Last Updated on February 19, 2023 by Jella Erhard
Explore the best mystery board games adults will love just as much as kids. Try classic mystery board games like Clue and new unique ones for the whole family.
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Best Mystery Board Games For Game Nights
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If you’re a board game fan then you know that mystery board games are some of the most thrilling and entertaining board games adults and kids can enjoy just the same. So if you’re looking for game night ideas for your next mystery party then you should try one of these exciting and beautiful games.
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You’ll find here all kinds of games from silly mystery board games, cooperative games, and strategy board games to spooky horror ones that are also great choices for Halloween parties. No matter if you’re looking for a board game for adults or something that the whole family can enjoy together you’ll find it here.
Get ready to solve mysteries around the world and check out our other fun board games lists if you’re looking for unique and truly entertaining board games. You’ll find there all kinds of board games from the newest hits, to ancient board games, and even glow in the dark games to play after dark.
15| Avalon Hill Scooby-Doo in Betrayal at Mystery Mansion
Scooby Gang joins in for a fun mystery evening for your next board game night. If you love the mystery-solving team’s adventures, then you are in for a truly fun evening. This mystery board game is in fact based on the award-winning game Betrayal at House on the Hill. If you already played that game, you know it is full of exciting twists and the story is masterfully told.
This Scooby-Doo board game can be played by 3-5 players and it could be up to an hour-long, depending on your skills. We think it is among the most entertaining mystery board games for adults but kids over the age of eight would love it too.
14| Mystery House – Escape Room & Mystery Board Games For Adults
We love Cranio Creations’ fun Mystery House because it allows you to enter a spooky house filled with mysteries. Players have an hour to go around in the house and piece together the clues to get out in one piece. It is definitely a great night in with friends, although you can play it solo too.
The game is just the right amount of spooky, so it is one of the best party mystery board games for adults. It certainly brings everyone closer as players work together to beat the clock. If you love escape room kits just as much as mystery board games you’ll love this spooky game.
13| 5-Minute Mystery The Museum of Everything – Mystery Board Game For The Whole Family
There are no better party mystery board games for adults than this one. Thanks to its short, but fun assignments, everyone can play and no one is left out of the fun. You can also start a competition; just keep score of who solves the most mysteries in the shortest time.
Officially one to six players can play, but if you prefer to play in a larger group, you can bend the rules a little. The Museum of Everything is full of odd and exciting cases, how many can you solve? It will be your next go-to mystery board game for sure because every bit of it is fun and engaging.
12| Hasbro Gaming Clue: Wizarding World Harry Potter Edition
Are you in search of mystery board games like Clue? Well, it is a themed clue, where you can walk the mysterious hallways of the famous Hogwarts. Would you prefer to solve the cases in Hermione’s shoes or would you like to play as Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny, or Luna?
The game is very exciting throughout as the board can change as you reveal new secret passages. Three to five players can play the game and the fun is guaranteed no matter how many players sit at the board. Prepare for a fun board game night with your Harry Potter fan friends. We love the beautiful board and the suspenseful story.
11| Spy Alley Mensa Award Winning Family Strategy Board Game
This multi-award-winning masterpiece is going to make your board game nights even more fun. If you are looking for mystery board games for adults that are packed with surprises, you are going to love this game. The more you play with this game the more fun it becomes, because as you become better at deceiving your fellow players, it will be more exciting.
The rules are simple, still beating your friends won’t be too easy. How good are you at bluffing, double-crossing, without a blink as a top spy? You are going to find out soon. While it is recommended for children over the age of 8, we think it is truly fun for adults. Two to six players can play this remarkably engaging spy board game.
10| Sherlock Holmes
It wouldn’t be a proper list of fun mystery board games for adults without a Sherlock Holmes board game. You have ten cases to solve in the misty Victorian London. Prepare for a fantastic night filled with mystery and dark secrets.
The game can be played by up to eight players but if you are on your own, there is no need to worry. As a solo player, it can be just as fun as part of a group. Completing the game could take up to 90 minutes. Although the creators suggest the game for anyone over 12, we think it is one of the most entertaining mystery board games for adults.
9| Scotland Yard
If you are looking for engaging mystery board games like Clue, you are at the right place. Scotland Yard board game is a fast-paced board game for the whole family. Despite the family-friendly setting, we think it is a superb fit for adults for game nights especially because of its speed rounds.
