Games like Unsolved Case Files: 4 places to start
If you want games like Unsolved Case Files, start with Cryptic Killers for another evidence file, Hunt A Killer’s Death at the Dive Bar for a shorter case, or Deadbolt Mystery Society for murder cases with puzzles. Our game The Fifth Column takes a different route: you decipher wartime documents to stop a plot in 1945 Manhattan.
The useful question is what you want to do with the papers on the table. Do you enjoy catching contradictions in witness statements, or would you like more codes to work out? We make Puzzling Pursuits games, so we’ll explain where ours fit alongside the other options.
Which game should you try next?
These four starting points suit different evenings. Check the individual title before buying, since games from the same publisher can vary.
| If you want... | Start with... | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Another folder of evidence | Cryptic Killers: Murder at the Movie Theater | It includes online evidence as well as printed documents. |
| A case you can plan around an hour | Hunt A Killer: Death at the Dive Bar | Its listed play time is 45–60 minutes. |
| Murder investigation mixed with puzzles | Deadbolt Mystery Society | You’ll need an internet-connected device that can read QR codes. |
| Codes and linked documents in a historical story | The Fifth Column | Allow 2–4+ hours across two parts. |
Cryptic Killers: for another evidence file
Murder at the Movie Theater gives you 27 pieces of physical evidence, plus online records to examine. Police reports and photographs make it a useful place to start if laying out a case file was your favorite part of Unsolved Case Files.
The publisher lists about two hours of play for 1–10 people aged 14 and up. At the larger end of that range, plan how everyone will see the documents. A listed maximum doesn’t give ten people a copy of each page.
Hunt A Killer: for a shorter case
Death at the Dive Bar centers on a bar owner’s death and the evidence left behind. The listed 45–60 minutes makes this particular title worth considering when a multi-hour case won’t fit.
It supports 1–5 players aged 14 and up. Those are the details for this box; the company’s other cases have their own requirements. Our Unsolved Case Files and Hunt A Killer comparison looks more closely at the two formats.
Deadbolt Mystery Society: for murder cases with puzzles
Deadbolt Mystery Society’s FAQ describes cases that combine puzzle solving with eliminating suspects. Its suggested group is 1–4 players, the age recommendation is 13+, and a case usually takes 2–3 hours.
This is a useful option if you want the murder-case setting to stay central while adding more puzzle work. Keep an internet-connected phone or tablet nearby for the QR codes. Choose a specific case before ordering, and check its description if anyone in your group wants to avoid a particular theme.
The Fifth Column: for codes in a wartime story
In our game The Fifth Column, it’s June 1945. Germany has surrendered, but a Nazi plot is still underway in Manhattan. You work through the documents to discover what’s happening and stop it.
The materials below show the kind of reading you’ll be doing: a newspaper sits beside handwritten notes, decoder cards and a ration stamp chart. The task is to find connections and solve the puzzles those connections reveal. Pick this if you’re ready to move from identifying a culprit to working through a coded story.
The Fifth Column supports 1–6 players aged 14 and up and takes 2–4+ hours across two parts. You check answers in the online companion guide, where you can also ask for hints. It currently has 4.9 stars from 152 customer reviews. See The Fifth Column’s story and game materials.
If 1920s crime is more your taste, our Chicago puzzle game La Famiglia has you help the FBI take on a mafia organization. Its documents include a neighborhood bulletin and period racing tickets. It also supports 1–6 players aged 14+, with 2–4+ hours across two parts, and has 4.8 stars from 99 reviews.
Try a puzzle before choosing a box
Our free Puzzle Archive lets you try fifteen browser puzzles, with difficulty labels and optional hints. Use it to see whether you enjoy decoding and working out puzzle rules before committing to a full story. A single archive puzzle won’t reproduce a whole box, but it gives you something to solve right now.
Frequently asked questions
Which alternative is closest to an Unsolved Case Files evidence folder?
Cryptic Killers is a useful starting point. Murder at the Movie Theater combines physical evidence with online records. Read the case description to check that its theme and group size suit you.
Can I play these games alone?
The four options in this guide list support for one player. Solo play means you can follow your own hunches, though you’ll also be the only person keeping track of the evidence.
Do I need the internet?
Yes for the Cryptic Killers title discussed here, Deadbolt Mystery Society and The Fifth Column. Their online elements differ: evidence, QR-linked content and an answer-and-hint guide respectively. Check the instructions for any other title you choose.
Is The Fifth Column a murder mystery?
The Fifth Column is a wartime thriller about stopping a Nazi plot in Manhattan. You solve connected puzzles using printed documents; you are not choosing a murderer from a suspect list.
