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Detective Stories: History Edition – Kaifeng 982
Betrayal, Insurgents, and a looming war…
The discovery of an thousand year old ancient Chinese artifact shines new light on the assassination of Chancellor Lài – an event that changed the fate of the Xi Xia Empire forever. Professor Dan Silvers starts the search for the truth which has been buried since 982 AD.
But alone in a foreig country he hits the wall – can you help his investigation from afar?
The first in a series of detective games based on historical events which not only history buffs will love. The game is designed as a historical criminal case and requires investigations similar to those carried out by archaeologists in real life. Use the collected evidence and make your own investigation to bring the truth to light.
—description from the publisher
| Ages | 14+ |
|---|---|
| Players | Solo, 2 Players, 3 Players, 4 Players, 5 Players |
| Play Time | 90m – 150m |
| Designer | Alexander Krys |
| Mechanics | Deduction |
| Theme | Deduction, Murder/Mystery, Party Game, Puzzle |
| Publisher | iDventure |
Andy Parsons
It's quite a surprise to open a box and find no rules as such, just a bit of introductory text, including a strong prompt to make use of the internet. The remaining contents of the box are various pieces of evidence, mostly letters. More pieces of evidence are to be found elsewhere. I'm ambivalent about the use of the internet in Kaifeng. It's probably my age, but I do like to find everything needed to play a game in the box. Unquestionably, though, the online elements do add a touch of present day realism. The mystery itself I found bloody difficult. I think that's because in a mystery thriller I'd be the detective interviewing suspects and witnesses. Consulting Detective puts me in that role and I do enjoy it. In Kaifeng I'm the poor sod left behind at the police station with a pile of paper and a computer. The game demands a forensic attention to detail that I just don't possess. I can admire the intricate design of this puzzle, but the protagonists in its story never come to life and it leaves me cold.
brutusbelton
After playing a ton of one-shot games with detective theme I have to say that I still found this case fresh, innovative and interesting. Really well prepared and designed. Despite the fact that we lost and failed to find the last piece of evidence needed to blame an offender we felt extremly satisfied with such quality and demanding case. It took us ca. 210 mins. Great mix of theme and puzzles, really well delivered story, almost perfect detective game. One small flaw - this case can be too hard for casual players and make them feel overwhelmed, thus unsatisfied. Do not rush, use hints when stuck (they really work well), follow investigation model provided by author and I guarantee that you will be extremely satisfied with the solution. Great recommendation!
EvilSoupdragon
An excellent game let down by the solutions website, which we found told us we were incorrect, even though checking the full solution showed that we were correct.