Murder mystery, whodunit board games have been successfully captivating players for many decades now. They offer a fun, sometimes thrilling chance to get immersed in the intricacies of detective work and the science of deduction.

Related

26 Of The Most Difficult Board Games For Adults

While some board games are a great choice for a simple game night, these choices are more difficult to learn for those wanting a challenge.

As well as emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and examining clues, many great whodunits also add a suspenseful atmosphere to proceedings. As players embody investigators, they must unravel complex puzzles and uncover disturbing crimes on the way to catching a dastardly killer. These games don't just stop at providing a fun pastime for several hours either, they also help to foster a cooperative, often competitive environment, making them ideal for fun social gatherings.

Updated on January 25, 2024, by John Cunningham: Whodunits have been a staple of the board game medium for many decades now. Along the way, the formula has received all manner of fresh takes and updates, from old-fashioned period piece settings to horror vibes to modern-day, forensically-minded investigation. With so many wild options to choose from, it's no wonder the genre remains so popular today and continues to enjoy new releases. Additional bullet points and heading info have been added to provide more details on this selection of addictive, often competitive, mystery games that frequently serve to test the wits of players in fun, thematic narrative settings. Four more acclaimed board games have been added from the whodunit genre.

10 Deadline Provides Atmospheric Noir Tension

A Great New York-Set Mystery With Intriguing Characters

• Publisher: Infocom
• Initial release: 1982

Time is of the essence in this retro board game that serves as a film noir homage. Set in late ‘30s New York, the atmospheric game provides a neat test of players’ knack for deduction.

The narrative of the game kicks off with a wealthy client hiring a private eye to investigate her missing husband’s disappearance. Supporting two to four players, the game allows the whole team to become cynical detectives in an old-fashioned, moody noir setting. With both special investigative traits and hand-management gaming mechanisms, Deadline provides an increasingly intense experience as the clock winds down. A perfect fit for film buffs who enjoy classic noir flicks.

9 Letters from Whitechapel Is An Excellent Victorian Battle Of Wits

A Thrilling Board Game Take On The Horrors Of One Of London's Most Infamous Killers

• Publisher: Asmodee
• Initial release: 2013

This suitably sinister piece of board-gaming fun takes players back to Victorian London. There, the players must investigate the era’s most infamous killer: Jack the Ripper.

With room for anything from two to six players, the game provides a sense of competitive urgency by making one of the players take the role of the Ripper. From there, a cat-and-mouse game unfolds as the killer must keep his tracks covered while the investigators piece together his identity and movements. It’s an immersive example of period piece board gaming that keeps its players on their toes. As time begins to run out, both parties must up the intensity in a bid to win the game.

8 13 Dead End Drive Is A Fun Murder Mystery For The Whole Family To Enjoy

A Humorous, Unpredictable Board Game Experience

• Publisher: Milton Bradley
• Initial release: 1993

Aunt Agatha’s all-important fortune is on the line in this colorful murder mystery. This family-friendly take on the genre is bolstered by its fun emphasis on bluffing.

Related

10 Board Games The Whole Family Can Enjoy

There are many board games out there for the whole family, but these are the 10 best of the lot

Players must outwit each other in order to pick up the sizable inheritance on the line. Along the way, they must also avoid the numerous deadly traps that can take characters out of the picture. This thrilling element of surprise adds a good deal of tension to the proceedings, keeping players on edge as they try to outwit one another. Thanks to its unique themes and rules, 13 Dead End Drive is a fine piece of imaginative murder mystery board gaming.

7 A Study In Emerald Is An Imaginative Genre Mash-Up

An Intriguing Fusion Of Two Very Different Classics

• Publisher: Treefrog Games
• Initial release: 2013

This captivating game blends the horror of HP Lovecraft with the wits and deductions of Sherlock Holmes to thrilling effect. Adapted from a short story by Neil Gaiman, A Study In Emerald introduces players to a world that has been taken over by the dreaded Olden Ones.

This alternative 19th-century timeline sees an underground rebellion in full effect. For players, that means secret alter egos, as they must either be a rebel or be loyal to the Old Ones. A fantastical battle of wits, the game immerses players in both dark, epic horror and Victorian murder mystery tropes at once, making for a compellingly original, eclectic experience for players looking for a more complex playing experience.

6 Chronicles Of Crime Is A Thrilling, High-Tech Board-Gaming Experience

A Great Blend Of Board Gaming And Technology

• Publisher: Lucky Duck Games
• Initial release: 2018

This eclectic game has turned plenty of heads thanks to its innovative blend of board gaming, virtual reality, and a smartphone app. On the board, Chronicles of Crime still remains relatively conventional, with an emphasis on locations, suspects, and potential murder weapons.

