Crime Scene: London 1892 (2021) Board Game

Crime Scene: London 1892 is a board game that takes players back to the Victorian era in London, where they work together as detectives to solve a murder mystery. The game is designed by Richard Heayes, Markku Heljakka, and Petter Ilander, and features artwork by Stevan Antonijević. Published by Tactic, this cooperative deduction game challenges players to use their investigative skills to uncover clues and catch the culprit before time runs out.

Game Components of Crime Scene: London 1892

1 Crime Scene image printed on thick cardboard

1 Story Booklet providing the narrative and key to the book cipher

Game Guide with setup and gameplay instructions

64 Cards, including Evidence cards, Puzzle cards, Hint cards, and Reputation cards

A street map printed on the inside of the box lid

How To Setup Crime Scene: London 1892

To set up the game, players start by reading the story in the Story Booklet, which sets the scene for the investigation. The game includes two separate instruction sheets: one for the overall goal and contents, and another for detailed setup and gameplay. Players must collect Evidence cards by finding details in the Crime Scene image, which is overlaid with a 5×6 numbered grid. Each Evidence card leads to Puzzle cards, and the process involves using the crime scene image and the story to solve puzzles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Cooperative, Solo, Mystery, Deduction

Game Mechanics: Card drafting, Puzzle-solving, Story-driven

Objective: Players act as detectives to collect evidence, make connections, and solve puzzles to uncover the culprit behind a Jack the Ripper-style murder in London, 1892.

Gameplay: Players follow the story, collect Evidence cards, solve puzzles using the Crime Scene image and other cards, and check solutions against the Crime File cards. Incorrect answers result in a loss of Reputation cards, making the final puzzle more challenging.

Player Experience

Crime Scene: London 1892 offers an immersive experience, drawing players into the gritty world of Whitechapel during the late 19th century. The game is designed for solo or cooperative play with two to four players, encouraging teamwork and debate over evidence and puzzle solutions. While the game is marked as 18+ due to the nature of the crime, it is not overly graphic and can be suitable for mature teenagers.

Pros

Engaging Story: The game features a compelling narrative written by a Finnish crime author.

Immersive Visuals: The crime scene image and other components create an immersive atmosphere.

Challenging Puzzles: Numerous puzzles that require careful observation and deduction.

Non-Destructive: The game can be passed on to new players after completion.

Cooperative Play: Encourages teamwork and discussion among players.

Cons

Rules Confusion: The setup process can be confusing due to partially overlapping instructions.

Clunky Mechanisms: The use of colored strings and multiple cards can sometimes be clunky and hard to manage.

Ambiguous Clues: Some puzzles have unclear answers or ambiguous clues, requiring additional clarification.

Personal Thoughts on Crime Scene: London 1892

This game is ideal for **story seekers** and **fans of mystery and deduction games**. It is best suited for players with some experience in puzzle-solving and cooperative games. The unique blend of storytelling, visual clues, and challenging puzzles makes it a compelling choice for those who enjoy immersive and intellectually stimulating games. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer straightforward rules and less complexity in their gameplay.

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