Mystery Games
Browse all Mystery board games in the Meeple Pulse database.
Styles
Themes
AbstractAdventureAncientAnimalsArtBusinessCard GameCo-operativeComic BookCooperativeCrimeEconomicEnvironmentalismExplorationFantasyHistoricalHorrorHumorIntrigueLiteraryMagicMarvelMedievalModernMuseumMysteryMythologyNatureNauticalPoliticalPress Your LuckSatireSci-FiSocial CommentarySocial InteractionSpaceSuperheroesThematicTravelWarWesternWord-Guessing
Mechanics
3D PlacementActingAction / DexterityAction DraftingAction Point AllowanceAction Point Allowance SystemAction Point SystemAction PointsAction ProgrammingAction QueueAction RetrievalAction SelectionAction/EventAlliancesAlternate ActivationApp-AssistedApp-DrivenArea ControlArea InfluenceArea MajorityArea Majority / InfluenceArea MovementArgumentationAsymmetricAsymmetric FactionsAsymmetric GameAsymmetric PowersAsymmetrical PowersAuction & BiddingAuction/BiddingAuctioningBag BuildingBettingBetting and BluffingBetting and WageringBetting and WagersBiddingBingoBlind BiddingBluffingCampaign / Battle Card DrivenCampaign / LegacyCampaign / Legacy GameCampaign / Mission-basedCampaign / ScenariosCampaign GameCampaign PlayCard DraftingCard DrawingCard DrivenCard Driven ActionCard Driven CombatCard Driven Dice AllocationCard Driven MovementCard ManagementCard PlayCard Play / Hand ManagementCard Play Conflict ResolutionCard SheddingCard-Driven MovementCharacter CreationCharacter ProgressionChit-Pull SystemCo-op PlayCo-operative GameCo-operative PlayCode-breakingCombat ResolutionCombo ChainCommand CardsCommodity SpeculationCommunication LimitsContract FulfillmentContractsCooperative GameCooperative GameplayCooperative PlayCooperative Trick-takingDebateDeck BuildingDeck ConstructionDeck, Bag, and Pool BuildingDeck-BuildingDeductionDexterityDice DraftingDice PlacementDice RollingDiplomatic InfluenceDraftingDynamic Battle SystemEnclosureEnd Game BonusesEngine BuildingEngine-BuildingEscape RoomEvent DrivenExplorationFarmingFlip and WriteFollowFollow ActionGrid CoverageGrid MovementHand ManagementHex-and-CounterHexagon GridHidden MovementHidden RolesI Cut You ChooseIncomeInfluence / Area MajorityLadder ClimbingLegacyLegacy ElementsLegacy GameLegacy SystemLimited CommunicationLine DrawingLine of SightMancalaMap MovementMarketMarket DraftingMarket ManipulationMarket MechanicMarket SpeculationMatchingMeasurement MovementMemoryMission ObjectivesModular BoardModular Board ConstructionMovement TemplatesMulti-Use CardsMulti-use CardsMultiple ScenariosMust FollowNarrative ChoiceNarrative Choice / ParagraphNegotiationNegotiation MechanicsNetwork & Route BuildingNetwork BuildingNetwork and Route BuildingOne vs ManyOne vs. ManyOpen DraftingPaper-and-PencilPartnershipsPattern BuildingPattern RecognitionPick-up and DeliverPlayer EliminationPlayer InteractionPlayer JudgePoint SaladPoint to Point MovementPolyominoesPush Your LuckPush-Your-LuckPuzzlePuzzle-LikePuzzle-SolvingRaceReal-TimeRecipe FulfillmentResource ManagementRole PlayingRole SelectionRoll / Spin and MoveRondelRoute BuildingRoute-BuildingRoute/Network BuildingSanity SystemScenario / Campaign PlayScenario / Mission / Campaign GameScenario / Mission FunctionSecret Unit DeploymentSemi-Cooperative GameSet CollectionSheddingSimulationSimultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action SelectionSimultaneous Hidden AllocationSocial DeductionSocial InteractionSolo / Solitaire GameSpace ExplorationStat Check / Skill CheckStock HoldingStorytellingStrategic PlanningTableau BuildingTactical Decision-MakingTake ThatTargeted CluesTeam PlayTeam-Based GameTeam-Based GuessingTeamworkTech TreesTech Trees / Tech TracksTechnology & Armament TracksTechnology TreeTension & Aggression TracksTile DraftingTile LayingTile PlacementTime TrackTime TravelTower DefenseTrack MovementTradingTrick-takingTug of WarTurn Order: PassTurn Order: Stat-BasedUnit PlacementVariable Phase OrderVariable Player PowersVariable Set-upVariable SetupVictory Point TracksVotingWord AssociationWord GameWord GuessingWord-GuessingWord-guessingWordplayWorker Placement

