Why This Game?

Clue was my favorite game as a child, and it's the reason I chose it for this project. I was very into board games growing up, and Clue was the one I always wanted to play. I owned multiple editions, so I got to know the game very well. I've been playing it for as long as I can remember playing board games at all, though I'm not sure exactly how old I was when I started.

What I love most is the mystery: every game feels like solving a puzzle. I also like that no two games end the same way. I always played Clue with my family growing up, so I'd recommend it to kids and families. I'd also recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries or strategy games, since that's what Clue is all about!

Overview

Clue is a classic murder-mystery deduction board game for 3 to 6 players.

The Story

Mr. Boddy, the owner of Tudor Mansion, has been murdered. Players take on the roles of guests at the mansion: Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Professor Plum. Each player is trying to work out who did it, with what, and where.

The Goal

Be the first player to correctly name the three facts of the crime:

1. The suspect: one of six characters
2. The weapon: one of six (candlestick, knife, lead pipe, revolver, rope, or wrench)
3. The room: one of nine (Kitchen, Ballroom, Conservatory, Dining Room, Billiard Room, Library, Lounge, Hall, or Study)

At the start of the game, one suspect card, one weapon card, and one room card are secretly sealed in an envelope called the case file. The remaining cards are dealt out to the players.

What You Need

Everything comes in one Clue game set, which includes:

• Game board
• 6 character tokens
• 6 weapon pieces
• 2 dice
• 21 cards
• Case file envelope
• Detective notepads and pencils

Setup

1. Sort the cards into three piles (suspects, weapons, rooms). Shuffle each pile separately.
2. Draw one card from each pile and seal them in the envelope, without looking or showing anyone. This is the solution.
3. Shuffle all remaining cards together and deal them out evenly. Some players may get an extra card.
4. Place the weapon pieces in different rooms, and put each player's token on its starting space.
5. Each player takes a notepad and marks off the cards in their own hand. Miss Scarlett goes first.

How to Play

On your turn, work through these steps:

1. Move: Roll the dice and move that many spaces. You can't enter the same space twice in one turn. Rooms in the corners have secret passages to the opposite corner.
2. Suggest: When you enter a room, you may name a suspect and a weapon, with the room you're in as the third part. The named suspect and weapon are moved into that room.
3. Disprove: Going clockwise, the first player holding any of the three named cards privately shows you one. Only that one player answers.
4. Write it down: Use every answer, or lack of answer, to eliminate possibilities.
5. Accuse: When you're sure, name the suspect, weapon, and room on your turn. You don't have to be in that room.

Turn at a Glance

A cheat sheet for playing correctly:

1. Roll and move.
2. In a room? Make a suggestion.
3. Can someone disprove it? Update your notes.
4. Ready to accuse? If yes, accuse. If no, end your turn.

Winning

The first player to make a correct accusation wins. After a player accuses, they check the envelope. If the player is right, they show it and win.

If they're wrong, they're out of the game, but they help show cards when other players make suggestions.

Common Mistakes / Tips

• Don't accuse too early. A wrong guess eliminates you, so confirm all three parts first.
• Track everything, including which cards other players showed and which they couldn't.
• Watch other players' suggestions. Their questions reveal what they're missing.
• Use secret passages to reach rooms quickly instead of waiting on dice rolls.

FAQ / Edge Cases

Q: What if no one can disprove my suggestion?
A: Those cards would be in the envelope or in your own hand. Check your notes first.

Q: Do I have to be in the room to make an accusation?
A: No. You can accuse from anywhere on the board.

Q: What happens if I'm eliminated?
A: You can no longer move or suggest. You remain to show cards to disprove other players' suggestions so that they aren't eliminated as well.

Q: Can I show more than one card?
A: No. Only one player answers, and they show exactly one card.