What’s On Your Shelf? – Ali Thompson

I grew up in the age of Blockbuster (RIP) and VHS tapes. There was truly nothing better than perusing the aisles of a movie store, looking for the perfect selection of movies to watch over the weekend. During one of my movie hunting sessions, with my Mom patiently waiting in the car for me, I found what I will argue, is one of the best films ever created – Clue.

I mean, Tim Curry (but honestly, the entire cast is pure gold), a classic murder mystery board game turned movie, multiple endings (sorry, spoiler!), what’s not to love!? I rented this movie so many times over the years my local store actually needed to purchase a replacement copy. And, before that store locked its doors for the very last time, I was there to purchase that well-loved VHS from their closing sale.

Because of my love for this movie, I’ve sought out tabletop games with a similar vibe that I want to share.

Mansions of Madness – When you pair the app with the game play, there’s this really fun mystery that plays out both on the screen and the board. You move through the rooms of the house, much like Clue, encountering and (hopefully) defeating monsters. As the game wraps there’s always this big finale that feels very Clue-esque.

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – In this game you read the story of the case Holmes is working on and then sort through old newspapers, maps, and directories to help solve the crime. This game feels like a bird’s-eye view of the Clue movie. It is one you can sit around and play with a large group or entirely on your own. I love that there isn’t a board or a bunch of little pieces which lends itself to more of a conversation as you play through each case.

Perspectives – Each player has information that the other doesn’t have so there’s a big focus on effective communication. It could turn out like the scenes in the movie where everyone is running around the house frantic and things are chaotic, or it could go smoothly. The choice is yours.