How to Play Detective Play
Master the art of deductive reasoning. Watch official video tutorials, learn the core rules, and discover how to outsmart Detective AI or race against friends online.
Official Video Walkthroughs
Setting Up and Launching a Detective Case
Welcome to Detective Play. Once you're signed in, choose create new case to set up your mystery. Start by picking a theme. Classic mansion, Christmas mystery, spooky Halloween, or cyber space station. Each theme changes the suspects, weapons, and locations, so every case feels fresh. Scroll down to choose your detectives and set the difficulty. Advanced sleuth gives you fewer turns for a real challenge. Easy mystery gives you more time to think. Pick what suits you and you're ready to begin!
Key Takeaways from This Guide:
The 5 Phases of Every Mystery
Understand the core mechanics of deduction: from sealing the secret envelope to disproving theories and making the final accusation.
The Crime Envelope
The Hidden Solution
At the start of every mystery, 1 Suspect, 1 Weapon, and 1 Room are secretly sealed into the Confidential Case File. The remaining cards are dealt among the detectives.
Pro Tip: Your mission is to deduce the exact 3 cards inside this envelope before any rival detective does.
Movement & Scene
Navigating Locations
On your turn, use "Change Room" to travel between the murder locations (e.g. Dining Hall, Library, Lounge, Ball Room). Your theories must match your current room.
Pro Tip: Visit rooms you have not yet eliminated from your detective notebook to test whether others hold that room card.
Formulating a Theory
Suspect + Weapon + Room
Build a theory by selecting 1 Suspect, 1 Weapon, and your current Room. Submit your case to force opponents to reveal their confidential evidence.
Pro Tip: You can even propose a card you hold yourself to test other cards without revealing your hand!
The Disprove Cycle
The Red Scissors Mechanic
The next player (or AI) must secretly show you ONE card from their hand that matches your theory, disproving it. If they have none, the request passes to the next player.
Pro Tip: Whenever a card is shown, a red scissors indicator appears. That card is now eliminated from your mystery!
The Final Accusation
Solving the Mystery
When you are confident you know the 3 hidden cards, submit your Final Accusation. If all three match the envelope, you win immediately!
Pro Tip: Be careful: in Advanced Sleuth mode, you have a strict limit of turns. False moves give your rivals the edge.
Choose from 4 Unique Mystery Themes
Every theme features custom suspects, weapons, and locations. Switch themes anytime when creating a new case for a completely fresh mystery.
Classic Mansion
“Intrigue. Lies. Betrayal.”
Halloween Horror
“Darker secrets in the shadows.”
Christmas Mystery
“Secrets lie beneath the snow.”
Cyber Space Station
“In the void of space, no one is safe.”
Pro Deduction Strategies
Use these advanced techniques to outthink human opponents and crack the case before Detective AI!
Include a card you already hold in your secret hand when making a theory. If an opponent disproves it, you learn which other card they possess while keeping your own deductions disguised!
Pay close attention to what suspects and weapons other players propose. If an opponent repeatedly tests the same suspect, they likely do not hold it and suspect it is in the envelope!
When a player cannot disprove a theory, you know for certain that none of the three cards are in their hand. Use process of elimination to narrow down who holds what card.
Frequently Asked Questions
No! Friends can join games directly as a Guest detective using your room link or 6-letter room code. Registering a free account allows them to track statistics, earn badges, and appear in the Hall of Fame.
Ready to Solve Your First Mystery?
Put your skills to the test right now. Start a case against Detective AI or invite friends with a single shareable link.
