
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,407
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Orient Express
- 1–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1985

1972
Rules assistance for Manhunt
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Manhunt is a board game released in 1972 for 2–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Take That, Race, and Roll / Spin and Move.
Game features a "crime computer" that is used for movement and to determine other game functions. Players become detectives and work alone or with a partner and choose a murder, robbery, or swindle investigation. Players visit crime scenes and gather evidence. 16 scanner cards are shuffled and one is selected at random and inserted into the Clue Scanner. This provides the clues that the detectives will need to solve the crime. Each player is provided with a detectives handbook to record clues and a readout book that lists known suspects for the different types of crimes. Clues can be obtained by visiting the crime scene, talking to witnesses, stakeouts, and at the crime lab. Suspects are eliminated by looking at behavior patterns consistent with that criminals past crime record. Clues can be taken from other detectives, but at the risk of giving up other clues as well. The first detective to identify the correct culprit wins. A fun game but a little dated by todays technology.
Manhunt supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Manhunt is 90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Manhunt for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Manhunt has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Manhunt belongs to these categories: Deduction, Murder / Mystery, and Electronic. Its main mechanics are Take That, Race, and Roll / Spin and Move. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Manhunt as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.