In 30 mins you can find Mister X in the busy streets of London, but the game is always different. Three to six players can play, the more the merrier, so invite over every board game nerd you know. You are going to be hooked on this game for a good while, so clear your weekends!
8| Detective – A Modern Crime Mystery Board Game For Adults
Once you gather your gamer friends and everyone who loves mystery board games, it is time for a true detective experience. Portal Games’ Detective is going to make you forget about the world outside your gaming room.
Every player will have to cooperate in order to get to the end of this complex case. You can play solo or unravel the mystery with four other players. The minimum game time is 120 mins, but you may end up spending at least three hours. It is a superb game night option for everyone who loves mystery board games that keeps them engaged for hours.
7| Arkham Horror – Horror Mystery Board Game
Arkham is the scariest place on Earth and it is now up to you and your peers to finally untangle the centuries-old dark secrets that threaten everyone. Those gamers who love horror board games that are also filled with mysteries won’t be able to resist this bone-chilling game.
It was mainly inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s writings, so horror fans will not be disappointed. If you love mysteries and horror board games then you should pick this for your next game night party. If you prefer to play solo, this is a great game for that, but up to six players can take part and at least two hours of fun is guaranteed.
The board is excitingly complex, with many scenarios that will make each game interesting.
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6| Clue – Classic Mystery Board Game
Probably the best-known mystery board game for adults and kids alike is Clue. This classic has made so many gatherings, parties, and game nights outstanding, it deservedly has such a great reputation.
You can find various themes, and re-imagination of the original game, still, the original will always be on the top of most mystery board game lists. There is no surprise why thousands of gamers are looking for mystery board games like Clue all the time.
If a game lives up to this one’s standards, you are in for a superb time. Clue can be played by two to six players and from the age of 8 it would be fun.
5| Mysterium – Cooperative Mystery Board Game
Everyone loves a good story in a spooky haunted house and the Mysterium mansion is definitely going to raise the hair on your neck. A murder victim haunts the house and it is up to you and your peers to find the murderer.
This dark, yet lovable game can be played by 2-7 players and if you do well, it can be completed in about thirty minutes. Thanks to many suspects and scenarios, this game can be replayed several times before you could get bored of it.
Do not worry, if you would like to play another few rounds but feel you have already solved all the scenarios, you can order expansion packs to the base game. In our opinion, it is among the most entertaining mystery board games for adults.
4| Dead End Drive – Mystery Board Game For Families
This fun game is great for parties that aren’t intended to be board game nights, but the crowd is looking for a little fun. By crowd, we mean up to four players, but even watching others play is hugely satisfying.
Who is going to inherit Auntie Agatha’s fortune at 13 Dead End Drive? There are three different ways to win, and you always have to be alert as there are traps in the house.
It is one of the simpler mystery board games for adults, but it will definitely entertain everyone, players, and spectators as well. This 5th-anniversary edition proves how great this board game is.
3| The Initiative – Strategy Mystery Board Game For Adults
If you are on a constant lookout for mystery board games like Clue, The Initiative might just be a great find. Although the game itself is quite different, the vibe is similar. This is a great board game for comic lovers and escape room experts.
There is a pretty exciting story that might even be adapted to a movie someday. Join the curious teenagers, who find a game that turns out to be closely connected to their lives. Solve the mystery with them, but be aware; their lives are at stake. One to four players can take part and it could take around an hour to solve the mystery.
2| Mansions of Madness – Horror Mystery Board Game
Mansions of Madness is one of the spookiest mystery board games for adults without a doubt. You are about to embark on a dark journey, that may never end. You have to be very careful, deductive, and always aware because there is always something dangerous lurking in the shadows of Arkham’ Harbor’s alleys.
While single players can enjoy this game tremendously, we would advise it for five people. The box is full of detailed components and figurines that make this board game so creepy and enjoyable. It would take ages to get bored of this game, but if you are looking to boost the experience even further, you can order the Horrific Journeys Expansion pack as well.
1| Letters from Whitechapel
We are back in Victorian London, where Jack the Ripper is on a bloodthirsty rampage and it is up to you to put an end to it. What makes this game so great is the fact that you can replay it as many times as you wish, there is always a new clue or result.
You and your detective friends have four nights to find the feared serial killer. Who wants to be the infamous murderer, and who would like to catch Jack? Two to five players can enjoy this fun and challenging game that takes about ninety minutes every time.
We are convinced that Letters From Whitechapel is among the most exciting mystery board games for adults who love the Jack the Ripper theme.
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