Scotland Yard Duel^*

Scotland Yard Duel from Ravensburger turns the hunt for Mister X into a compact duel for exactly two players aged 8+, played in 10 to 30 minutes.

What is it about?

One player is Mister X, the other is the Scotland Yard detective. Between you stands London, built from a grid of 25 cards. Mister X hides on one of them. Scotland Yard has to track him down by thinking carefully.

Setup and play

1. Stand the 25 city cards upright in a 5x5 grid between the players.
2. Mister X sees the fronts and knows where he is.
3. Scotland Yard only sees the backs.
4. Each turn, Scotland Yard reveals one space.
5. Each turn, Mister X may swap two face-down spaces.

That sets up a tense game of hide-and-seek. The detective has to piece clues together while Mister X keeps reshaping the city.

What stands out

• A clean one-on-one duel
• Few components and a quick setup
• Two very different roles
• Short enough to swap sides for a rematch

Who is it for?

Couples, siblings, or a parent and a child aged 8 or older who enjoy deduction and a little bluffing. If you know the classic Scotland Yard, this is the core idea in a pocket-sized form.

Conclusion

Scotland Yard Duel distils a family classic into a quick battle of wits. Fans of deduction and cat-and-mouse games should give it a try. It is not meant for larger groups.