Welcome to the second part of my gift list for the cozy mystery lover. A quick recap: I realized most gift lists “for readers” felt both under-useful and under-explained. So I decided to make my own list of my favorite reading / cozy mystery-related items – and quickly realized I had too many ideas to contain in a single list. The first half of the list, posted earlier this week, covered my favorite cozy reading items. And now it’s time for games – board games, book games, and even video games for the more adventurous. If you can play it, and it scratches that crime-y puzzle-y itch, it belongs here!
Two quick notes before we get into it: nothing here is affiliate-linked, and everything is something I own or have wanted for years. That is to say – at least one cozy mystery lover really enjoys these items. And without further ado… the list!
Games for the analog puzzle-solver…
We’ll start with a more analog list, moving from more book-like to proper board games, and even my favorite escape room in a box. These can be great gifts for enticing an introverted mystery lover to come hang out with the family – after all, they need someone to play with. And each of them comprises tricky and fun puzzles that require all your little grey cells to crack. (Note that most of these are available on Amazon – I’m posting direct links here just so you can see the full publisher context.)
Help them feel like part of a detective team this holiday season with…
Murdle
I take a weird amount of joy in the logical puzzles where you use a grid to match up characters, activities, and items based on incomplete information. If I’m honest, it’s bit of a weird thing to enjoy – but at least one other person enjoys these puzzles as much as I do, and they wrote an entire murder-themed book of them.
Murdle is a compendium of progressively difficult logical puzzles. You play as the eponymous detective to solve a series of creative and wacky murders. The puzzles feature recurring characters and an overarching plot line that’s both dramatic and comedic. My husband and I love to play Murdles on a flight, and we take great joy in following the plot as we solve little puzzles to pass the time.
M, the Master Theorem
If you’ve got a friend who’s open to a more open set of puzzles (and more difficult ones), M: the Master Theorem may be a fun present. Each puzzle features creative lead text and then an image on the facing page, inside which clues are hidden to get to a solution word or phrase. Solving these puzzles can be tricky, as they assume you have access to the Internet and are willing to use that information. I love tackling these with a group to see what creative approaches my friends can come up with. And the feeling of cracking the puzzle correctly here is so satisfying.
Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective
One step away from a book is the “board game” Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective. The box contains 10 cases that have an initial welcoming note and a choose your own adventure experience. Players get to peruse a newspaper and map (and their uncovered evidence) to choose a new location to visit and see if the learn anything useful. The game ends when you try to answer a series of questions about the case (usually about both an A-plot and several red herrings). You can then compare your investigation with Sherlock’s to see how you did.
It is so much fun to spend a night poring over evidence and debating where to investigate next. Note that these are extremely difficult cases – I think out of the four I’ve tried, we succeeded at solving two – and they reward a larger play group. A great gift for a cozy night in and a mug of cocoa with friends.
Perspectives
One of my favorite game experiences this year has been going through Perspectives with my best friend and our partners. The game comes with three cases, each solved in four stages. In the first three stages, you have to put together information across photos of evidence that are split between your solving group. The images link up to each other, but you’re not allowed to show each other any images. The result is a unique gameplay experience where you have to communicate what you’re seeing in a way that helps your friends connect it to their own cards – and rule out red herrings.
Once you’ve solved each of the first three phases, you get to solve one last puzzle by merging all the images together. This is so satisfying and it’s lovely to finally be able to see the images your friends have been describing. Getting to the right answer makes you feel like the best team of detectives ever, and it’s such great way to spend a weekend afternoon. (They have just released the Blue Box and it is on my list for this year!)
MicroMacro Crime City
If you have a cozy mystery lover in your life who has a more visual style, you might consider MicroMacro Crime City. This game is a giant poster with a series of “cases”, which are search-and-find prompts. Each of the prompts leads you to find some visual on the city poster; when put together, these will help you deduce the answer to the case. Think “Where’s Waldo?”, but with a mystery twist. This can be a lot of fun with a large group, because people can solve prompts in parallel; however note this will shorten the play time of a relatively fast game. Still a delight to play, and to enjoy all the art and work that went into the poster itself.
