There is nothing better than a good mind-boggling mystery to keep us entertained on a cozy night in. If you’re anything like me, you love a good gory story to really relax into the evening with. While an entertaining idea, perhaps an actual murder mystery dinner might push things a little too far with the folks.
So, if you enjoy a good Sherlock Holmes tale, then a crime-solving board game night is just what the doctor ordered. Come, Watson, come. The game is afoot! It’s time to delve into the lowest and vilest alleys in London and uncover the grizzly details of some truly heinous crimes.
There is now a multitude of Sherlock Holmes-themed board games available to keep you and the team truly intrigued. As the genius himself says, there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. So, it’s time to demonstrate your deductive talents and cunning capabilities to your friends and family in a race for the truth. I will uncover the details of 7 fantastical games that deserve your utmost attention. I can assure you that you’re in for an elementary adventure.
Find the Best Sherlock Holmes Board Games below.
Our Top Picks for Best Sherlock Holmes Board Games
In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.
“When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
— Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
Who is Sherlock Holmes?
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional private detective created by Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Known for his brilliant deductive reasoning, exceptional observation skills, and super sleuth capabilities, the character has gone down in history as a mastermind detective.
In the books, Sherlock described himself as a “consulting detective” and may have been based on the real person, Dr. Joseph Bell, a professor at the University of Edinburgh Medical School.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
You and your friends will be transported to Victorian London in the four mind-bending files of Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. The Thames Murders & Other Cases, Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures, The Baker Street Irregulars, and Carlton House & Queen’s Park provide you with a large array of challenging mysteries to solve.
You can gather up to eight detectives for a case and the complex clues will keep you musing for over an hour. Keep your London Directory map close at hand as you investigate the grizzly end of two lions in London zoo, chase an artistic thief and face the infamous Jack the Ripper. Time to sharpen your wits if you hope to surpass the great Holmes himself in this challenging array of detective work.
221B Baker Street
For those of you who scoffed at the challenges of Clue, 221B Baker Street could be the ultimate detective game for you! Baker Street requires serious analytical skills and crafty deductions to unravel the mysteries of the game.
The clues are more complex and subtle in this board game so it presents a fun contest for the family. You can even play with two players, although the drama intensifies from three and up. You will be well stocked up for your detective adventure with Scotland Yard Cards, Skeleton Key Cards, and your trusty Checklist Pad.
“There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.”
— Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles
Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft
It’s 1895 in London city and a humongous bang goes off as a bomb explodes in the Houses of Parliament. The two greatest minds are called to the scene, that’s right I’m talking about you two! Yes, I was surprised too.
This brilliant two-player game pits you against your partner as you race to detangle this cunning attack. Who did it and why? Gather your clues and investigate the city over the next seven days (turns) to save London from this devious delinquent. Each game lasts around thirty minutes so don’t worry if the two shrewdest minds in Britain want to finish in time for tea.
The Sherlock Files
The beautifully boxed Sherlock Files presents you with four volumes of mustache-twirling cases to close. The Elementary Entries, Curious Capers, Puzzling Plots, and Fatal Frontiers ensure that every Sherlock-themed evening will present a host of new and original experiences for your deductive crew.
Your communication is limited in this game so you have to use logic to decide what information you should share with your team. You are also forced to discard certain cards along the way which proves a solid test of your memory skills. The real magic of these files is the rich character building and context setting of each challenge. There are three cases per volume to unravel ranging from devious vehicle accidents to suspiciously sudden heart attacks and nifty jewel thievery.
Beyond Baker Street
Let’s be honest, if it came down to it you could definitely take on Sherlock Holmes, right? Right! So now’s your moment to race this famous mind to uncover the culprit for some cunning crimes. Now that you mention it, maybe we should all work together on this one.
You and your insightful team of detectives will band together to solve three fascinating mysteries. Each time you receive a clue, however, Holmes will move one step closer to winning the game. You can use character cards to add to the theme of the game and give everyone individual strengths and weaknesses on the board. This dynamic race really comes to life through the thematic artwork from cards to board.
Sherlock Holmes: The Card Game
If you’ve always had a thing for bad boys, then chasing that devil Moriarty could be the perfect evening for you! Time to unveil his hoodwinking crimes and uncover his fellow villains in this challenging card game.
This is a captivating mystery that involves choosing your location and action each turn while investing in some effective disguises. Deduce whose alibi seems shaky at best before you choose to make your arrest.
This game is complex enough to keep you and your fellow investigators engaged for 60 minutes and can be played with up to 8 people! Time to don your Victorian garments and reveal the culprit at hand.
“There should be no combination of events for which the wit of man cannot conceive an explanation.”
— Sherlock Holmes, The Valley of Fear
Sherlock Holmes: Baker Street Irregulars
An unlikely bunch of street urchins becomes the most valued police force in London for Holmes in this stand-alone game.
In this cooperative board game, you and your fellow shabby street crew will scour the streets for clues as you try to navigate a dangerous series of mysteries. You can play this one solo or gather a gang of up to eight detectives.
A fantastic aspect of this game is that it was created by Dave Neale, a game designer that is hugely familiar with the infamous Holmes and his stories. You receive a whopping ten cases to solve too so this should keep friends and family investigating well into the night.
Bonus Games for More Sherlockian Deduction:
Mr. Jack
In this 1v1 game, one player tries to eliminate suspects while the other takes on the role of Mr. Jack as he flees from authorities.
Sherlock Holmes: The Challenge Trilogy
Unmatched: Cobble & Fog
$69.99
$50.96
Unlock!: Heroic Adventures
“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.”
— Sherlock Holmes, The Red Circle (His Last Bow)
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our top picks for the best Sherlock Holmes board games! This is by no means a comprehensive list, as many great Sherlockian games have gone out of print over the years and are hard to come by. Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these games and your thoughts on the deductive process. We’d love to hear from you!
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Kendra has always been a hardcore fantasy nerd. Growing up in the worlds of Tolkien, Sanderson, Jordan, and Abercrombie, DnD & board games just came naturally. She and her husband, Bryan, started GameCows.com in 2018 as a fun passion project that just took over their lives. An avid board gamer since childhood and chronic DnD chronicler for more than two decades, she loves to play, write, travel, and learn dead languages.