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Game Structure

The two players alternate turns, each taking one action. The first turn for each player is a little different than the rest, but afterwards, all turns are the same. The Killer always goes first.

The Inspector wins if they arrest the Killer.

The Killer wins if they kill the Inspector, or kill any 16 characters.

Classic Mode

First Turn – Killer

The Killer is given a random suspect card as their secret identity. On their first turn, they must make a Kill action. To do this, they choose one of the suspect cards on the board adjacent (either on the sides or the diagonals) to their secret identity, and turns that card face-down, to its deceased side.

First Turn – Inspector

The Inspector must now select one of the 4 cards from their hand to be their secret identity. They set that card face-down in front of them. The Inspector loses if this person is killed. The others they keep in their hand as ‘evidence cards’.

Later Turns – Killer

On each turn, the Killer must choose one of the following 3 actions and perform it:

• Shift a row or column
• Kill an adjacent suspect
• Disguise themselves (or attempt to)

Later Turns – Inspector

On each turn, the Inspector must choose one of the following 3 actions and perform it:

• Shift a row or column
• Arrest an adjacent suspect or themselves
• Exonerate a suspect from the deck

Shift Action

Both players have the ability to shift. To do so, select any row or column on the board. (You do not have to be in it or near the chosen row or column.) Move all cards in the column vertically up or down, or move all cards in the row left or right. This will cause one card to ‘fall off’ the edge of the board. Place the card that falls off onto the new empty space on the other side.

Note: You cannot use your shift to ‘undo’ the previous player’s shift. For example, if a player shifts a row right, the next move cannot be to shift that same row left.

Kill Action

The Killer can kill a suspect just like they did on the first turn. They just pick a suspect who is adjacent to their character on the board, and turn that suspect to its deceased side. Since the Inspector is now one of the suspects, if the Inspector is killed, they reveal their own identity and the killer wins! Otherwise, play continues.

Arrest Action

The Inspector can arrest a suspect whom they are adjacent to on the board. They may even arrest themselves to throw off suspicion. They simply point at the suspect and asks the killer “Are you [name]?” If the killer is the named suspect, the Inspector wins! Otherwise, play continues.

Disguise Action

The Killer can attempt to disguise themselves to throw the Inspector off the trail. To do this, they draw a card from the top of the Evidence Deck, and then secretly checks to see if that character is still alive on the board.

If the character is still alive, the Killer discards their current identity and turns that card to its deceased side, then places the drawn card drew face-down in front of them. It is the Killer's new secret identity.

If the suspect is deceased, the Killer simply discards the card face up, and retains their old identity. Their turn is over either way.

Exonerate Action

The Inspector draws one card from the Evidence Deck into their evidence hand. They must then discard a card from their hand face-up beside the board (if the discarded suspect is still live, it is easier to place the innocent card over top of their suspect card on the board).

After Exonerating, the Inspector’s turn is over, and they should have 3 cards in their evidence hand.

Other Rules

If the Evidence Deck is exhausted, the Disguise and Exonerate actions are no longer available.

If an entire row or column of suspects are deceased, that row or column is removed, and the board shrinks.

Standard Mode

In Standard Mode, when you disguise or exonerate, you put the innocent card you discard down onto the board, face-up, covering the existing suspect. If the suspect is already deceased, then don't do this.

If you Exonerate (whether you place the suspect or not), you canvas the area around that suspect for the killer.

If you kill a suspect marked as innocent, you get to canvas the area around that suspect for the inspector.

Citizen's Arrest Mode

In this mode, instead of questioning everyone adjacent to an exonerated suspect, the Inspector can choose to arrest one adjacent character instead.

Important: This rule applies even when the suspect being exonerated is already dead.

Important: When doing a citizen's arrest, you do not get to draw a new card to replace the exonerated suspect. This permanently reduces the size of the inspector's hand by one. Thus, this option can be exercised at most three times per game.