The Initiative
For something both cooperative and a bit longer-lasting, The Initiative is a lot of fun. Players take on the role of four students who have uncovered an old code-breaking board game. As they play it together, odd events start to happen. And each time you play a round, you get to move the story forward, with some outcomes changing which information you receive or which choices are available to you.
This is a “legacy” game that you complete over several play sessions. Sessions themselves are light and combine a stealth collection mechanic with a code-breaking puzzle. The real fun is in watching the story progress over time – it combines a bit of a spy vibe with Stranger Things eeriness. A great game for a group of friends to pick up together, or any cozy mystery lover who can bring at least one other puzzle solved along across sessions.
Mysterium
My penultimate recommendation is my favorite board game of all time, Mysterium. In Mysterium, you play as a group of mediums, gathering to solve the murder of a ghost. One player acts as said ghost, giving each medium “visions” intended to direct them at a suspect, place, or weapon. The rest of the players work together to interpret these visions – and hopefully come to the right culprit.
This is such a fun game – from the gorgeous art to the collaborative solving. I most often play as the ghost, and it’s extremely fun (though sometimes frustrating) to pass visions on to your friends. A great game for anyone visually inclined – or just ready to have a collaborative communication game night.
Anything from The Mysterious Package Co
Last but absolutely not least is my favorite purveyors of at-home escape rooms, the Mysterious Package Company. This team delivers incredible paper escape room experiences that features intriguing plots and incredible props. We first signed up for the Curious Correspondence subscription (back when they mailed it monthly) and it was a highlight of each month. Since then, we’ve tried one of the murder mysteries and – most recently – Doomensions: Mystery Manor. Each time we play one of these games, it’s a joy to unwrap and see the creativity and craft that goes into their creation. Plus, you get to feel a little like an adventurer. What better to gift a mystery-over than their own mystery adventure?
Honorable mentions
Last but not least in the analog games are those games I’m excited about but haven’t been able to try yet:
- The Researcher’s First Murder: the spiritual sequel to Cain’s Jawbone, written by the first modern solver. This is a compendium of postcards for both textual and visual puzzle-solving. Exciting – but also a bit intimidating, if I’m honest…
- Burgle Bros: A collaborative board game in which you play as a crew of burglars robbing a bank. Plus, adorable art. For your friend who loves a good heist movie.
- Caper Europe: A competitive board game with the same heist theme – if you’ve got a friend with a bit more of a competitive streak.
- Kronologic Paris 1920: A competitive investigation game in which you’re investigating weird happenings at the Paris Opera. Gorgeous art and an intriguing private + public information mechanic that I’ve heard great things about.
…and for the more digitally inclined
But what if your mystery-lover prefers video games to analog ones? I’ve only gotten back into video games more recently, but there are some that have already won me over. (I’m a Switch player, but if you’re thinking of getting one of these, please check what platform your intended recipient uses!)
Murder by Numbers (Switch, Windows)
Murder by Numbers is an interesting take on a police procedural-style murder mystery solving game. You play as an actress who’s made friends with a robot who helps you find clues. The clue-finding requires solving picross puzzles, and then you get to put the information together to solve the case. Underlying all of this is a lightweight, soapy story arc that follows the main characters in their LA experiences.
Murder by Numbers is simple, fun, and easy to jump in and out of. Perfect for the busy cozy mystery lover who wants to spend a few minutes solving puzzles.
Beacon Pines (Switch, Xbox, Windows)
I just finished Beacon Pines and absolutely adored it. It’s a mystery / adventure style game that follows a student and his friends through the titular town of Beacon Pines as they dig into the weird occurrences there. It sounds straightforward, but the framing device is that of a story in which you can “fill in the blank” with options you collect on your adventure. If you run into a “bad” ending, you can always revert to other “branches” of the story to see if you have unlocked any new narrative directions that will take you further down any path.
The branching storytelling adds a layer of complexity to a cute mystery game that touches on death, grief, community, and civic responsibility. The art is adorable and I really fell in love with the characters and community. Beacon Pines is great for the friend who never got over her Famous Five / Encyclopedia Brown phase, and a wonderful cozy game for a winter’s night in.
