Who doesn’t love the triumph of announcing “It was Professor Plum… in the library… with the lead pipe!” The mystery game Clue has been a hit family game for decades, introducing generations to suspicious characters like Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard. Games like Clue are beloved by families, teaching kids and adults alike how to use logic to find the answer. In fact, Clue is so popular that it’s produced a number of spin-offs, including Harry Potter Clue, Star Wars Clue, and even an expanded Clue Master Detective edition that includes more than the usual suspects.
If you can't get enough mysteries on your game shelf, you're in luck. Our Underdog Games Advisors and fans have offered up these terrific games like Clue for all ages. In some, each player attempts to solve the mystery, on their own or cooperatively. Others are asymmetrical games, where one player is the criminal or even a traitor out to foil the rest. So grab your magnifying glass and put on your detective hat—it’s time to solve a mystery or two!
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Outfoxed!
Think of this like Clue for beginners! Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie has gone missing. Can you and your friends work together to track it down? We love the cooperative nature of this one, encouraging teamwork among little ones. Gameplay is quick, too, which is nice for short attention spans. Older kids may find this game simplistic, but youngsters will love it. (2-4 Players, Ages 4+)
Spy Alley
Instead of seeking a murderer, you're on the hunt for spies in this deduction game. Each player is a spy from a different country. Work to gather all the items that represent your nationality before other players figure out which country you're from! The rules are simple and easy to pick up, but the game is different every time. (2-6 players, ages 8+)
221B Baker Street, Deluxe Edition
That address should ring a bell with any true mystery fan! Travel back to Victorian London and work to solve one of 200 mysteries written especially for the game. You can play alone, or cooperatively or competitively with two or more players. Each game takes at least an hour, in general. (1+ Players, Ages 14+)
Rear Window
Fans of the classic Hitchcock film will want to check out the board game version. One player is the Director, silently laying out cards to give the Watchers hints about what's unfolding across the alley. The Watchers work together to figure out who committed what crime—or if there's been a crime at all!) Like Clue, you get a new mystery every time. (3-5 players, ages 13+)
Scotland Yard
This mystery game has been around a long time, but it remains a classic. One player takes on the role of the mysterious Mr. X, who moves around the City of London game board in an attempt to elude the other players. These players work together as detectives, trying to track down and land on Mr. X’s (hidden) location. Set aside at least 45 minutes for a game. (3-6 Players, Ages 10+)
MicroMacro: Crime City
One of our Underdog Advisors describes this one as Clue meets Where's Waldo? Players work cooperatively to solve 16 different murders by looking for clues on the intricately-drawn board. There's even a magnifying glass to help you feel more like a real classic detective! (1-4 players, ages 12+)
Obscurio
Obscurio is a mystery game set in a fantasy world. Players are trapped in a magical library, trying to make their way out using clues from a Grimoire spell book. They work together to elude the evil sorcerer determined to stop them, but beware! One player is secretly a traitor, attempting to mislead the rest. Expect a game to last 45 minutes or so. (2-8 Players, Ages 10+)
Awkward Guests
Awkward Guests is so much like Clue that you won't have any trouble mastering the rules and jumping right in. The clever design means there are more than 3,600 solutions to the mystery, so you can play this one again and again and never get tired of it. It even has 7 levels of difficulty, so kids and adults can both play. It's a little longer than Clue, with a game taking 45-75 minutes, so be sure to set aside enough time to enjoy it. (1-8 players, ages 12+)
Mysterium
This is one of those games like Clue, but with a bit of a twist. A terrible crime once occurred on the grounds of Mysterium Manor, and players must cooperate to determine what happened. One player knows the answer, and offers clues using beautifully-illustrated image cards to help lead the others to the solution. Like many others, this one has about a 45-minute gameplay time. (2-7 Players, Ages 10+)
Spyfall
In this asymmetrical mystery game, all players start by receiving a card telling them the group’s location—except for one. That player is the spy, and must participate in the group discussion while trying to determine where the rest of the group is before the time is up, without blowing their own cover! This 15 minutes-or-less game is full of bluffs and clever questions, and will have you looking at friends and family in a whole new way. (3-8 Players, Ages 13+)
5-Minute Mystery: The Museum of Everything
Looking for quick mystery games? The new 5-Minute Mystery series is your pick! In this one, the museum curator’s MacGuffin is missing! Use the case cards for clues and enter the correct symbols on the cryptex to catch the culprit. Each game is unique, and really can be completed in just a few minutes. (1-6 Players, Ages 8+)
Unsolved Case Files: Jane Doe
Ready to do some serious investigating? The Unsolved Case Files series is right up your alley. Each one presents a complex case to crack, including several smaller mysteries that help you along the way. You’ll get case files full of evidence to comb through, including documents, photographs, witness statements and more. Expect this to be an hours-long adventure, ideal for rainy afternoons or game nights. (2+ Players, Ages 13+)
Cat Crimes and Dog Crimes
These are more games like Clue for the younger crowd (no murder here!). Each card presents a brief mystery to solve and a number of clues. You use the game board to help narrow down the suspects and find the answer. The mystery cards offer increasing levels of difficulty, so every age can get in on the fun. Though they’re designed for a single-player, these games can be played cooperatively by multiple kids or families. (1 Player, Ages 8-12)
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
This mystery game is great for a group. One player is the murderer, who chooses their weapon and the evidence to leave behind. Another takes on the role of forensic scientist, who offers expert analysis of the evidence, but must stick to the facts. The rest of the group are investigators, using those clues to catch the killer. Multiple cards and scenarios mean you can play this 20-minute game over and over. (4-12 Players, Ages 14+)
Kill Doctor Lucky
Underdog Advisors describe this one as "the opposite of Clue," and they absolutely love it. Instead of investigating a murder, you're trying to commit one! In fact, people have been trying to kill Dr. Lucky for nearly 25 years. Will you be the one who finally takes him down? This quick-paced game presents fun new decisions to make on every turn. (3-8 players, ages 12+)
Love games where everyone works together? Check out the Best Cooperative Board Games for Family and Friends to Tackle Together.
