Deduction board game
Encyclopedia
Deduction board games are a genre of board game
in which the players must use deductive reasoning
and logic
in order to win the game. While many games, such as bridge
or poker
require the use of deductive reasoning to some degree, deduction board games feature deductive reasoning as their central mechanic.
Deduction board games typically fall into two broad categories; abstract and investigation games.
and Master Mind
.
s in which the players generally play as police, detectives or other investigators.
The best known game of this type is Cluedo
. In fact, many of games in this category utilize a mechanic
known as "The Missing Card," which was developed by Anthony E. Pratt for Cluedo (Clue in the United States). "The Missing Card" takes a known set of cards (or other token) and removes one or more of them. By gathering information and using deduction and logic, the players can determine which cards were removed to win the game.
Other mechanics used in investigation games include the "one against all" mechanic, as seen in Scotland Yard
, The Fury of Dracula and similar games. In these games, one player attempts to stay hidden as the others attempt to discover his location.
There are some games, such as Lie Detector, published by Mattel
in 1960, that use unique mechanics. This game used punch cards and plastic lie-detector
machine that players could use to determine if statements were true or false. While popular, this game did not produce imitators akin to those from Cluedo or Scotland Yard.
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
in which the players must use deductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning, also called deductive logic, is reasoning which constructs or evaluates deductive arguments. Deductive arguments are attempts to show that a conclusion necessarily follows from a set of premises or hypothesis...
and logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
in order to win the game. While many games, such as bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
or poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
require the use of deductive reasoning to some degree, deduction board games feature deductive reasoning as their central mechanic.
Deduction board games typically fall into two broad categories; abstract and investigation games.
Abstract
Abstract deduction games have no theme and focus on pure abstract reasoning. Though abstract, some introduce random elements. For example, in the game Code 777, the question cards used to gather information are drawn at random. Notable members of this category include Black BoxBlack Box (game)
Black Box is a game of "hide and seek" for one or two players, which simulates shooting rays into a black box to deduce the locations of atoms hidden inside. It was created by Eric Solomon. The board game was published by Waddingtons from the mid 1970s and by Parker Brothers in the late 1970s...
and Master Mind
Mastermind (board game)
Mastermind or Master Mind is a code-breaking game for two players. The modern game with pegs was invented in 1970 by Mordecai Meirowitz, an Israeli postmaster and telecommunications expert, but the game resembles an earlier pencil and paper game called bulls and cows that may date back a century or...
.
Investigation games
Investigation games are board gameBoard game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s in which the players generally play as police, detectives or other investigators.
The best known game of this type is Cluedo
Cluedo
Cluedo is a popular murder/mystery-themed deduction board game originally published by Waddingtons in Leeds, England in 1949. It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk from Birmingham, England. It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S...
. In fact, many of games in this category utilize a mechanic
Game mechanic
Game mechanics are constructs of rules intended to produce an enjoyable game or gameplay. All games use mechanics; however, theories and styles differ as to their ultimate importance to the game...
known as "The Missing Card," which was developed by Anthony E. Pratt for Cluedo (Clue in the United States). "The Missing Card" takes a known set of cards (or other token) and removes one or more of them. By gathering information and using deduction and logic, the players can determine which cards were removed to win the game.
Other mechanics used in investigation games include the "one against all" mechanic, as seen in Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard (board game)
Scotland Yard is a board game in which a team of players, as "police", cooperate to track down a player controlling a "criminal" around a board representing the streets of London. It is named after Scotland Yard, the headquarters of London's Metropolitan Police Service...
, The Fury of Dracula and similar games. In these games, one player attempts to stay hidden as the others attempt to discover his location.
There are some games, such as Lie Detector, published by Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
in 1960, that use unique mechanics. This game used punch cards and plastic lie-detector
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
machine that players could use to determine if statements were true or false. While popular, this game did not produce imitators akin to those from Cluedo or Scotland Yard.