Jenny LeClue, Detectivú (Switch, PS4, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS)
Jenny LeClue, Detectivú is yet another mystery game that follows a young detective investigating her local community. This one follows Jenny as she investigates mysterious happenings at the nearby university – and realizes she’s bitten off a bit more than she can chew. Its point-and-click mechanics are simple but effective. The cute, attractive art and engaging sets make it a great way to immerse yourself in a mystery adventure for an afternoon or two. (One note – this one ends a cliffhanger and the sequel has been “in development” for a while without any updates… So if you have a strong preference for narrative resolution, this might be one to skip.)
Tangle Tower (Switch, Xbox, PS4, Windows, macOS)
Tangle Tower (and its prequel, Detective Grimoire) is a classic point-and-click mystery solving game, perfectly executed. In the game, the eponymous detective and his assistant investigate the death of Freya Fellow, seemingly murdered by a painting.
Gameplay involves the usual “investigate the surroundings and interrogate suspects about what you found there”. I found most of these puzzles to be engaging, sometimes just at the edge of frustrating / obscure. (I’m on the more impatient side when it comes to these games though – I just want more plot.) What makes Tangle Tower stand out years later is its uniquely funny characters and intriguing relationships. I enjoyed the process of learning more about each one and remember laughing out loud once or twice. (For what it’s worth, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, The Mermaid’s Mask, whenever it comes.)
Overboard! (Switch, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
What if your friend has read so many mysteries they think they could successfully commit a murder without detection? Overboard! gives them the chance to find out. In the game, you play as Veronica Villensey, who wakes up to find out that she’s murdered her husband. An investigation is on, and it’s your job to get Veronica through her day without getting caught. You can’t simply hide away in your berth, however, as that would be too suspicious. So instead, you have to chat with other characters, trying to learn what they know to use it to bolster your official story without giving yourself away.
It’s a ton of fun and of course requires several replays to get through the game. It feels exactly like being on the wrong end of a Golden Age investigation. In many ways, it’s a reverse mystery, as the player still has to figure out prior events, but with what feel like much higher personal stakes. Overboard! is unique and still pretty lightweight, a great game for your friend who’s convinced they’d get away with it.
Professor Layton (Switch, DS, iOS, Android)
The only reason I’ve left Professor Layton so far down this list is that it’s so iconic I’d be surprised if your cozy mystery recipient hasn’t tried it yet. The series follows the titular Professor as he investigates weird happenings around the UK, using puzzles to ingratiate himself with the locals and find clues. The puzzles are often variations on classics, but no less charming for it. And the art and music are pretty adorable as well.
The Layton series is the first mystery video game series I ever played, and one that got me into the medium. So I hold a soft spot for it that makes me likely to overlook any weak points. Play is a little slower than many modern games – it has a bit of a visual novel feel – but I love the world, the characters, and everything about it. It’s also family-friendly, so a great option to introduce a younger mystery lover who may not have tried it yet.
Honorable mentions (haven’t sufficiently tried yet)
Last but not least, some honorable mentions that I haven’t tried yet / haven’t played enough but am looking forward to digging into:
- Loco Motive (Switch, Windows): Point-and-click murder mystery set on a 1930s luxury train. Plus the detectives are a trio of a lawyer, an agent, and a novelist. What more could I ask for?
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Switch, Xbox, PS4, DS, Windows, iOS, Android): Yore’s ghost who’s lost his memory who wants to get his identity back. It’s written by the creator of the iconic Ace Attorney franchise, which is enough to get me intrigued. Not sure how I’ll do with more action-y bits, but we will find out!
- Paradise Killer (Switch, Xbox, PS4/5, Windows): First recommended to me by a good friend who knows I love murder mysteries. You’re investigating a a murder in a “perfect society” where no such thing should happen. You’re also kind of persona non grata, which makes the interactions a bit… interesting. This is weird and very fun, and I would probably like it more if I weren’t so bad at modern video game navigation… But here we are, and I’m building back up to another try in the new year.
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…And that’s it. My complete list of recommended gifts for the cozy mystery lover in your life. I hope this is helpful as you move towards the holiday season, and would love to hear about your experiences with these games and other gifts!
See you soon – and until then, stay cozy, and stay curious!
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