Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective (1956) Board Game

Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective is a board game released in 1956 by National Games, Inc. It is based on the popular detective character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The game is designed for 3-5 players and falls under the deduction, murder/mystery, and novel-based categories.

Game Components of Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective

Game board

Player pieces

Cards with clues

Dice

Rulebook

How To Setup Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective

Place the game board in the center of the table.

Each player selects a player piece and places it on the starting space.

Shuffle the clue cards and place them face down.

Roll the dice to determine who goes first.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Players move around the board collecting clues to solve a mystery. They must deduce the identity of the culprit and the weapon used in the crime. The first player to correctly solve the mystery wins the game.

Player Experience

Pros:

Engaging deduction gameplay

Historical theme based on Sherlock Holmes

Suitable for fans of murder/mystery games

Cons:

Roll and move mechanic can be repetitive

Limited replayability once the mystery is solved

Personal Thoughts on Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective

As a fan of mystery games, I found Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective to be an enjoyable experience. The game captures the essence of Sherlock Holmes’ investigative skills and provides a fun challenge for players. However, the roll and move mechanic can feel outdated, and the replayability factor may be limited for some players.

In terms of build quality, the components of the game are decent but may feel dated compared to modern board games. The pricing and availability of the game may vary, with used copies being more accessible than new ones.

Overall, Sherlock Holmes: The Game of the Great Detective is worth trying for fans of deduction and mystery games, especially those who appreciate the classic Sherlock Holmes theme. However, players looking for more strategic gameplay or variety may want to explore other alternatives or similar games in the genre. It is a game that can be enjoyed by a wide range of players, but those who prefer more complex mechanics may find it lacking.

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