Clue

First, remove all cards marked with a plus sign in the corner, as these are for the advanced game. Each player chooses one character profile card to be their character. Give each player a set of 12 case file cards, marked with one of four symbols in the corner. Separate the clue cards into three piles: suspects, weapons, and locations. Shuffle each pile. Take one card from each of these three piles and place them face down, separately. Place the 'Crime' card on top of these three cards; these cards represent the crime's details and remain secret until an accusation is made. Shuffle the remaining clue cards and deal them face down equally to all players. Any leftover clue cards are placed face up in the middle for everyone to see. Look at your case file cards and clue cards, and eliminate any corresponding cards that are face up in the middle or in your hand from your case file by placing them face down in an eliminated pile.

The objective of Clue is to be the first player to correctly deduce the three hidden cards under the 'Crime' card: the suspect, the weapon, and the location. By asking questions and eliminating possibilities, players narrow down the options until they are confident in their accusation.

On your turn, look at your clue cards. Ask the player to your left about two elements you suspect might be involved in the crime. You can ask about different types of elements (e.g., 'Scarlett and Rope') or the same type (e.g., 'Rope and Candlestick'). The player you asked must check their hand for the clue cards you mentioned. If they have one of the cards, they must show it to you privately. If they have both, they choose which one to show you without revealing they have both. If they have neither, they must state that they cannot help you. If the first player cannot help, you ask the next player to your left the same question, and so on, until someone shows you a card or all players have been asked.

When you see a clue card (either from another player or from the face-up cards in the middle), you know that card is not one of the hidden 'Crime' cards. You should then take the corresponding case file card from your hand and place it face down in your eliminated pile. This helps you keep track of which clues have been eliminated and cannot be part of the crime's solution. If no one can show you a card for your question, you know that both elements you asked about must be under the 'Crime' card.

When you are confident you know the suspect, weapon, and location of the crime, you can make an accusation on your turn. State your accusation (e.g., 'It was Colonel Mustard, with the Rope, in the Kitchen'). Then, take your chosen suspect, weapon, and location case file cards and place them face down, separate from your other cards. Secretly look at the three 'Crime' cards. If your accusation matches all three 'Crime' cards, you win the game! If your accusation is incorrect, you are out of the game. You must return the 'Crime' cards face down without revealing them to other players. You can no longer make accusations, but you must continue to show clue cards to other players if they ask for them during their turns.