Mystery! Motive for Murder (2015) Board Game

Mystery! Motive for Murder is a board game released in 2015, designed by Edward Gorey and published by Mayfair Games. It falls under the category of Movies/TV/Radio theme and Murder/Mystery genre. The game is designed for 1–5 players with a runtime of 30–90 minutes and is suitable for ages 10 and up.

Game Components of Mystery Motive for Murder

Suspect tiles with relationship arrows and text describing relationships

Interview cubes

Motive cards

Victim tile

Scoring track and status discs

Detective cards (in the “Prime Suspect” variant)

Second interview tokens (in the “Prime Suspect” variant)

How To Setup Mystery Motive for Murder

To set up the game, a victim tile is laid out on the table. Each player receives a hand of three suspect tiles and three motive cards. The remaining tiles and cards are placed within reach of all players. The game board is essentially formed by placing these tiles around the victim, ensuring that the gravestones on the tiles all point in the same direction.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place suspect tiles adjacent to existing tiles, ensuring relationship arrows match.

Interview Cubes: Players place interview cubes on tiles they have played to mark them.

Motive Cards: Players can use motive cards to change relationships between suspects.

Relationship Scoring: Suspects with hate relationships to the victim or indirect relationships through other suspects score motive points.

Rounds and Cases: The game is divided into rounds, with each round ending in scoring. Three rounds constitute a case, and three cases make up the entire game.

Objective: The player with the most points, accumulated from interviewing the most promising suspects, wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing Mystery Motive for Murder involves a blend of strategic tile placement and deductive reasoning. Players must carefully consider the relationships between suspects to build a network that yields the highest motive points. The game’s abstract mechanics are balanced by a rich thematic layer, where players engage with the intricate web of relationships and motives among the suspects. This makes the game engaging for those who enjoy puzzle-solving and strategic thinking.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The game’s theme of unraveling a murder mystery is well-executed and immersive.

Strategic Depth: The game offers a good balance of strategy and luck, making each playthrough unique.

Social Interaction: Players must pay attention to each other’s moves to optimize their own chances of winning.

Variants for Complexity: The “Prime Suspect” variant adds more strategic elements with detective cards and second interviews.

Cons

Rule Complexity: The rules can be confusing, especially for the first playthrough.

Setup Time: Setting up the game and understanding the relationships between tiles can be fiddly and time-consuming.

Random Element: The game has a significant random component, which may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Mystery Motive for Murder

Mystery Motive for Murder is best suited for players who enjoy deduction games and strategic planning. It is particularly appealing to those who appreciate complex relationships and motives, similar to a soap opera or a detective novel. While it may not be the best fit for players seeking a quick, straightforward game due to its rule complexity and setup time, it offers a rich and engaging experience for those willing to invest the time to understand its mechanics. The game supports 1-5 players, making it versatile for different group sizes.

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