Detective: City of Angels

Detective: City of Angels

Murder / Mystery
Players
1-5
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
3 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
150 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
14+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
2.4 / 5
Year
2019

About the game

Detective: City of Angels is a cooperative-competitive mystery game set in 1940s Los Angeles, where players take on the roles of LAPD detectives investigating cases using morally gray tactics like intimidation and evidence manipulation. One player secretly plays The Chisel, misdirecting the detectives through bluffing and carefully chosen answers using the game's innovative Adaptive Response Card System. Detectives must weigh the risk of challenging suspicious answers against the cost of being wrong, all while racing to close each case. With detailed casebooks and a rich noir atmosphere, it delivers a deeply immersive, story-driven detective experience for 1-5 players.

Hobbli's Notes

Hobbli's team is impressed by Detective: City of Angels' innovative interrogation system, which makes questioning suspects feel genuinely tense rather than scripted. The hidden-role Chisel player adds a layer of social deduction rarely seen in cooperative mystery games. It draws clear inspiration from classic noir fiction and film, and that atmosphere comes through strongly in play. The included sleuth mode is a great option for groups wanting a fully cooperative experience instead.

What we like

  • Innovative Adaptive Response Card System creates dynamic interrogations.
  • Hidden-role Chisel player adds genuine social deduction tension.
  • Rich film-noir atmosphere and strong narrative casebooks.
  • Includes a fully cooperative sleuth mode for flexible play styles.

Keep in mind

  • Long 150-minute playtime demands sustained group focus.
  • Cases are one-time experiences, limiting long-term replayability per casebook.
  • Higher minimum age and reading-heavy content may not suit all groups.

Who it's for

Great for mystery fans aged 14+ who enjoy deduction, bluffing, and noir storytelling, playing in groups of 1-5 with cooperative and semi-cooperative modes.

Mechanics

Action PointsMovementCooperative GameTeam-Based GameHidden Roles / Traitor

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