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

Deck of cards

Detective tokens

Crime scene board

Solution envelope

Notepad

Rulebook

How To Setup Crime Hotel

Place the crime scene board in the center of the table.

Shuffle the deck of cards and deal them to each player.

Each player chooses a detective token.

Place the solution envelope and notepad within reach.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Players must deduce who committed the murder, with what weapon, and in which room of the hotel. This is done through a combination of hand management and trick-taking mechanics. Players collect evidence cards, play them strategically, and make deductions based on the information they have gathered. The objective is to be the first player to correctly solve the murder mystery.

Player Experience

Pros

Engaging deduction gameplay

Quick runtime makes it suitable for multiple rounds in one gaming session

Easy to learn for players of all ages

Cons

Limited replayability once players have memorized card combinations

Lack of variety in gameplay mechanics may lead to repetitive experiences

Some players may find the theme of murder and crime to be off-putting

Personal Thoughts on Crime Hotel

Crime Hotel offers a solid deduction gaming experience, perfect for casual gamers looking for a light challenge. The build quality of the components is decent, and the artwork by Christopher Matt and Ian Parovel adds to the immersive theme of the game. However, the lack of variety in gameplay mechanics and potential for limited replayability may deter more hardcore gamers.

In terms of pricing and availability, Crime Hotel is relatively affordable and can be found both new and used online. For those who enjoy murder mystery and deduction games, Crime Hotel is worth checking out. However, for players looking for more complex gameplay or a deeper narrative experience, they may want to explore alternatives such as Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective or Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. Overall, Crime Hotel is a fun and engaging game that is worth your time if you enjoy the genre.

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