Apart from playing games, I love creating them. On Halloween, I have this tradition of hosting a mystery night for middle school youth at my church. The game we play is Human Clue. As the volunteer's helped me with the night's events, they agreed that the game would be fun for anyone. It’s not so intensive that players have to be absorbed in the gameplay. And, it allows freedom of movement and socialization (particularly for non-gamers). One element of difficulty: the game requires space and numbers. So, if it’s a game that sounds like fun, here’s how you play.
The characters. Anyone familiar with the board games, knows the names. Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, and Mrs. White. To play Human Clue, you will need six volunteers to play each of the suspects. You can go elaborate and have the actors wear characters’ costumes. Or, simply have them wear the colors. These actors will know the solution beforehand.
The materials. Gather toys or make cardboard cutouts of the clue weapons: the knife, the rope, the revolver, the leadpipe, the wrench, and the candlestick. In addition, you will three warrants (Paper with ‘Warrant’ written on it will do). You can also play with a prop handcuff alternative.
The rooms. Designate a room (or an area) as one of the Clue rooms in your building. Label them with signs, just be sure you’re willing to let your guests enter the given space. The rooms needed are Conservatory, Billiard Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Hall, Lounge, Ballroom, Library, and Study.
The Gameplay: Once you have your actors, your materials, and your rooms ready, gather the characters in a space away from the players. Determine beforehand who is guilty, what weapon he or she used, and in which room, i.e. Mr. Green in the kitchen with the knife. After you have designated the killer, show the players the characters, weapons, and warrants (and handcuffs if you are using them). Then have your characters hide the weapons, warrants and/or handcuffs in the labeled rooms. I have made it a rule that the weapons, when hidden, must be partially visible. You can determine how much digging you what to allow your guests to do. Once the materials are hidden, the actors are free to mingle about the building.
The players can now go about the building investigating. When a player finds a weapon, he or she then can grab one of the actors, bring him or her into one of the rooms and make an accusation. (You may want to keep it as quiet as possible, for other players are allowed to spy.) It has to be that person, that weapon, and that room. In turn, the actor will give one of two answers: “You have none right” or “you have at least one right” (now one could have more than one right or even all three right, but the player will only ever say ‘you have at least one right’). A player can use this information to eliminate possibilities.
After the accusation, the actor will take the weapon from the player, and rehide it. The process will continue. Players will find weapons and make accusations, until a he or she is confident about who did it, in what room, with which weapon.
The arrest. When a person knows the correct solution, he or she will find a warrant (if playing with handcuffs they will have to find both warrant and cuffs) and arrest the suspect. It is imperative to remind the players, that if they find the warrants or handcuffs while in play, to not remove them from their hiding spot, until they are ready to solve the case. Once the suspect is arrested, the player announces his or her solution. If right, he or she wins. If wrong, he or she is out, and the actors rehide the warrant. Gameplay continues until someone solves the crime.
So, if you’re looking for a simple, fun, mystery or game night, where you’re free to socialize try Human Clue. There are lots of ways one can vary the game. Use your imagination. It’s a great youth event. And, it would be a fun party game.
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