Sherlock Holmes: The Thames Murders & Other Cases

A fascinating dive into Sherlock's Victorian London with compelling mysteries to solve. You're given a map, address book and a newspaper page (plus ones from previous cases). Armed with these, you are presented with a crime to solve and have the freedom to choose how you go about it. When you are ready, you can go to the back page of the casebook to answer a range of questions. The mechanics of the gameplay are therefore very simple and effortless to learn, but the challenge is often high. You can play solo or in any sized group. There is a scoring system, based on your ability to answer the questions correctly while visiting as few locations as possible. However, I think the game is best enjoyed without worrying about it. Exploring London, going down rabbit holes, and being tricked by inevitable red herrings is more enjoyable for me than trying to "beat" Sherlock's score (which, let's face it, is rather a fool's errand). It seems a shame to have all this narrative material and then try to ignore as much of it as possible for a high score. But players are free to play however they like, so I don't really consider it a problem. There's ten cases in the box. A couple didn't quite grab me, but on the whole they're great and well-written. While replayability isn't really possible (maybe many years later?), there are dozens more free fan-written cases available online to get more mileage out of your purchase. Highly recommended.

Love this game! We enjoy playing as a family as it is easy to cooperatively approach the gameplay. It plays out like a more text based escape room/mystery novel and does require a significant amount of reading. The individual mysteries generally take around 1.5-2 hours depending on the speed of your reading and desire to succeed with minimal hints and each module builds upon the one before it so make sure to do things in the right order. Depending on your memory there isn't a high likelihood of "replayablity," but it's a great game to share with friends after you've finished.

Interesting game. Takes a little getting used to the thought process it wants you to use -- it is helpful if you have read the Holmes stories to understand the style of thinking/inference.

I really love this game and find it unique. The basic mechanism is simple: you are given a case to solve with a brief introduction that already contains many important clues. Then you can gain additional clues by going anywhere on the map (using the directory to look up addresses) or reading the newspaper. If there’s an entry for that location, you read it and hopefully gain some more clues. When you’re ready to solve the case, you turn to the back and see how well you did. What I love about this is that despite the simplicity of the mechanics (which means anyone of any age can play, and I’ve heard about people even playing this in the car, with one person reading the entries), the cases have great depth and nuance. You’ll be discussing the case with your partner (I enjoy playing this two-player) and trying to piece together clues and evaluate theories. Eventually you’ll have enough clues to think of a coherent theory. I’ve played this with my mother, who doesn’t play board games but enjoys watching Colombo and such shows, and it works great. We’ve solved the first two cases with 70 and 85 pts—very respectable scores. Some people find it too hard, but if you are willing to keep investigating, you’ll eventually have plenty of clues. It’s also great that the game allows you to bring in your real world knowledge to help you solve the case: the battle of Trafalgar, the way people smoked cigarettes, etc. The detail is fantastic. The materials are also top notch. Everything looks and feels great. I’m very much looking forward to the future cases and future boxed sets. There’s nothing else I’ve come across that’s quite like this game!

My kids and I play a lot of escape room and cooperative games, and this is by far my favorite. It is very challenging and beating Sherlock Holmes is impossible. So we just try to solve the mysteries (answer all the questions correctly) instead of trying to beat Holmes. We've only played the first few cases, but we've enjoyed them all. Each one has taken 2 to 3 hours. Playing with 1 to 4 people seems to be the best. More than that and I feel like someone will be bored. I played one by myself and missed some clues but still enjoyed it. I think playing with someone else would have been better, but not necessary. The game itself is beautifully made. Even the storage box feels like a better quality than the usual game box. It's pricey, but with 10 cases in it I think it's a great price. If you are gentle with the pieces you can easily pass it on to someone else to play. I'm very excited that there are 3 more boxes to buy! We'll be getting them all for sure! If you are hesitating because this isn't a replayable game, don't! You'll get many hours of fun and I'm sure you won't feel cheated.

