Tea Time Crime (2023) Board Game

Tea Time Crime is a board game released in 2023 by designer Felix Wermke and artist Piatnik. It is a game that combines elements of dice rolling and tile placement, creating a unique puzzle-solving experience for 2-4 players. With a playtime of 30-45 minutes and recommended for ages 10 and up, Tea Time Crime offers a fun and engaging gaming experience for families and friends alike.

Game Components of Tea Time Crime

Player Boards: Each player receives a board representing Lord Waldemar’s house.

Wooden Flashlights: 5 flashlights per player to mark detectives.

Dice: 5 dice with values 1 to 5 and a magnifying glass.

Room Chips: 25 chips to represent the rooms in the house.

Rulebook: Available in multiple languages including Czech, German, French, Slovak, Hungarian, and Polish.

How To Setup Tea Time Crime

To set up the game, each player selects a player board and the corresponding wooden flashlights. The 25 room chips are randomly placed to represent the different rooms in Lord Waldemar’s house, which are initially closed. The dice are prepared for rolling.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll the 5 dice to determine which rooms to activate and where to place their detectives and thieves.

Tile Placement: Using the dice values, players activate rooms and move detectives and thieves to strategic locations.

Game Objective: The goal is to unmask all the thieves by strategically placing your detectives to illuminate the rooms correctly, earning points for each detective with a wooden flashlight.

Player Experience

In **Tea Time Crime**, players take on the roles of detectives tasked with securing Lord Waldemar’s estate during his 80th birthday celebration. The game is played over several rounds, with each round involving an active player rolling the dice and passive players using the remaining dice. The game requires strategic thinking to maximize the use of dice rolls and magnifying glasses, which act as jokers.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: The combination of dice rolling and strategic placement keeps players engaged.

Variable Setup: The random placement of room chips ensures each game is unique.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 10 and above, making it a great family game.

Quick Playtime: Games typically last between 30 to 45 minutes.

Cons

Limited Replayability: Some players find the game too predictable and easy to influence the outcome through the use of magnifying glasses and dice tokens.

Simplicity: The game may not be challenging enough for more experienced players.

Personal Thoughts on Tea Time Crime

**Tea Time Crime** is an excellent choice for families or casual gamers looking for a light-hearted, strategic game. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy puzzle games and are looking for a game that is easy to learn but still offers a fun challenge. However, more experienced gamers might find it lacking in complexity and replayability.

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