Hidden Games Crime Scene: The New Haven Case

Hidden Games Crime Scene: The New Haven Case

DeductionMurder / Mystery
Players
1-6
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
3 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
180 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

Hidden Games Crime Scene: The New Haven Case puts players in the role of investigators hired by a mysterious client to look into a death dismissed by police as natural causes. Working cooperatively as a team, players examine documents, study fingerprints, check alibis, and dig into research using real internet access and phone messages to uncover clues. There's no fixed path to the solution: the investigation is genuinely open-ended and can be spread across multiple sessions. It's an immersive, real-world detective experience for a group willing to dive deep into a single mystery.

Hobbli's Notes

This scratches the true-crime, escape-room-adjacent itch with an unusually open-ended investigative structure: using real internet searches and phone texts blurs the line between game and real detective work in a fun way. It demands genuine engagement and note-taking from the whole table, so it's best with a group that enjoys getting immersed. Once solved, it's a one-time experience, much like other narrative mystery games.

What we like

  • The open-ended investigation using real documents and phone texts feels genuinely immersive.
  • Cooperative play encourages the whole group to contribute different investigative angles.
  • It can be split across multiple sessions rather than requiring one long sitting.
  • The murder-mystery premise offers strong thematic engagement.

Keep in mind

  • It's a one-time experience once the mystery is solved.
  • Requires internet access and phone messaging, which some groups may find inconvenient.
  • At up to three hours, it's a substantial time commitment for a single case.

Who it's for

Mystery-loving groups of 1-6 players aged 14+ who enjoy immersive, collaborative detective investigations.

Mechanics

Cooperative GameDeductionScenario / Mission / Campaign Game

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