There’s Been A Murder (2019) Board Game

There’s Been A Murder is a board game that was released in 2019 by Tin*Star Games. Designed and illustrated by Steve Darlington, this game falls under the deduction and murder/mystery category. With a runtime of 5-15 minutes and suitable for players aged 13 and above, it offers an immersive experience for 3-8 players.

Game Components of There’s Been A Murder

9 Effect Cards

15 Action Cards

1 Reference Guide

Complete Instructions

Murderer, Detective, Informant, and Witness cards

Other character cards with unique effects

How To Setup There’s Been A Murder

To set up the game, determine the number of players and adjust the deck accordingly. For 3 or 4 players, remove cards 19-24 from the deck. Remove the Murderer and Detective cards from the deck, then shuffle the remaining cards. The Detective card is randomly placed somewhere in the top half of the deck, and the Murderer card is placed somewhere at the bottom. Deal two cards to each player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Play: Players work together to find the Murderer.

Card Drawing: Players draw a card if they have fewer than two in their hand.

Card Play: Players play one card per turn, following the instructions on the card.

Deduction: Use Action and Effect Cards to gather clues and communicate with other players.

Win Conditions:
– Detective forces the Murderer card to be discarded.
– Murderer and Informant cards are in the same player’s hand.

Loss Conditions:
– Murderer and Witness cards are in the same player’s hand.
– No cards left in the draw deck without meeting win conditions.
– All Murderer, Informant, and Detective cards are discarded without meeting win conditions.

Player Experience

Playing **There’s Been A Murder** involves a blend of strategy and luck. Players must remember what cards have been passed and discarded, and use this information to make informed decisions. The game is relatively easy to win, but introducing a traitor mechanism (e.g., by designating a player as a traitor using a Joker card) can add complexity and excitement to the game. The game accommodates 3-8 players and is suitable for ages 14 and up.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple gameplay mechanics make it accessible to new players.

High Replayability: Each game is different due to the random placement of key cards.

Teamwork: Encourages collaboration and communication among players.

Quick Games: Games are generally short, making it a great addition to game nights.

Cons

Vague Instructions: Some rules are not clearly explained, leading to confusion.

Reading Intensive: Requires a lot of reading and memory to keep track of cards.

Luck of the Draw: Success can heavily depend on the cards drawn.

Personal Thoughts on There’s Been A Murder

**There’s Been A Murder** is ideal for those who enjoy cooperative games and social deduction. It’s a great choice for game nights with friends or family, especially if you’re looking for a game that encourages teamwork and strategic thinking. However, it may not be the best fit for younger players or those who struggle with reading and remembering card effects. Overall, it’s a fun and engaging game that can be enhanced by introducing additional rules or mechanisms, like the traitor element, to add more complexity and challenge.

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