deduction

Clue: The Great Museum Caper

This is a semi-cooperative game which puts the "thief" against the rest of the players, who take the role of detectives. As the thief, you secretly plot your movements around a private art museum. As you go, the detectives take turns trying to find you with their eyes, the video cameras, or motion detectors. You can deactivate the cameras, and you can even cut off the power to the entire museum to mask your movements. Another advantage is that the thief gets a turn after every detective's individual turn.

Another problem for the detectives is the fact that, once the thief has picked up a painting, she can take her next turn before removing the painting from the gameboard. The good guys know the vicinity, but won't know her exact location, as the thief is now up to 3 squares away from that spot. If a detective ever spots you with the naked eye, secret movement is over, and the thief's token is placed on the board for all to see. This can get frantic, since the thief can only move 1-3 spaces, while detectives roll a d6 for movement!

The thief player has to decide when to attempt a getaway. The catch is, some of the windows and doors are locked. There are actual lock pieces, and you must flip over the one you are attempting to open (instant detective frenzy!). If she has stolen 3 paintings (in a one-off game), and manages to get out, she wins. In a tournament style game, each player gets a turn at being the thief, so the number of paintings needed will vary based on the other players' scores.

1991 Mensa Select

Also selected by Family Fun Magazine as one of the best games.

Original name by inventors was Heist. Clue name was added for marketing purposes when the game was licensed with Parker Brothers.

Similar to

Scotland Yard
The Fury of Dracula
Specter Ops

Ultimate Werewolf: Deluxe Edition

Ultimate Werewolf is an interactive game of deduction for two teams: Villagers and Werewolves. The Villagers don't know who the Werewolves are, and the Werewolves are trying to remain undiscovered while they slowly eliminate the Villagers one at a time. A Moderator (who isn't on a team) runs the game.

Ultimate Werewolf takes place over a series of game days and nights. Each day, the players discuss who among them is a Werewolf and vote out a player. Each night, the Werewolves choose a player to eliminate, while the Seer learns whether one player is a Werewolf or not. The game is over when either all the Villagers or all the Werewolves are eliminated.

Ultimate Werewolf: Deluxe Edition features all new artwork, a great new design, totally rewritten and more comprehensive rules, and an even better moderator scorepad. What's more, it supports more players than ever: 75 of your closest friends can converge on one or more villages using the components in this box.

Covalence: A Molecule Building Game

In Covalence, players work together to accurately reconstruct a number of secret organic compounds. One player takes on the role of the “Knower” who has knowledge of the secret compounds, while all other players, “Builders”, must deduce what these secret compounds are, based upon clues given to them by the Knower. All Builders must cooperatively utilize a limited number of clues available in order construct their compounds before the clues run out!

Ion: A Compound Building Game

ION: A Compound Building Game is a card drafting game where players select from a number of available Ion Cards and Noble Gas cards with the goal of creating sets of compounds and inert noble gases.

Here’s how the game is played: Each player is dealt eight cards, must select one of those cards and then passes the remaining. Players must choose to either bond (pair) their selected card with another Element Card or set it alone (possibly to form an ionic bond at a later time). Throughout the game, players gain additional points for building specific compounds which are listed on the Compound Goal Cards and have available a set of Action Tiles which award them additional moves throughout the game. Players score points based upon the quantity and type of neutrally balanced compounds they construct and noble gas sets they collect. After three rounds, players add their total scores from each round, subtract points from Action Tiles used, and the player with the most points wins!

Shogunate

The six great clans each strive to have their leader be first in line to succeed the Shogun. Of course, you'll do so in a manner most, shall we say, honorable.

In Shogunate, each player is loyal to two clans. Your goal is to use your actions to manipulate the line of succession such that the leaders of your clans earn the most honor!