50 Clues: The Home Temple (2019)

About this game

The boy did not seem completely normal. Very pale and paranoid. Vigilant citizens were concerned and contacted police, who followed the boy to a nearby townhouse. During the game, you must imagine that you are a plainclothes police officer. You have entered a house without a warrant, although the boy seemed a bit reluctant to let you in. He looks to be around 12 years old and seems to be home alone. You just want to have a look around and, perhaps, chat with his parents. The Home Temple is a free 18-card mini-game, that is available at game conventions, in stores, and as a download for print’n’play. It serves as an introduction to the 50 Clues universe. 50 Clues is an immersive puzzle game that offers the experience of an escape room, but in a format that can be played at home. You combine objects, solve puzzles and decipher codes to complete the story. A smartphone or tablet keeps track of the solutions and provides multistep hints if the need arises. —description from the publisher

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 1 to 5. It has a designed solo mode.
• Rules load. At 2.0/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 16 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.