Introduction
Who Did It Murder On The Orient Express Board Game is an interactive detective game based on Agatha Christie’s famous mystery novel, “Murder on the Orient Express”. Players assume the role of the famous detective Hercule Poirot as they try to solve a seemingly impossible murder that has occurred aboard a luxurious train travelling between Istanbul and England. Players must examine evidence, interview 10 suspects, and ultimately reach a conclusion about who is responsible for the mysterious death.
The Who Did It board game franchise was first released in 1990 by Parker Brothers. Since then, many other versions of the game have been released all over the world. Versions popularized in various countries include How to Host A Murder: School Daze and Middle East version; Cluedo: Capital City Edition; and Detective Club: Death on Wheels. The games range from simple who-dunnit style games to more complex cases involving multiple murders and thefts. Each version also has unique rulesets, making them suitable for different play styles. The aim of each game, however, remains the same ” to determine who did it and why!
Overview of Gameplay
Who Did It Murder on the Orient Express? is an interactive murder mystery board game that challenges players to solve the crime and determine who killed Mr. Ratchett. Players move around a game board inspired by the movie and book of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel, asking questions, connecting clues, and making accusations in an attempt to pin down the killer.
To play Who Did It Murder On The Orient Express you will need:
1) A copy of the game which comes with 1 murder card, 6 suspect cards, 24 evidence cards, 2 coloured cubes (red & white) 4 journalist tokens and 1 die.
2) An empty space large enough to accommodate the game board (included with the game).
3) 3 or more players.
How To Play :
1) Each player chooses one of six suspects (the Drive, Edward Masterman, Mary Debenham, Dr. Arbuthnot, Princess Dragomiroff, Hectoe McQueen).
2) All players except one place their suspect card face down ” they are secret suspects until all evidence has been collected or a confession is made in court at the end of the game.
3) The remaining player takes on the role of detective (or Hercule Poirot). He or she shuffles the 24 Evidence cards and each player receives 5 Evidence Cards (these should not be shared with others).
4) The Gameboard is laid flat and Detective places his Character Token on starting position ” beginning outside Calais Station.
5) Roll dice to decide order of play for Suspects as indicated by movement arrows around Gameboard
6) Suspects turn over their character cards- each character held certain key item related to case but only detective knows what & where those items are located at start of game.
7) Through questioning they can collect further evidence & answer questions themselves or receive answers in form clue points given by other players- these will help them understand how different pieces of puzzle fit together better in order solve case once everyone reaches final destination “Little Venice (Home Office on Gameboard.) At this point out of ‘court room’ session can take place with Detective asking more specific questions & others explaining what knew about crime/motive etc…) Use Courtroom as opportunity make accusation- if no majority decision reached continue game…
8)When Detective & Suspects agree upon Solution- accuse perpetrator & prove their innocence or guilt – announce who murdered Mr Ratcket! §§§§ A winner! Tips & Strategies
• Gather evidence before questioning: It may be beneficial to gather evidence quickly by traveling through different spaces first before returning to question suspects in greater detail later using your newfound knowledge. In addition it is important not to reveal too much information either when interacting with other players as doing so could potentially lead them closer to being able to name murderer before you do!
• Don’t forget Information Cards: Remembering that there are Information Cards dispersed throughout board which contain useful details about certain elements related case ” picking these up from locations can give additional insight when questioning characters/other players later on.. Whether it’s pointing out a discrepancy in someone’s statement after cross examination or presenting crucial results from forensic analysis that have been overlooked during investigation process; these information cards can provide vital clues required for solving crime!
Character and Scenario Overview
Meet the Characters – There are nine passengers aboard Hercule Poirot’s famous Orient Express: Countess Andrenyi, Doctor Constantine, Colonel Arbuthnot, Mary Debenham, Hardman, Samuel Ratchett, Edward Masterman, Hector MacQueen and the conductor Pierre Michel. Each has a distinct backstory and reason for being on the train.
