Perfect Murder^*

Perfect Murder is a two-player deduction duel by Tobias Tesar, published in German by Kosmos: one player is the murderer, the other the detective. A game takes about 30 minutes and is driven by logic, bluffing and a fight over every scrap of information.

What's it about?

A murder has shaken a mansion. At the start, the murderer secretly decides which suspect committed the crime, which weapon was used and through which of the eight rooms the mansion was entered. The detective has to uncover all three secrets within eight rounds.

How it plays

1. The murderer secretly picks culprit, weapon and room.
2. The detective plays cards, combines clues and rules out false leads.
3. The murderer works against them, covering tracks and laying misleading clues.
4. If the detective solves the case within eight rounds, they win; otherwise the murderer gets away.

What makes it special?

Unlike classic detective games, there is no fixed puzzle to solve: your opponent sits across the table and reacts to every move. Cards serve multiple purposes, and the two roles work with asymmetric information, so every game turns into a back-and-forth of deduction and deception.

Who is it for?

Couples and two-player groups who enjoy crime themes and deduction without a long rules session. The designer lists it for ages 10 and up; the German Kosmos box says 12+.