The best Deduction games 2021
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 2021
MicroMacro: Crime City
Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.
Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2021
More details for MicroMacro: Crime City
1 - 4 Players
15 - 45 Minutes
12+ years old
Complexity: very easy
Codenames
- 2 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!15€ at
.deCodenames: Duet
Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.
More details for Codenames: Duet- 2 - 99 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 11+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!15€ at.deVideo 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
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Love Letter
Love Letter
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
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
- Complexity: easy
👍 Good price!14€ at.deVideo reviews for Decrypto
Codenames: Pictures
Nominated for 3 awards and won 3.
More details for Codenames: Pictures- 2 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
🔥 Great price!14€ at.deVideo reviews for Codenames: Pictures
Love Letter Premium
- 2 - 8 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!14€ at.deVideo reviews for Love Letter Premium
Secret Hitler
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Secret Hitler- 5 - 10 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: easy
The Resistance: Avalon
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
More details for The Resistance: Avalon- 5 - 10 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: easy
A Fake Artist Goes to New York
- 5 - 10 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
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
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!9€ at.deVideo reviews for One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak
Werewords
- 4 - 10 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!8€ at.deOne Night Ultimate Werewolf
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for One Night Ultimate Werewolf- 3 - 10 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Insider
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Insider- 4 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!15€ at.deVideo reviews for Insider
The Resistance
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for The Resistance- 5 - 10 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Outfoxed!
Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.
More details for Outfoxed!- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Love Letter: Adventure Time
- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Chronicles of Crime
Nominated for 12 awards and won 3.
More details for Chronicles of Crime- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Chronicles of Crime
When I Dream
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
More details for When I Dream- 4 - 10 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for When I Dream
BANG! The Dice Game
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for BANG! The Dice Game- 3 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Pictures
- 3 - 5 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!25€ at.deVideo reviews for Pictures
Coup
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Coup- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Coup
Spyfall
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
More details for Spyfall- 3 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!17€ at.deVideo reviews for Spyfall
Imagine
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
More details for Imagine- 3 - 8 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Battle Line
- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Captain Sonar
Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.
More details for Captain Sonar- 2 - 8 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Captain Sonar
Tempel des Schreckens
- 3 - 10 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Tempel des Schreckens
Lovecraft Letter
- 2 - 6 Players
- 5 - 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!8€ at.deVideo reviews for Lovecraft Letter
Witness
- 4 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Witness
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: