Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game

Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game

DeductionMurder / Mystery
Players
1-5
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
2 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
180 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
16+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
2.7 / 5
Year
2018

About the game

Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game is a cooperative investigation experience where one to five players work through five interconnected cases as members of a modern crime agency. Players consult an online database simulating real detective resources, gathering clues, checking facts, and piecing together an overarching meta-plot that spans all five cases. Sessions run long, often up to three hours, reflecting the depth of the narrative. It's a genre-blending mix of board game and online research that must be played in case order.

Hobbli's Notes

Hobbli finds this one of the most immersive deduction experiences in the hobby thanks to its clever use of an online companion database alongside physical cards. It demands serious time and attention from the whole group, but the payoff of the interconnected five-case story is well worth it for dedicated mystery fans.

What we like

  • Deeply immersive narrative with an online database companion.
  • Satisfying interconnected five-case campaign.
  • Strong cooperative deduction gameplay.
  • High replay value through its overarching storyline.

Keep in mind

  • Very long playtime per session.
  • Cases must be played in a fixed order, limiting flexibility.
  • One-time use of clues reduces replayability of specific cases.

Who it's for

Mystery and narrative game fans aged 16+ who enjoy immersive storytelling and cooperative deduction, in groups of one to five.

Mechanics

Cooperative GameNarrative Choice / ParagraphScenario / Mission / Campaign GameSolo / Solitaire GameStorytellingVariable Player Powers

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