For the month of October, we'll be covering many a variety of spooky and ominous board games. This week's game...the game of suspects and candle sticks that is Clue.
Players: 3-6
Time: 45-60 minutes
Genre: Strategy / Family Game
In this cult classic, players take control of one of six potential suspects for the murder of a Mr. Boddy (yes, a terrible pun to be sure). As with any good murder mystery, the objective is for players to figure out who committed the crime, along with what weapon was used and where the crime took place. This information is kept in a sealed envelope as the rest of these clue cards are distributed among the players. Players will then begin taking turns roaming the mansion and searching for clues. Any time a player enters a room, they can propose a theory of who, where, and what killed Mr. Boddy. The player must use the room they entered, and any character accused gets pulled into the room as well. If the player to the left is holding any clues that can disprove this theory, they secretly share this information. Otherwise, it circles to the next player until such can be disproved. With this, players can then slowly start deducing what is in the envelope by process of elimination. Players can make a final accusation at any time during their turn, but if they should get it wrong, they are removed from the game. So it becomes a nervous race determining when is the right time to take the risk, or if you should just bide your time.
Part of what makes this game so timeless is its accessibility for all ages, but hidden depth in strategy with repeated play and greater skill. You can of course use your notepad to keep track of what clue cards you've seen, but more advanced players may begin keeping track of additional information, such as what cards players don't have or which potential cards are being shown between others based off the proposed theory. Since the player must have one of the three cards being shown, what card that is may be able to be later deduced with the right approach and careful notes. Players can also try to throw others off the trail by guessing of their own clue cards, or by guessing specific players to purposely draw them away from certain rooms. With such a long and rich history, there have been of course many numerous spin-offs and other versions, from poisoned donuts in The Simpsons to the halls of Hogwarts in Harry Potter. And for our gaming fans here, they even have a Legend of Zelda version based off the esteemed N64 classic, Ocarina of Time. While I would have selected a different roster of characters for this version, I have to admit how perfectly the board represents the map of Ocarina of Time, even with the corner board shortcuts perfectly representing the shortcuts found in the game world.
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| Perhaps the most accurate and fantastic representation of Ocarina of Time converted into a Clue board! |
I recommend any version of this game for those who enjoy methodical thinking and cool tokens. If you have any questions about Clue, let me know in the comments. Otherwise, look forward to more sinister games in future installments of Tabletop Tuesday.
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