- BGG rank
- BGG #1,675
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Guildhall
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2012
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- BGG rating
- 6.3
Sherlock 13
2013
Rules assistance for Sherlock 13
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Sherlock 13
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sherlock 13 is a board game released in 2013 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Hope S. Hwang.
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About the game
In Sherlock 13, first published as Holmes 13, the players take the role of a detective, trying to unmask the famous thief Arsene Lupin, who is among them in disguise. The game consists of 13 character cards, with 2 to 3 characteristics each. Each characteristic is shared by 3 to 5 characters. The cards are shuffled and one is drawn and put aside. This card represents the disguise chosen by Arsene Lupin. The other cards are distributed evenly among the players. The players now tally the total of characteristics they have on their cards (e.g. 2 detectives, 1 female, 0 genius etc) and note them for later use. Players now take turns, asking a question to gather new evidence: a.) To all players: "Who has (at least one) of (this characteristic)? OR b.) To one player: "How many of (this characteristic) do you have? Using these clues the players try to figure out which disguise Arsene has chosen (i.e. which card is missing). Instead of a question, a player may announce which character he suspects to be Arsene in disguise. That player then secretly checks the hidden card. If the suspicion was correct, this player wins the game, otherwise the player is eliminated and the other players continue.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Broadway Toys LTD
- BoardM Factory
- Korea Boardgames
- Granna
- Asterion Press
- Morapiaf
- Mandala Jogos
- Arcane Wonders
- MEBO Games
- Magpie (Korean Co)
- Letheia
Questions and answers
Sherlock 13 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 Sherlock 13 is 15 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 Sherlock 13 for ages 6 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.
Sherlock 13 has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Sherlock 13 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Deduction, and Novel-based. 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 Sherlock 13 and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Sherlock 13 are: Hope S. Hwang. 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 Sherlock 13 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.