art style of the maps, family trees, and other clues spread throughout the game environment is incredible, and aid in making this an unmissable adventure for fans of classic mysteries.
5. Exit: The Game- Dead Man on the Orient Express
Exit: The Game is a series of escape room kits, with each box containing exciting new puzzles and riddles based on a particular theme. In Dead Man on the Orient Express, the story revolves around a mysterious murder on a train, with details that are, of course, similar to Agatha Christie’s famous novel Murder on the Orient Express. As far as the Exit series goes, this box is on the more difficult side, but that’s perfect for fans who love solving a challenging whodunit.
6. Cryptic Killers: Murder of a Millionaire
Though the Cryptic Killers series isn’t a board game in the traditional sense, it’s an fun tabletop experience that’s sure to be a game night hit. Each case file has a collection of evidence that players will need to carefully examine. The evidence includes things like newspapers, photographs, letters, and texts. You’ll have to break codes, solve complex cyphers, and start in-depth discussions in order to solve the case. Murder of a Millionaire is the best-selling Cryptic Killers mystery, with a difficulty rating of 3.5/5. However, if you you want a more challenging experience, there are plenty of other Cryptic Killers kits.
7. Mysterium
In Mysterium, you and your fellow psychics investigate a haunted mansion to gather clues from the beyond that help you solve a murder. One of the players is a ghost who communicates only with abstract, spectral images that look like something out of a strange dream. Small details in the artwork will help you find out who the killer is, what weapon they used, and of course, where the crime was committed. The clock is against you, and if daylight rises without everyone having gathered their clues, the entire team is defeated.
8. Chronicles of Crime
Chronicles of Crime is an app-integrated game that requires players to scan the QR codes on the locations and cards in play to investigate them. This is an innovative mechanic that allows you to search virtual 3D crime scenes and talk to suspects using your phone or tablet. Some of the game’s mysteries interlace with one another, though there isn’t a strict campaign, which means you can start with any case.
9. Blood on the Clocktower
When the town storyteller is murdered by a mysterious demon, the villagers of Ravenswood Bluff must work together to identify who is secretly an agent of the forces of evil. Anywhere from 6 to 20 people people can play Blood on the Clocktower together, and in this case it’s the more the merrier. During the day phase, everyone will discuss who think is evil, and if the majority agree that someone is evil, that person is executed. During the night phase, the demons will choose their next victim. Everyone has an individual role, which means everyone knows something different.
10. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures
Fancy yourself to be a detective as clever as Sherlock Holmes? Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures is the ultimate test of your investigative abilities. In front of you are maps of Whitechapel and greater London, a story booklet that details the case, and a series of newspapers through which you can search for clues. You’ll need to decide what locations are worth visiting and who you should interrogate before you run out of time. The Victorian-era setting in which the story takes place is richly detailed and incredibly well-realized. t’s not an easy game, but when you do finally manage to deduce the correct details, you’ll feel like an absolute genius.
Published: Aug 28, 2024 12:35 pm