Cluedo, murder mystery party, role-playing game: what are the differences?

They are often confused: Cluedo, the murder mystery party and the role-playing game all have a whiff of investigation and characters. Yet they offer very different experiences. Here is how to tell them apart.

Cluedo: a deduction game

Cluedo (Clue in North America) is a board game. Players look for three hidden elements: the killer, the weapon and the room. You proceed by elimination, making guesses and noting the answers.

• You play a token, not really a character.
• Nobody has a secret to defend: everyone investigates from outside.
• It is short, logical and easy to replay.

The murder mystery party: investigation and role play

At a murder mystery party, each player plays a character: they have a story, a timeline, a secret and goals. Only one is guilty, and they know it. The others must unmask them while protecting their own secrets.

• You talk, bluff and question.
• Clues are documents (in our cases, real case files).
• The evening lasts about three hours, often around a meal.
• The host's book guides the host act by act.

The role-playing game: an open story

In a role-playing game, a game master tells a story and players decide their characters' actions. The story can go anywhere and stretch over several sessions.

• You need a game master who improvises.
• Rules are often richer (character sheets, dice, skills).
• It is very free, but takes experience.

In short

• Cluedo: deduce, without playing a role.
• Role-playing game: play a role, in an open story.
• Murder mystery party: play a role and solve a closed case, in one evening, with no experience needed.

Who is the murder mystery party for?

For those who like Cluedo's investigation but want more life, and for those who like role play but want a complete story in one evening. It is also the most beginner-friendly format: everything is written, you just read your file.

To start, choose The Vernier Case or La Queimada du Pazo, and read the rules explained simply.