The best Deduction games 2023
Looking for a game where you have to deduce very well? Then here we have the list of 30 best deduction games for you.
What are deduction games?
Deduction games are games where players have to draw conclusions based on available information. These games are quite diverse and include several different types of logical reasoning. While many social games, such as Bridge or Poker, require the use of deductive/inferential reasoning only to some degree, if at all, deductive reasoning is the central mechanism in deduction games.
The classic among deduction games: Scotland Yard
Cat-and-mouse games like Scotland Yard are a type of deduction game in which players use a series of observations and truthful statements from a player to narrow down the possibilities and catch a constantly moving opponent in the right position.
Another deduction classic: the elimination game Clue
Elimination games like Clue expect players to come to the correct conclusion after narrowing down possibilities from a large list. Signal games such as Werewolf allow for a series of observations and player-driven feedback (which may not be truthful) to draw the correct conclusion from 2-3 main choices. Finally, this category includes induction games like Zendo, where players must deduce a general rule from nearly infinite possibilities.
New Trend: Social Deduction Games
Social deduction games are a related subcategory that is proving increasingly popular and includes games with hidden roles and bluffs such as The Resistance and the Werewolf Series.
Three subcategories: abstract, investigative, social
Deduction board games fall into three broad categories:
- abstraction-deduction games (e.g., Mastermind, Zendo, Code 777) and.
- investigative deduction games or detective games (e.g., Scotland Yard, Clue).
- social deduction games (e.g. Love Letter, Werewolf Series, The Resistance/Avalon)
List of the best deduction games 2023
MicroMacro: Crime City
- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 45 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Codenames
- 2 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!18€ at.de
Love Letter
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Love Letter
MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Codenames: Duet
Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.
More details for Codenames: Duet- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 11+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!18€ at.de
Video reviews for Codenames: Duet
Love Letter
Nominated for 14 awards and won 7.
More details for Love Letter- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Love Letter
Decrypto
Nominated for 14 awards and won 7.
More details for Decrypto- 3 - 8 Players
- 15 - 45 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Decrypto
Top Ten
- 4 - 9 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!17€ at.de
Codenames: Pictures
Nominated for 3 awards and won 3.
More details for Codenames: Pictures- 2 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Codenames: Pictures
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
- 4 - 12 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
A Fake Artist Goes to New York
- 5 - 10 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
The Resistance: Avalon
Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.
More details for The Resistance: Avalon- 5 - 10 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Detective Club
Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.
More details for Detective Club- 4 - 8 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Detective Club
Secret Hitler
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Secret Hitler- 5 - 10 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Pictures
- 3 - 5 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Pictures
MicroMacro: Crime City – All In
- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 45 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Stella: Dixit Universe
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for Stella: Dixit Universe- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Werewords
- 4 - 10 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Outfoxed!
Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.
More details for Outfoxed!- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak- 3 - 7 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak
The Search for Planet X
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for The Search for Planet X- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 75 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Love Letter: Adventure Time
- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
The Resistance
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for The Resistance- 5 - 10 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for One Night Ultimate Werewolf- 3 - 10 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!12€ at.de
Video reviews for One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Insider
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Insider- 4 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Insider
Tempel des Schreckens
- 3 - 10 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Tempel des Schreckens
Chronicles of Crime: 1900
- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Phantom Ink
Nominated for 1 award.
🔥 Deal: 5% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Phantom Ink- 4 - 8 Players
- 10 - 15 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Immediately playable
🔥 Great price!18€ at.de
Lovecraft Letter
- 2 - 6 Players
- 5 - 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!12€ at.de
Video reviews for Lovecraft Letter
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