Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - The Baker Street Irregulars Game

I finished this game recently with a friend and I honestly can't praise it enough. Every case is really interesting and makes complete sense when you read the solution/s at the end.There are a number of cases that work slightly different from the rest which keeps the game fresh and exciting throughout.If you are playing for the first time, there are a few points I would like to add:1-Don't try to beat Sherlock. I think it must be possible to beat Sherlock, but I'm not sure how you would without fluking it or cheating. If you've ever read any of the Sherlock Holmes books, watched the films or TV series, you will know that he is the master detective. It works so much better for it when he explains how he solved the case in less moves than you did at the end of each case. It wouldn't be as good if he turned out to be pretty dim.I would recommend trying your best to score above 0, its ok if not, the most satisfying part is understanding the case.2- It can be quite difficult to know when to call it. The first time we played, we wanted to see all the criminals in handcuffs but it is usually just about understanding what has happened. There is a possibility that you may get side tracked to some extent, but often you will be presented with some additional questions to boost up your score at the end. Ultimately, the more leads you follow, the more content you get, so just enjoy figuring it all out.When we played, we did pretty well (I think). The lowest score we got was +35, which from what I understand is OK, however each case took us around 4 hours or more to finish which considering the box contains 10 cases, is amazing value for the money.Just know that this isn't a party game. If you want to do well and get the most out of the game, you are in for the long haul (scrutinising newspapers, directories, the map, the case book and using all the ink in your pen collection to make a mountain of notes).Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I will certainly buy another edition at some point, though I feel like I need a long holiday before I embark upon what was the best "board game" I have played, accompanied by essentially a ton of work.

My group has just reached the end of this set after a long winter session of playing online. While there are online resources for players, there is a bit more effort required of the box owner as they will be the only one with the scenario books and thus the de-facto narrator.The game remains largely the same as previous instances, playing as a collaborative, deductive "Choose Your Own Story" book. Everyone discusses current leads, the current narrator decides where to go next and reads that section of the scenario book. Points are awarded for solving the case faster than Holmes and for answering side questions.This set of cases was an interesting change from the Thames Murders as it introduces story states, checkmarks you are awarded from certain passages which unlock extra information in other passages, allowing for the cases to feel more like a progressive investigation. Also each of the cases has its own little mechanical twists which add some excitement to the proceedings.The only downside is that each case is single use, you cannot replay as you will already know the details of the case. However that one play is great fun with an engaged group and a good narrator.

Given as a present and the recipient is absolutely delighted. Beautifully made and well thought-out - and a real challenge.

The game is great, mechanism is surprising, it makes a great use of paper based illustration to driver myriad information. Amazing.

Played with a group of friends. About an hour per week for 10 weeks. We played remotely via video call- both of us having a set. I even took it on a trip when I had a 5 hour break between flights (you can take just the case fine and the map and things- you don’t need the whole box just to do one case. The cases are quite varied and all of them are solvable but not obvious. This is better than the original game, which we felt ‘cheated’ and made the answers too obscure after about the third case.

A really original and well-written game that immerses you in the world of Holmes. A good level of challenge that rewards careful, logical thought. When you do miss something and later find out you are left thinking ‘of course’ rather than any sense of frustration. Highly recommended.

Great game, so well designed, beautiful. It was a gift and the recipients played it immediately, with great enthusiasm!

Brilliant game. Hours and hours of fun. Have played some of the other box sets and this one is my favourite.