Background of the Story – In Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express (1934), Hercule Poirot is called upon to investigate a crime that happened on board the famous Orient Express. One night during its journey from Istanbul to Calais Paris, an American man named Ratchett was found brutally murdered in his private compartment. All of the suspects on board”the nine passengers as well as Michel”have secrets in their pasts or present circumstances. Someone amongst them did it…but who?
Different Game Play Variations – Who Did It Murder On The Orient Express Board Game offers both cooperative and competitive game-play variations ” all centered around tracking down clues and pieces of evidence to identify Ratchett’s murderer … or determine if it was done by outside forces. In cooperative mode, players work together to solve the mystery of how Ratchett died; whereas in competitive mode different groups are formed and attempt to outwit each other as they work towards uncovering key details about the case.
Benefits of the Game
The cooperative Who Did It Murder On The Orient Express Board Game is a great choice for family game night and classroom activities. Not only is it a fun and engaging game, but it also provides many educational benefits, social interaction opportunities, problem solving challenges and replayability.
The primary educational benefit to playing this board game is that players are encouraged to think critically about the clues given during the game and select the best solutions or guess who is responsible for the murder! This helps players build stronger problem solving abilities and logic skills which extend to other areas of life. Additionally, playing board games such as this can foster an early interest in detective work while providing a safe environment to explore uncovering “whodunnit” type mysteries.
From a social interaction standpoint, Who Did It Murder On The Orient Express Board Game requires cooperation from multiple people in order to solve the riddle of the murder mystery. This promotes teamwork amongst participants, encourages active participation and dialogue between players as each works together toward finding out what happened on the train. As conversations take place around the game board, players get experience with public speaking skills and develop deeper relationships with one another through good sportsmanship and friendly competition.
Hands-on problem solving challenges provide participants with real-life applications of critical thinking skills that must be used in order to win the game! As candidates for each potential culprit are weighed against one another according to certain pieces of evidence, decision making processes must ultimately be sorted out in order find out who committed the crime! Players are appropriately rewarded when they discover creative ways to assess clue cards by placing them next to additional evidence on their individual desks or by developing theories regarding motive that lead to further card reveals.
Finally, What makes this particular mystery investigation stand apart from other titles on store shelves today is its replayability factor ” introducing new twists with different characters when you play again ensures that you are not stuck trying to recall already solved information over time. Each playthrough offers fresh surprises keeping even lifelong fans of board games coming back for more!
Conclusion
The Who Did It? Murder on the Orient Express board game is a fun, detective-style game that has plenty of replayability and suspense. In this game, players must use their wits and deductive reasoning to find the murderer before all ten suspects depart aboard the Orient Express. The game includes high quality components like black-and-white character cards, location cards, clue boards, and evidence pieces to help the detectives unravel the mystery.
Overall, I believe Who Did It? Murder on the Orient Express is a great option for anyone looking for a challenging murder mystery-themed game that can be enjoyed by an entire family or group of friends. The variety of suspects and locations allows for different outcomes even when playing multiple times with the same group of people. There are few easily identifiable weak points in this game and because of its replayability I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good time with their loved ones or friends.
Who Did it? Murder On The Orient Express Board Game may not be perfect but certainly comes close enough with its wide range of players, differing scenarios possible through premise of 12 suspects in 10 locations and different storylines each session for ensured longevity as well as hours upon hours worth of deduction time – making it one of those few gems that stands out from all other murder mystery board games currently available in market. Pro’s include: intuitive gameplay best experienced with more than 2 players (up to 6 at once); colorful characters with individual corner stories; ability to create diverse outcomes; visually appealing artwork; reasonably quick playing time (45 mins or less) as well as easily adjustable playtime depending on how much detailed solving each player wants; cost effectiveness compared to other board games out there with same detail level PLUS comprehensive instruction manual helps further facilitate smooth play process if stuck between two solutions. I’ve yet to see any substantial con’s which just adds credence to all positive traits mentioned above and hence why I rate this wholeheartedly 8/10!
I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.
I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.
