Cluedo, also known asClue, is one of the most popularboard gamesof all time. The game finds six players navigating a mansion following a murder. Throughout the game, players must figure out the killer’s identity, the murder weapon, and where it happened. The first player to arrive at the correct answer wins. The franchise has spawned movies, game shows, and even a book series.
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However, with only six potential killers, locations, and murder weapons, the game can get repetitive over time. Thankfully, fans ofCluedocan look into other board games that are similar in concept to the famous murder mystery. These board and card games are the best options forCluedofans who want a new mystery to solve on game night.
6Outfoxed!
Outfoxedis essentiallyCluedofor a younger audience. As such, the mystery is a more kid-friendly escapade. Instead of a gruesome murder, a prized pot pie has gone missing, andit’s up to the players to figure out who the culprit is. Together, players cooperatively cross suspects off their list while trying to catch the criminal.
Part of this game’s charm is in its art direction. Not only is the game board a charming cartoon town, but it also features beautiful game pieces that flesh out this anthropomorphic world. For families who want to encourage their kids to become petty sleuths, this game is a great starting point.
55-Minute Mystery
It’s no secret that board games can take time, especiallythe more complex ones likeMonopolyorRisk. Thankfully, the board game5-Minute Mysterypromises a high-stakes whodunit at breakneck speeds. UnlikeCluedo, however,5-Minute Mysterytests its players with some real-life detective skills.
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While investing a museum theft, players must uncover the mystery by searching for hidden symbols and decoding clues to rule out potential suspects. LikeOutfoxed,it also features some pretty snazzy artworkof anthropomorphic characters, each of whom has something to hide. Of course, all this must go down with a pretty brief time limit.
4Mysterium
Mysteriumis a popular board game that, likeCluedo, features a mountain of lore alongside its central mystery. Players take on the role of psychic mediums using their clairvoyance to solve the murder of another player, who takes on the role of a ghost. The ghost’s role is similar to the dealer in a game of poker, offering mediums a chance to win. They do so by offering cards to each player, the images on which are meant to hint at the murderer, location, and weapon.
It’s very similar toCluedoin its objective: mediums must piece together who was the killer, where the murder happened, and with what weapon. However, players must rely on interpretation rather than facts. The game rewards cooperation as well, as the mediums only win if they’re all able to guess the ghost’s killer.It’s a worthwhile time for board game fanswho prefer stakes to their mystery.
3Awkward Guests
While games ofCluedoonly have so many outcomes,Awkward Guestsis designed to avoid this problem.This card game creates a unique mystery each time, giving each player a set of cards with information about the murder on it. It’s up to the players to seek out specific information from other players every round.
After the end of each round, players may try and guess who the culprit is. Of course, whoever guesses it correctly first wins the game. It’s a lot more competitive than the others options on this list, but don’t be too confident. The mystery will change up every time, so it’s all up to luck.
2Alibi
This card game is extremely similar toCluedoin its premise, though it takes it a step further. The unique aspect ofAlibiis how specific each murder gets. Players not only have to determine the murder weapon and killer’s identity, but also details like the motive and time of day. This makes the deductive process more complex thanCluedo’s.
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Players track who’s ahead by revealing clues to earn points. Every round, players ask each other to reveal what clues they have, crossing suspects off the list as they go.It’s a great game for groups both big and small, and can fly by very quickly. However, players should avoid wrong accusations, as they can lose points.
1One Night Ultimate Werewolf
No game surrounding a mystery is as intense and argumentative asOne Night Ultimate Werewolf. The game finds players taking on the roles of villagers, each with specific roles and abilities. In larger groups,two of the players are secretly werewolves, and every round finds players arguing over each other to find who’s telling the truth and who’s lying.
This is a great game to play with a group of close friends, as many laughs can be had over what each person claims. There are even additional expansions to this game, includingDaybreak, which includes many new roles for players to choose. At the end of it all, players make their accusations, hoping by luck they’ve caught a werewolf.
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