Portal Games Detective , Blue

We purchased this after playing Chronicles of Crime and having so much fun with that series. This game is just as fun, if not more so. The unique mechanics of this game include a database feature that you fill out as you progress through the game which gives you bios, fingerprint/evidence matching, and a few other fun tricks that make it feel more like a real detective process. The game, like Chronicles of Crime, has a time limit element to help build tension. One of my favorite parts of this game is how the stories are based on real life events/history, locations, people, etc. You need to use tools outside of the game such as online maps, Wikipedia, Google, etc. to research aspects of the cases. Highly recommend for those that enjoy a deep dive game.Pros:1. Feels more like a detective experience2. 1-6 players3. Cases have details that are based on real-life events, people, places, etc.4. English is not the first language of the writers, which can make for fun reading5. Cases vary in length and difficulty as you progress through the storyCons:1. Requires internet to play2. Database tool can take some time to get used to using3. Database sucks your laptop's battery due to high processing, recommend having a power supply available when playing

Best game ever! If you are into this kind of game. It’s not for younger kids. You have to be ready to think and put lots of time and mental energy into this game. We are quarantined so we bought it and played the first couple of cases and loved it so much we got our friends to buy it and we play it together over zoom. I absolutely love the challenge and how real the game is. You get clues but they also have you look up words or things on google. You actually learn a little about history while playing. It’s a well thought out game. You become immersed in the realistic story and before you know it HOURS have gone by and your still in the middle of a case. I highly recommend!! It’s great for people who love shows like criminal minds, law and order etc. Because it feels like your binge watching one of those shows except you are IN THE STORY! This is the best thing I have done all quarantine.

The game is very well made and play tested, you can tell. The story is great! The game play is awesome and they change it up which makes it great to keep playing. The game is hard though so be prepared. My issue is with the final reports, in which you answer questions about the case to get a score. I don't agree with the questions they asked nor do I think they encompass the chapter you play. Ovreally a great game though!

It was a great game and as many of the reviews say...you definitely feel like a true detective. I like the limitation that the game imposes where the goal isn't to perfectly get all the information so that you know 100% of the deduction, but rather need to make compromises and intelligent choices to get the best information you can in the limited time you're given.One thing to note is that you definitely should be in the mindset to play this game. This is not a 'casual' game in the sense that you do need to be pretty focused on the task at hand and pay attention to details. We played as a 2 person campaign, and while I would consider 3, additional players might extend the play too much for me (there's lot of room for discussion and negotiation on what to do next between players).Another note - taking excellent notes (they recommend a mind map style) is imperative to give yourself the best chance at success. Also, keeping a log of open leads (we used excel) is important as the game can branch very quickly and you might lose track of other leads you might want to pursue once you head far down one path.But with the right group of players, there's really no experience quite like this that I've seen. I'm excited to see if any expansions come out, leveraging the basic mechanics.

Brevity is the soul of wit. But so many today have abandoned the bard's famous axiom. Przemyslaw Rymer and Lakub Tapot (the credited writers) needed someone to disabuse them of the notion that they are the next Nick Pizzolatto. I understand that fluff was required to mask the plot points from the red herrings. But when following the first three lead cards in our initial gaming session I had already spent multiple paragraphs reading about the quality of the precinct's coffee and my choice of egg salad sandwich for lunch, I honestly began to lose interest in the game's narrative. An editor needed to take a chainsaw to the script for this game.Even while gaming with a group that included several dedicated roll players ( who are more than familiar with painting pictures with words and narrative flourishes ) our patience quickly began to wear thin. Its a shame. The concept is solid and the idea of having to carefully select which leads to ignore and which leads to follow is enjoyable. But, in the end, this is a game first and not a pot-boiler novel. Some one really should have reminded the creators of this fact during play-testing.