
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,128
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Horror on the Orient Express: The Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2026

Rules assistance for Murphy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Murphy is a board game released in 1989 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Rik van Even.
A game of deductive reasoning where players take take the role of members of the Murphy Detective Agency, each striving to be the first to identify the true heirs to the McCoin fortune.
Murphy supports 2–6 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 Murphy is 60 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 Murphy for ages 12 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.
Murphy has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Murphy belongs to these categories: Deduction, Murder / Mystery, and Dice. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Murphy and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Murphy are: Rik van Even. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Murphy 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.