RANK #109
Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a cooperative Living Card Game that plunges one to four players into the eerie, Lovecraftian world of the 1920s. Assuming the roles of unique investigators in Arkham, Massachusetts, players work together to unravel sinister conspiracies, confront otherworldly beings, and prevent ancient evils from devouring the world. Each investigator comes with their own strengths, weaknesses, and customizable deck of cards representing their assets, skills, and resources. The goal is to successfully navigate a series of interconnected narrative scenarios, forming a larger campaign where choices and outcomes in one chapter have lasting consequences on the next. This Revised Core Set provides the definitive entry point, containing everything needed for a full group of four to begin their harrowing adventures right out of the box.
The gameplay unfolds over a series of rounds, each composed of four distinct phases that create a tense and challenging rhythm. In the Mythos Phase, the forces of darkness advance as doom accumulates and each player draws a random card from the encounter deck, introducing new enemies, treacherous obstacles, or reality-bending effects. During the Investigation Phase, players take turns performing up to three actions, which can include playing cards, moving between locations, battling monsters, or most importantly, investigating to find clues. These clues are essential for advancing the 'act' deck, which propels the story forward. The Enemy Phase sees any engaged monsters attack the investigators, while others hunt across the board. Finally, the Upkeep Phase allows players to refresh their assets, draw a new card, and gain a resource, preparing them for the horrors of the next round.
What makes Arkham Horror: The Card Game so compelling is its profound fusion of rich narrative storytelling with strategic card play and deck customization. The game is celebrated for its deep thematic immersion, where the unfolding story feels personal and impactful. Failure doesn't necessarily end the game, but it can scar an investigator or alter the campaign's trajectory, creating a truly dynamic and replayable experience. The challenge is significant, demanding careful cooperation and clever resource management to overcome the relentless odds. For players who crave a deep, story-driven hobby game they can expand over time, its campaign structure and character progression provide an unparalleled cooperative adventure into the heart of cosmic dread.
1-4 120m⚖️ 3.5

RANK #138
Eldritch Horror
2013Eldritch Horror is a cooperative board game that immerses players in a world of cosmic dread inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Taking on the roles of intrepid investigators, participants band together to confront a malevolent entity poised to awaken and consume the world. This is a desperate race against a doomsday clock, not a battle of simple force. The team's primary objective is to traverse the globe, from bustling cities to remote wilderness, in order to solve three distinct mysteries unique to the chosen Ancient One. These mysteries represent the only known way to prevent the creature's arrival. Should the investigators succeed before the ever-advancing doom track reaches zero, they will have saved humanity. Failure, however, means the Ancient One awakens, triggering a final, brutal confrontation.
Gameplay unfolds in rounds composed of three critical phases. First, in the Action Phase, each investigator performs two actions, such as traveling the world map, gathering vital assets like weapons and spells, recuperating health and sanity, or trading with allies. Following this, the Encounter Phase plunges each player into a unique narrative event based on their location. Drawing a card presents a story, a choice, and often a skill test resolved by rolling six-sided dice, where a five or six is a success. Investigators can spend clue tokens to reroll dice, adding a layer of resource management. Finally, the Mythos Phase represents the Ancient One's sinister influence; a new card can introduce devastating effects, spawn monsters, open otherworldly gates, and relentlessly advance the doom track, pushing the world ever closer to oblivion.
What makes "Eldritch Horror" a beloved classic is its epic, globe-spanning scale and the rich, emergent stories it generates. The game turns the entire world into a playground of impending doom, creating a grand sense of adventure. The challenge is significant, fostering true teamwork as players strategize how to best use their unique character abilities and manage limited resources. Every session creates a memorable tale of near-misses, heroic triumphs, and tragic sacrifices. The game's appeal lies in its masterful blend of strategic planning and the unpredictable chaos of the Mythos deck, ensuring high tension from start to finish. It's a daunting adventure that rewards players not just with a win, but with a compelling story they have created together, making it a pinnacle experience for those who love deep narrative and cooperative challenges.
1-8 180m⚖️ 3.8

Dive headfirst into a gripping science-fiction mystery with "Escape Comics: The Alien Ship," an innovative experience that masterfully fuses the immersive storytelling of a graphic novel with the hands-on challenges of an escape room. In this adventure, players are tasked with exploring a mysterious alien vessel to uncover its secrets and ultimately save the Earth from an unknown fate. The entire game is driven by a full-color comic book that you read together. This narrative-first approach creates a cinematic and engrossing atmosphere, pulling players directly into the high-stakes story as it unfolds page by page, panel by panel.
The core gameplay establishes a compelling loop of reading, problem-solving, and discovery. As you progress through the comic's narrative, you'll be instructed to pause and tackle a specific puzzle. To do so, you'll open sealed envelopes containing a variety of high-quality, tactile components that represent items and scenarios depicted in the artwork. Puzzles are diverse, testing your powers of observation, object manipulation, and logical deduction. Instead of a frantic timer, the game employs a point system where incorrect answers or using the progressive hint system will cost you points. Solutions are verified using a classic decoder wheel, which then directs you to the next part of the story in the comic, seamlessly blending the narrative and puzzle-solving elements.
"Escape Comics: The Alien Ship" is designed as a substantial campaign, offering between four and eight hours of gameplay. Recognizing that this is a significant time investment, the designers have cleverly included nine distinct save points, allowing you to easily pause your adventure and resume it over multiple sessions. One of its most appealing features is that it is fully resettable—no components are ever destroyed or permanently altered, meaning the entire experience can be shared with friends or family after you've completed your mission. While the game supports up to four players, it is widely considered an exceptional experience for solo players or partners, ensuring everyone can stay fully engaged with both the detailed comic panels and the intricate physical puzzles.
1-4 360m⚖️ 2.5