Crime Hotel (2018) Board Game

Crime Hotel is a board game released in 2018 by the publisher Aurora. Designed by Susumu Kawasaki, the game falls under the categories of card game, deduction, and murder/mystery. Players take on the roles of detectives trying to solve a murder mystery at a hotel. With a runtime of 30-45 minutes and designed for 3-4 players, Crime Hotel is suitable for ages 8 and up.

Game Components of Crime Hotel

27 micro cards in three suits

Light fabric ‘board’ representing the hotel

Five meeples per player

ID badges for players

Police Station board

Score sheet

How To Setup Crime Hotel

To start each of the three rounds, the 27 micro cards are shuffled and six are dealt to every player. Each player also collects their five meeples and ID badge. One of the leftover cards is tucked under a corner of the board. This setup is crucial for the strategic guessing that follows.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Players manage a hand of six cards.

Trick-taking: Players lead a card, and others must follow suit (a floor of the hotel) or play any card if they can’t.

Deduction: Players use the cards played to deduce the location of the murder.

Scoring: Points are awarded for guessing the correct floor (2 points), room end-digit (5 points), or the exact room (10 points). Bonus points can be earned through the Police Station board.

Game Objective: The goal is to be the first player to accurately guess the room where the murder took place, accumulating the most points over three rounds.

Player Experience

In Crime Hotel, players take on the roles of detectives trying to solve a murder by strategically playing cards and placing meeples on the board to guess the location of the crime. The game builds suspense as more cards are revealed, narrowing down the potential rooms. However, the experience can be marred by the limited control players have, especially in four-player games where some players might not get many opportunities to make guesses.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The neo-noir art and murder mystery theme add a thrilling layer to the game.

Strategic Depth: The game requires careful deduction and strategic card play.

Tension Build-Up: Each round increases the tension as players get closer to the truth.

Easy to Learn: The game is relatively simple to learn but offers depth in strategy.

Cons

Limited Control: Players, especially in four-player games, may have limited opportunities to make guesses.

Guesswork Over Deduction: With fewer used cards in three-player games, the game can feel more about guesswork than deduction.

No Setup Adjustments: There are no adjustments for different player counts, which can affect gameplay balance.

Fiddly Components: The light fabric board can be easily disturbed, and some components, like the first player token, are not necessary.

Personal Thoughts on Crime Hotel

Crime Hotel is a viable option for those who enjoy deduction games and murder mysteries, particularly if you are OK with some of its potential flaws. While it is fun for families to finagle the fatal room, more experienced gamers might find the lack of control and some of the minor issues frustrating. It is best suited for players looking for a light, suspenseful game that requires strategic thinking, but may not satisfy those seeking complex, deeply immersive experiences.

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