Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

To set up the game, players first select one of the ten case booklets from the box. Beginners are advised to start with case five, 'The Case of Dr. Goldfire,' to learn the rules. Alongside the chosen case book, gather the double-sided London map, the London directory phonebook, and the relevant historical newspaper articles matching the case timeframe. Place these components within reach of all players before reading the introductory back story in the front of the case book.

The main objective of Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is to solve complex murder mysteries and crimes before Sherlock Holmes himself can solve them. Players work cooperatively as a team of detectives to uncover the truth behind the mystery, using deductive reasoning, clues, and witness statements gathered throughout the investigation.

During a turn, players discuss potential leads, which often provide suspects' names, addresses, or locations. Players consult the London Directory to find specific addresses or business categories, locate the corresponding coordinates on the district map, and then read the matching numbered paragraph inside the case book. Each location visited reveals new story passages, dialogue, or clues that guide the investigation forward.

Scoring in the game is comparative against Sherlock Holmes, who automatically achieves a baseline score of 100 points. Players lose points for every extra lead or location they investigate beyond necessary clues, and they earn points by correctly answering a series of questions related to the case at the end.

The game concludes when the players mutually agree they have gathered sufficient information to solve the mystery. They then proceed to the back of the case book, answer the questionnaire regarding the crime, and finally open the sealed envelope to compare their answers and calculate their final score against Holmes.