The best Detective board games 🕵️‍♂️ 2023

We have selected the best detective board games for you 🕵️‍♂️. The offer ranges from simple variants that can be solved in a few minutes to extra difficult ones that can take several hours. There is something for everyone is Sherlock Holmes among you.

Jump to the list: The best detective games

What are detective or deduction board games?

Detective board games, or "deduction games," are games in which players must draw conclusions based on available premises. These games are quite diverse and include several different types of logical reasoning. Cat-and-mouse games such as Scotland Yard are a type of deduction game in which players use a series of observations and truthful feedback to narrow down the possibilities and catch a constantly moving opponent in the correct position. Elimination games such as Clue expect players to reach the correct conclusion after narrowing down possibilities from a large list. Signal-based 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 such as Zendo, where players must deduce a general rule from nearly infinite possibilities.

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 [Werewolves Full Moon Night](%2Werewolves-Full Moon Night).

Want a board game from a different genre?

If you are looking for a board game from a different genre, we have more board game lists for you:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi | War-games | Murder/Mystery/Deduction | Escape-Room

list of best detective board games 🕵️

In this list you will find the best detective games to buy 2023:

This list was last updated on June 1, 2023. We compared 905 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. MicroMacro: Crime City

    All details for the board game MicroMacro: Crime City and similar games

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 8.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for MicroMacro: Crime City
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!18€ atAmazon.de
  2. Dixit: Quest

    All details for the board game Dixit: Quest and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dixit: Quest
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House

    All details for the board game MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Dixit 3: Journey

    All details for the board game Dixit 3: Journey and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!17€ atAmazon.de
  5. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

    All details for the board game Deception: Murder in Hong Kong and similar games
    • 4 - 12 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Detective Club

    All details for the board game Detective Club and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Detective Club
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!33€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Detective Club

    • YouTube Review for the game "Detective Club" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. MicroMacro: Crime City – All In

    All details for the board game MicroMacro: Crime City – All In and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de
  8. Mysterium: Hidden Signs

    All details for the board game Mysterium: Hidden Signs and similar games
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 42 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!16€ atAmazon.de
  9. Deception: Undercover Allies

    All details for the board game Deception: Undercover Allies and similar games
    • 4 - 14 Players
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Hidden Games Tatort: Königsmord

    All details for the board game Hidden Games Tatort: Königsmord and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 90 - 180 Minutes
    • 16+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Chronicles of Crime

    All details for the board game Chronicles of Crime and similar games

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 5.

    More details for Chronicles of Crime
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Chronicles of Crime

    • YouTube Review for the game "Chronicles of Crime" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  12. Chronicles of Crime: 1900

    All details for the board game Chronicles of Crime: 1900 and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  13. When I Dream

    All details for the board game When I Dream and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for When I Dream
    • 4 - 10 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for When I Dream

    • YouTube Review for the game "When I Dream" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  14. Mysterium: Secrets & Lies

    All details for the board game Mysterium: Secrets & Lies and similar games
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 42 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!17€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Mysterium: Secrets & Lies

    • YouTube Review for the game "Mysterium: Secrets & Lies" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  15. Witness

    All details for the board game Witness and similar games
    • 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Witness

    • YouTube Review for the game "Witness" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  16. Chronicles of Crime: Noir

    All details for the board game Chronicles of Crime: Noir and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Chronicles of Crime: Noir
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Chronicles of Crime: Noir

    • YouTube Review for the game "Chronicles of Crime: Noir" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  17. Chronicles of Crime: 1400

    All details for the board game Chronicles of Crime: 1400 and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  18. Mysterium

    All details for the board game Mysterium and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 6.

    More details for Mysterium
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 42 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  19. Mysterium Park

    All details for the board game Mysterium Park and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Mysterium Park
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!18€ atAmazon.de
  20. Crime Zoom: A Deadly Writer

    All details for the board game Crime Zoom: A Deadly Writer and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  21. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures and similar games
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  22. The Sherlock Files: Vol III – Puzzling Plots

    All details for the board game The Sherlock Files: Vol III – Puzzling Plots and similar games
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars and similar games
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  24. Ultimate Werewolf: Ultimate Edition

    All details for the board game Ultimate Werewolf: Ultimate Edition and similar games
    • 5 - 68 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Ultimate Werewolf: Ultimate Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ultimate Werewolf: Ultimate Edition" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  25. Awkward Guests: The Walton Case

    All details for the board game Awkward Guests: The Walton Case and similar games
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow

    All details for the board game The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow and similar games
    • 8 - 18 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!9€ atAmazon.de
  27. Whitehall Mystery

    All details for the board game Whitehall Mystery and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Sherlock: La copia

    All details for the board game Sherlock: La copia and similar games
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  29. Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen

    All details for the board game Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  30. Sherlock: Asesinato en el Sind Mail

    All details for the board game Sherlock: Asesinato en el Sind Mail and similar games
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

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