Something’s off in this neighborhood … and it’s up to junior detectives to figure it out!
Buffalo Games’ Junior Detective lets kids — and parents! — live out their Nancy Drew fantasies. Weird things have been happening in the neighborhood and it’s up to players to figure out what happened. Designed for kids ages 8 and up, this mystery-solving game is perfect for those who love cracking puzzles.
There are 40 different unsolved mysteries that little PIs can choose from. After selecting one, kids must decode clues using the included accessories, such as a red spy glass, a detective mirror, a cipher solve card, and even their own hands. Players must be the first to figure out the culprit and where they are hiding by interviewing suspects around the neighborhood and solving clues along the way.
However, not all the witnesses are telling the truth — it’s important to pay attention to the Librarian, a character in the game, who will tell you if witnesses are lying or not.
One thing I loved about this game is the graphics. The board itself looks like an animated kids’ TV show, with a Junior Detective HQ tree fort in the center. All the game’s components are equally groovy, with playing pieces reminiscent of The Jetsons. Even the name of the town is on-theme — a sign on the board welcomes you to “Evidenton” (haha).
While playing the game, I came across conflicting information in Case #2 that made that specific mystery unsolvable. Although this made the game harder, the other cases I tried were perfectly fine and made for some brain teasers. I particularly liked that kids have to use the spyglass and mirror to read clues, making for a more hands-on experience compared to other mystery-solving board games.
At only $19.99, Junior Detective is an awesome game for kids looking to work their brains this summer. Since everything packs up neatly into its own box, it can be taken on the go for summer road trips, or even to the park for a late afternoon activity.
With so many cases to solve, little mystery solvers will be entertained for hours. Happy solving!