This is a wonderful game for lovers of the Conan Doyle stories. The production values are amazing, the level of detail in the materials provided is excellent and the fact that the mysteries are all-new, not rehashes of the Conan Doyle stories, makes them more intriguing. Set-up is extremely easy and relatively space efficient and the cooperative style of the game makes it great fun for just a couple or several players to enjoy together. As with most mystery games, though, re-playability is limited, but there are a large number of cases already available in reasonably-priced expansions and more can be easily developed. I'm looking forward to playing more and buying the rest of the expansions.

This game is the best. So different than any other board game, exciting and fun! All the cases are in-depth and very detailed (or at least the 3 we played so far), the newspapers are cleverly put together and the whole game experience is just awesome. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime & detective stories. Bear in mind though that it's NOT a party game, when you sit down to play, you're in for a 2-3 hour sitting, reading and speculating, so don't bother bringing it to a party that was supposed to be about music, alcohol and chit-chat. Also, don't worry that the cases are not replayable. 10 is a lot, you probably won't finish it in 10 days. The cases are - as I mentioned - in-depth and can be tiring too, so once you finish them you'll feel like you just finished a very-very long book. Besides, there are two more games with 10-10 brand new cases each so if your only concern is that the cases are not replayable then drop it and just buy the game! 😃 You won't regret it.

Amazing game. Playing with my girlfriend at a relaxed pace - a couple nights for each case, lasting about 45 min-1 hour per session. Perfect bonding experience - feels good to work things out together. Very well written cases and immersive gameplay - unique. I am used to playing games with physical boards, cards, or pieces. We have really enjoyed the freedom of playing a game that only requires your mind and enough time (don't give up and go to Sherlock's house for help! - his hint pretty much gave away a case, and the enjoyment comes from that eureka moment when you figure something out yourself) Recommended if you enjoy mystery, teamwork, and earning your victory. Or losing horribly and enjoying the experience anyway because you failed as a team.

"Sherlock Holmes: The Thames Murders & Other Cases" is a captivating board game that transports players into the intricate world of Victorian London, challenging them to step into the shoes of the legendary detective himself. This game is a masterclass in deduction, offering a thrilling and immersive experience for fans of Sherlock Holmes and mystery-solving enthusiasts alike. The attention to detail in the game design is impressive. The artwork, the components, and the thematic elements all work seamlessly together to recreate the atmosphere of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic stories. From the moment you open the box, you're drawn into a world of intrigue and suspense. The gameplay is where this board game truly shines. As players, you assume the roles of Baker Street Irregulars, collaborating to solve a series of challenging cases. The use of deduction, logical reasoning, and the gathering of clues make every move a strategic decision. The mechanics are well-crafted, providing a balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for seasoned gamers. The variety of cases included ensures that each playthrough is a unique experience. The game master's guide, which leads the narrative and manages clues, adds an immersive storytelling element reminiscent of the original Sherlock Holmes tales. It's a delightful touch that enhances the overall gaming experience. The game components, including the map of London, case booklets, and character cards, are of high quality. The attention to historical accuracy and thematic details adds a layer of authenticity that enhances the overall immersion. The puzzles are challenging but rewarding, making every solved case a triumph for the entire team. Whether you're a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast or simply love a good mystery, "The Thames Murders & Other Cases" is a gem of a board game. It combines engaging gameplay with a rich narrative, offering a unique and memorable gaming experience. Gather your fellow detectives and dive into the world of Victorian London – the game is afoot!

Attention le jeu est bien en Anglais, je l'ai choisi pour jouer avec mes amis étrangers. Il faut bien entendu aimer le genre détective, ce n'ai pas un jeu où vous aller rigoler. Pour ma part j'ai adoré et je n’hésiterai pas à prendre les autres jeu de détective Sherlock Holmes. La qualité de la boite et du matériel est aussi très bonne

Juego cooperativo. Casi ni necesita la mesa, es más, mucha, lectura y comprensión, investigación. Cada caso tarda un buen rato aunque creo que la caja dice 2 horas. Está interesante y buena la historia. Dificultad... depende de tu habilidad para resolver misterios.