- BGG rank
- BGG #16,986
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Small Detectives
2017
Rules assistance for Small Detectives
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15–30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Small Detectives
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Small Detectives is a board game released in 2017 for 2–5 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Bruno Faidutti and Charles Chevallier and its main mechanics are Area Movement and Open Drafting.
About the game
Dark days in Smalltown, a quiet suburb where nothing ever happens... The corpse of Mr Shuman was found in unusual circumstances. The local police has never seen a similar crime, and is even unable to determine the murder weapon! So they’re asking for your help to clear up this case. Who’s guilty? What weapon was used? Let’s find out, and prove you’re the best detective in town! Small Detectives is a light and fast paced whodunnit game, kind of a modernized version of Clue.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Pixie Games
- Zacatrus
Questions and answers
Small Detectives supports 2–5 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 Small Detectives is 15–30 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 Small Detectives 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.
Small Detectives has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Small Detectives belongs to these categories: Deduction and Murder / Mystery. Its main mechanics are Area Movement and Open Drafting. 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 credited designers of Small Detectives are: Bruno Faidutti and Charles Chevallier. 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 Small Detectives 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.