Murder mysteries, a favourite of many people when reading, watching television or even when visiting the theatre. But they also make for fun and intriguing games for game nights. Murder Mystery game are packed with intrigue and suspense, transporting players into a world of mystery, where they must piece together clues, interrogate suspects, and ultimately solve a crime. Professor Puzzle Games have some excellent murder mystery crime-solving puzzle games that offer fantastic gameplay and an immersive experience that challenges the mind and brings out the inner sleuth in everyone. We love putting our brains to work and have been playing Dead Man’s Hand, it is an excellent murder mystery game for one on more players.
Professor Puzzle’s Dead Man’s Hand is a captivating mini murder mystery game that promises to keep players on the edge of their seats. It is set against the backdrop of an illicit poker game and a diamond heist on the Mississippi River which leads to a suspicious death. Welcome to a game of suspense and deception. Six passengers, each with their own dark secrets and hidden agendas, find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue. As the story starts to unravel, players must use their detective skills to piece together the clues, solve the puzzles, and identify the culprit before they jump ship.
In the box:
- 26 Playing Cards
- Introduction
- How to Play
- Case Notes and Evidence
- Security Log Book
- Hints
- Solutions
Dead Man’s Hand is supplied in a compact cardboard box, slightly larger than a pack of playing cards. Inside the box are playing cards, case notes and evidence as well as a letter inviting you, the detective, to try and solve the mystery of the missing diamonds and murder. The compact package and components makes it easy to transport and play anywhere.
The components are well-designed, with detailed case notes, clues and evidence to work your way through.
Dead Man’s Hand offers a well-balanced mix of puzzles and narrative-driven gameplay. It is a game for 1 or more players (working as a team), age 12+, and has a playing time of around 1 hour. You will need to find the answers to a series of questions to be able to open the locked safe and reveal the answers.
To play, you take on the role of a detective. Start by reading the Introduction letter from Silas, the captain of the steamboat, that outlines what has happened onboard the Whistler sailing on the Mississippi River and hosting an illegal poker game. The introduction letter invites you to solve the case and points you in the direction to go (by next reading the How to Play document). Once these documents have been read, you need to start examining all the evidence and trying to work out who was at the poker table. Eventually you will gather enough information to solve the crimes. The puzzles are challenging yet accessible, ensuring that both novice and experienced players can enjoy the game.
Overall, I enjoyed playing Dead Man’s Hand. It is fairly challenging with some good puzzles for a brain work-out on a rainy afternoon. Whether you are travelling to the Mississippi River or just around the corner to a friends house, the game is small enough to fit in your pocket and the paper components are all good quality (durable enough for constant handling and examining).
Starting with a letter telling you that Abe Phillips, a passenger onboard the Whistler, has been murdered, you need to try and follow a series of clues and work them out to reveal which one of the six suspects is the killer. With all the players, except Abe, having a criminal past there is a lot to sort out.
Dead Man’s Hand is a fun and challenging puzzle game. I like that you make use of a logic grid in Abe’s journal to tick off answers and use it gather all the information (although it is a bit on the small side – I retyped it and printed it on an A4 sheet for ease and being able to read easier). And I loved that there is a Hints and Solutions booklet when you can’t just open it and read the answers, the hints and solutions are under scratch off panels.
As some of the materials need to be written on or scratched off to play the game, it isn’t ideal for passing on for someone else to enjoy when you have solved the crime.
As a logic game it is well-structed and can be played in one sitting (it will take about an hour) or can be played more leisurely so that you can step away and come back later. The challenge isn’t too hard and some more battle-worn puzzlers might find it a bit on the less challenging side.
Professor Puzzle’s Dead Man’s Hand is good fun for fans of murder mystery games. It can easily be played as a solo game or as a team game and its intriguing storyline and engaging gameplay makes it a fun brain-teasing game.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £6.99
For more information, visit professorpuzzle.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
