Clue: Card Game
Clue: Card Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Get Ready!
Download the free Shufflecards app to watch the quick-start video, or keep reading.
Object of the Game
Use your powers of deduction to solve the mystery and identify the culprit, the weapon and the location of the crime! The first player who solves the crime wins the game!
Contents
- 1 Crime card
- 12 Clue cards
- 4 sets of Case File cards
- 2 Rules Reminder cards
- 6 Character Profile cards
Extra cards for the advanced level (marked with a symbol):
- 3 Clue cards
- 12 white Case File cards
Extra cards for play with the downloadable App:
- 4 Telephone cards
Setup
- Remove from the game all the cards that show a symbol in the corner: they are used only for advanced games of 2-4 players. Also remove the 4 telephone cards: they are used only for playing with the app.
- Your case files: Each player receives a set of 12 Case File cards. One of four symbols appears in the corner of each set; check that the same symbol appears on all the cards of a set. Each player receives 6 suspect cards, 3 location cards and 3 weapon cards. All players start the game with the same elements of the case file.
- Set aside the unused sets.
- The crime: Divide the orange Clue cards into 3 piles (suspects, weapons and locations). Shuffle each pile, face down. Without looking, place one card from each pile face down in the middle of the table. Cover them with the Crime card. The crime has now been committed. It must remain secret until a player makes an accusation.
- The clues: Shuffle the other Clue cards. Deal them face down so that each player has an equal number of cards. Place the remaining cards face up in the middle of the table so that all players can see them.
- Look at your Case File and Clue cards (including the cards in the middle, face up). The Clue cards you see are innocent and cannot be under the Crime card.
- Face down, secretly place in your Innocent pile the Case File cards that match the Clue cards you see.
- Always keep your Clue cards in your hand.
IMPORTANT! Do not reveal your cards to the other players.
Example of one player's layout (the others' will be similar)
- 3 Clue cards, face down (one suspect, one weapon and one location), covered by the Crime card.
- When a Case File card matches a visible Clue card, place it on the Innocent pile, face down.
- Your Case File: 12 cards (6 suspects, 3 weapons, 3 locations); an identical symbol must appear on all the cards of your pile. Innocent pile: face down. Clue cards: in hand.
Rules of the Game
If you have already played CLUEDO, this game is similar. Question the other players and discover what the Crime card hides (the culprit, the weapon and the location of the crime). Each time a player shows you a Clue card, you know that it is not under the Crime card. Place the matching Case File card from your hand on your Innocent pile, just as you would cross off items on the CLUEDO notepad.
It is time to investigate! Choose the player who will start the game. Each in turn:
The Player Who Asks the Questions
- Look at your cards.
- Ask the player on your left about two elements that you think are involved in the crime. You may ask about different types of elements, for example "Rose and the rope", or about the same type, for example "the rope or the candlestick". Ex.: "I suspect that Rose and the rope might be involved in the crime. Can you help me?"
- If the player on your left is unable to help you, ask the same question to the next player. Continue like this until a player shows you a Clue card or until you have questioned all the players.
- If none of the players has the Clue cards you asked about, you can deduce that one of these clues, or both, is under the Crime card (for more details, see the Tips and Tactics section).
- As soon as you have seen a Clue card, you know that it is not under the Crime card; it is innocent. Place the matching Case File card face down on your Innocent pile.
- If you are not certain of a card's innocence, keep it in your hand.
- The turn passes to the next player. It is now the turn of the player on your left to ask a question.
- Continue playing in the same way until you think you have discovered the culprit, the murder weapon and the place where it was committed.
The Player Who Answers
- When a player asks you a question, check the Clue cards in your hand. Do you hold one of the Clue cards that the question is about? Show it to the person asking, but not to the other players. Be honest! If you lie, the game will not work!
- Do you hold both Clue cards that the question is about? Show only one card of your choice to the person asking (without showing that you have the other). Ex.: "I'll show you this one..."
- If you have neither card, say: "No, I can't help you."
Are You Ready to Accuse?
How to Accuse
- As soon as you have the turn again, announce that you wish to accuse and place the three Case File cards that you suspect (who, where, with what) face down on the table (separately from your Innocent pile).
- Ask whether anyone else wants to accuse.
You are the only player who wants to accuse?
- Take a look at the cards under the Crime card (do not reveal them to the other players!).
- If the three cards under the Crime card match your accusation, you win the game! To prove it, turn over your Crime card and your Case File cards.
- If your cards do not match, you lose! The other players continue the game. You are no longer allowed to ask questions or to accuse. However, you must answer questions honestly when you are asked.
When at least two people accuse, each player proceeds in the same way.
- Decide who goes first, second, third or last to accuse. All players place their 3 accusation cards face down. Ready? Everyone turn over your accusations simultaneously.
- Accuser #1: Turn over the cards under the Crime card. If they match your accusation card, you win the game!
- Accuser #1 did not win? The next player (in order of accusation) holding a matching accusation wins the game.
- If no player wins, the murderer has managed to escape. You can go back to detective school!
Tips and Tactics
- When you have no doubt about the involvement of a clue, get rid of all the other cards of that type. For example, if you are certain that the knife was used, place all the weapon cards face down on your Innocent pile.
- You can bluff by asking about a Clue card IN YOUR POSSESSION and about a card you do not have.
- Remember which players have seen your Clue cards so as to reveal a minimum of information.
- Pay attention, even when it is not your turn; you may discover valuable clues.
- If you think a player may beat you to it, accuse before you have gathered all the clues. Wait for your turn, however!
The Winner!
The first player who solves the crime wins the game!
Advanced Game for the Best Detectives (2-4 players)
Do you think you can solve a more complex case?
- Add the cards marked with the symbol. You can now ask about one additional weapon and two additional locations.
- Setup is the same, except for the following two elements:
- Each player now receives a set of 15 Case File cards (6 suspects, 5 locations, 4 weapons). The game now has 3 additional orange Clue cards that may be innocent or guilty (revolver, lounge, hall).
- Question and accuse in the same way as before, except: if two opponents are playing against each other, when the first accuses, the other must do the same. Ex.: "Madame Leblanc in the observatory with the rope."
For twice the fun, download the Shufflecards app.