Cluedo is a classic game which focus on deduction, but like a lot of games of it’s time has ages a bit and rolling to move, limited choices and actions you don’t control – being drawn into different locations.
The deduction is- there are 3 cards in the envelope which means NO player has them i the hand, so I need to investigate the cards I can’t find.
It is a theme that has continued to gaming and has almost split into other themes and spawned 100s of games, there are pure deduction games with very different themes, games were you are the murder trying to get away and sometimes continue to murder.
Crime theme
Games focusing on Crime solving with information gathering. Some games give you very clear clues the X was in the ball room at 9, or the weapon was not bladed, others there WILL not be enough clues to find especially under a time limit so you will need to go on hunches.
Chronicles of Crime has numerous themes from Modern Crime, Cyberpunk to Stranger things style wierd 80s. Using technology allows you to search crime scene for clues and interact with the suspects by asking specific questions. It also makes set up very easy and for dozens of thematic stories with different difficulties.
you have to go on hunches to solve the crime. Information, clues false information so more hunches are needed.
Kronologic is a faithful update on Cludeo with clear clues, X was in the ballroom at 9.00. Clear clues. A lot more depth and replayability.
Awkard guests you get pieces of information and then trade them with the other players, choosing what information to ask for and what to with holding. (Clear clue but with murder and accomplice lieing, the lies CAN be what give them away.
Mysteries of Peking (Classic 1983) you find clues including who is giving you a false clue to work out the location and appearance and there for the suspect, clues include the suspect has a hat.
Over the decades there have been lots of Sherlock Holmes themes games, I haven’t played most to be able to judge.
One person plays the Victim
Paranormal detectives has one player acting a ghost giving clues over their death, motive and murder using strange tools like string or spelling out words.
Mysterium the ghost via a medium gives clues using picture cards to give clues based on ‘vibes from the card’
Find the murder
These games focus one player hiding and rest using some kind of logic to find them on a map, by asking about locations or getting the person in their line of sight.
Jack the ripper.
Mr Jack
Mr Jack Pocket
Mind Management
Scotland Yard (1983 Classic)
Fury of Dracula (1987 Classic)
Players are the Murderer
In these games one or more people form a team to do the murders each night and the rest of the player use a variety of information or social clues to solve the mystery.
Werewolf
One Night Werewolf
Blood on the Clocktower
Just Deduction
Crime and murder focused deduction and pure deduction, where the logic puzzle of who did what when has been taken and placed into a new setting for example in Treasure Island you are looking for a pirate location or Cryptid you are looking for monsters. Both games use logic for example they ARE near the coast but they are NOT near a volcano. Treasure Island you use a wipe clean map to mark up viable areas and then move there to search.
There are various escape room games you play at home where the players use logic and clue finding to solve them. Unlock, Undo, Exit are some of the bigger bands
Role play games
There are several role play game system (Dungeons and Dragons) which focus on crime investigation from the Classic Call of Cthulu to its younger sibling Rivers of London. Blade runner and Altered Carbon based on the media focus on crime investigation.
Role play games feature Exploration, Diplomacy and Problem Solving, in many cases the problem to solve can be a crime!