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Whitehall Mystery (2017) Board Game

ByMichail

Whitehall Mystery is a hidden movement board game set in London in the late 19th century. Players take on the roles of either Jack the Ripper or the investigators trying to catch him. The game was released in 2017 by Giochi Uniti and designed by Gabriele Mari and Gianluca Santopietro. It is a standalone game, but also a sequel to Whitehall Mystery, continuing the thrilling cat-and-mouse chase between the notorious killer and the detectives.

Game Components of Whitehall Mystery

  • Board:** A square board depicting a street map of the Whitehall district in London, 1888.
  • Miniatures:** One Jack miniature and three Investigator miniatures.
  • Discs:** Transparent red plastic discs for marking body locations and transparent yellow discs for marking Investigator guesses.
  • Cards:** Movement cards (Alley, Coach, Boat) for Jack.
  • Player Sheets:** For Jack to record his movements secretly.
  • Tokens:** Investigator tokens with one-time special abilities.
  • Rule Book:** Includes the history of the real Whitehall Mystery.

    How To Setup Whitehall Mystery

    To set up the game, players first place the Investigator miniatures on one of the five black starting squares on the board. Jack secretly chooses and writes down the locations of his four victims, marked by numbered circles on the board. Jack places his miniature at the starting point on the board and a red disc at the location of his first victim. The Investigators discuss their strategy based on the location of the first victim.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Hidden Movement:** Jack moves secretly, recording his moves on his player sheet.
  • Social Deduction:** Investigators work together to deduce Jack’s location.
  • Objective:**
  • Jack:** Reach all four murder sites without being caught.
  • Investigators:** Capture or surround Jack before he completes his objectives.
  • Game Phases:** The game is divided into up to four rounds, each representing Jack’s journey to a new murder site.
  • Movement:** Jack has 15 turns to move between each victim point. Investigators can move up to two black squares at a time.
  • Special Abilities:** Investigators can use one-time special abilities, and Jack can use movement cards (Alley, Coach, Boat) to evade capture.

    Player Experience

    Playing Whitehall Mystery is a tense and exciting experience. The game builds significant tension as the Investigators close in on Jack, especially in the later stages. The clue system is genius, allowing for cinematic moments as the Investigators track down Jack. The game is simple to learn but deep and thought-provoking, making it accessible to new gamers while still engaging experienced players.

    Pros

  • Simple yet Deep:** Easy to learn but with deep strategic elements.
  • Tense Gameplay:** Builds significant tension, especially in the final stages.
  • Cooperative Play:** Investigators work together, fostering teamwork and discussion.
  • Historical Theme:** Draws from the real Whitehall Mystery, adding a layer of historical intrigue.
  • Compact Design:** The board and components are well-made and do not take up much space.

    Cons

  • Limited Player Count:** Only supports up to four players, with only three Investigators.
  • Special Ability Integration:** The integration of special abilities from the Dear Boss expansion is awkward and not fully implemented.
  • No Combat:** Unlike some other hidden-movement games, it lacks combat mechanics.
  • Dependence on Jack’s Choices:** The difficulty of the game can vary greatly based on Jack’s initial location choices.

    Personal Thoughts on Whitehall Mystery

    Whitehall Mystery is ideal for those who enjoy hidden-movement and social deduction games, particularly fans of the Letters from Whitechapel series. It’s a great option for smaller player counts and offers a more streamlined experience compared to its more complex counterparts. If you appreciate a mix of cooperative gameplay and cat-and-mouse strategy with a historical twist, Whitehall Mystery is definitely worth trying out.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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