However, the use of more modern technology here provides players with considerably more bang for their buck than one might first expect from a board game. The app makes way for a near-endless selection of cases for players to get through, with the core objective being to solve the mystery in as short a time span as possible. The VR, meanwhile, allows players to more fully enter the world of the game, investigating crime scenes in a more sensory-immersive style than a traditional board game could provide. Between its engaging, boundary-pushing gameplay and its diverse set of quests, Chronicles of Crime is a compelling mystery experience.

5 Deception: Murder In Hong Kong Is A Fun Battle Of Wits

An Effective Battle Of Forensic Wits For Players

• Publisher: Grey Fox Games
• Initial release: 2015

This forensics-focused game sports a neat twist on the standard whodunit genre of gaming. From the get-go, one of the players is the killer, prompting a hectic contest of cat-and-mouse between the guilty party and the players doing proper investigating in the game's nicely executed Hong Kong setting.

Along with a player assuming the role of the killer, another takes on the mantle of the Forensic Scientist. This key role in the game sees the player in question know who the killer is, but only be allowed to drop clues to try and nudge everyone else in the right direction. Full of suspense, trickery, and a strong emphasis on deduction, Deception is a cleverly executed, competitive piece of whodunit fun. With so many roles on offer within the game, it's a great bit of fun for larger groups of board game lovers looking to get an engrossing game up and running.

4 Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Is A Must-Play For Fans Of The Character

An On-Point Homage To The Beloved Detective

• Publisher: Sleuth Productions
• Initial release: 1981

It should go without saying that Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved detective is tailor-made for the whodunit genre of board gaming. This deduction-focused game offers a good-natured ode to Holmes' classic Victorian London adventures.

Related

The Best Detective Board Games (That Will Make Players Feel Like Sherlock Holmes)

Players can now truly live out their inner Sherlock Holmes fantasies to solve various cases thanks to these fantastic detective board games.

A series of curious murder cases send players into the roles of Holmes and his trusty investigative companion, Dr. John Watson. The game follows plenty of standard detective tropes, with leads, clues, and city exploration while also tying into the often colorful, oddball cases and storytelling style of Conan Doyle's classic novels and short stories on the character. With no dice and little room for luck or guesswork, Consulting Detective challenges players to test their wits while enjoying an authentic, well-laid-out take on London in the 19th century.

3 Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game Is A Complex, Richly Detailed Game

A Masterclass In Complex Case-Solving

• Publisher: Portal Games
• Initial release: 2018

This cleverly constructed mystery sees players solve five cases over the course of a game. While each case looks different on the surface, it gradually turns out they are all shockingly interconnected.

In a harsh, potentially infuriating twist, players aren't necessarily guaranteed to solve the full conspiratorial web of crime on hand. For those who don't pick up on every case connection, the potential to deal with an unsolved case becomes readily apparent. Sporting dramatic, realistic storytelling intricate cases, and investigative work, Detective is one of the more in-depth, authentic whodunit experiences on the market today. Played in conjunction with an online app, the immersive board game allows players to do everything from matching fingerprints to interrogating suspects, making it a rich thrill ride for murder mystery lovers.

2 Mysterium Is A Modern Classic

A Rich And Clever Narrative For Players To Uncover

• Publisher: Libellud
• Initial release: 2015

This well-plotted favorite stands out for its seamless blend of traditional murder mystery, card-focused gameplay, and often suspenseful guessing game work. Sporting a more supernatural vibe than the typical whodunit, Mysterium revolves around a séance to figure out a case from thirty years ago.

Related

20 Video Games To Play If You Love Solving Mysteries

Looking to solve a disappearance, murder, or something even more sinister? These mystery games let fans play detective.

One player takes control of the summoned ghost, dropping quiet clues via cards to each player. The rest of the players, meanwhile, serve as the mediums, piecing together the case and progressing once they've correctly guessed the culprit, weapon, and area in which the murder took place. It's a complex, seven-round affair that manages to keep players on their toes throughout. Released to considerable acclaim, Mysterium has quickly established itself as an innovative, eclectic piece of whodunit fun, impressing board game lovers with its neat design, eye-catching visuals, and immersive, mystery-solving format.

1 Clue Is A Near-Perfect, Classic Whodunit

A Flawless, 1920s-Set Mystery Masterpiece

• Publisher: Hasbro
• Initial release: 1949

The most seminal of all murder mystery board games has been hooking players for more than seven decades now. With colorful characters and cleverly constructed clues, the game set a new benchmark for whodunits both in gaming and other mediums moving forward.

Players compete to solve the mysterious murder of Mr. Boddy (Boddy Black Jr. in the most recent update) at the eerie Tudor Mansion in Hampshire, England. Set in the 1920s, the game introduces players to several colorful suspects, including a professor, a war veteran, and a reverend among others. On top of that, there are a variety of weapons and rooms for players to suss out and choose from. With its large array of possibilities and clues, this iconic board game continues to intrigue and entertain board game enthusiasts with impressive ease, and has even enjoyed the film treatment.

MORE: The Best Video Game Adaptations, Ranked