My children love a good mystery, be it a book, a movie, or a game, so we were excited to check out the fun new logic game from Timberdoodle: Prime Suspect In the City.
What is Prime Suspect?
Prime Suspect is an independent player game that reminds me of a cross between the classic Clue and Guess Who games. The student uses a case card to figure out which of the 9 suspects is the correct answer.
How Do You Play Prime Suspect?
To begin, choose a case from the stack of 45 different case cards. The case cards include fifteen cases of each of three different levels.
Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Expert
Next, the player works through the clues to place the nine suspect cards into the correct 3×3 grid, with the prime suspect in the middle of the grid.
The clues uses directional terms such as: above/below, next to, not next to, in between, etc. as well as details like blue shirt, gray hair, brown eyes to help the player put that person in the correct position.
Once the player believes they have the grid correct, they can check the back of the card where the name of the “Prime Suspect” is located. If that person is in the center of the grid, the player is correct.
Our Experience with Prime Suspect
The primary person who played this game in our house was my twelve-year-old son. He loves a good mystery and was excited to dive into the game. He played both at home and, because it was very portable, took it on a road trip in our camper. He said it took him about 5 minutes for the easy levels and up to 15 or 20 minutes for harder levels. It was challenging without being overly frustrating and really made him think and work through the various combinations and placements.
I have not yet tried it with my eight-year-old, but I think he would need some help and support to work out the answers.
What are the Benefits of Prime Suspect?
Prime Suspect is an educational logic game that works on logic, deductive reasoning, and directional skills. It can also encourage perseverance, as the player has to move and rethink placements with each additional clue to make them all work together.
It is a quiet, independent, portable game that can be played in just a few minutes, making it a great option for a variety of times and settings.
Who Would Enjoy Prime Suspect?
This game is for many ages. It is recommended for ages 8+, and I think that is fairly accurate. Younger readers might enjoy the easier levels as well with some parental support.
It is a quiet game, great for giving children something to do independently for a few minutes. Stored neatly in a small box (a little larger than a deck of cards), it is a great game to take with you, though to play you do need enough space to lay out the nine suspect tiles.
Overall Thoughts
Prime Suspect in the City from Timberdoodle is a fun, easy game for building deductive reasoning skills and logic without it feeling like work. It is a quick, low-stress, low-prep game that people of all ages can play and enjoy. You can find out more and get your game at Timberdoodle.
FAQs
What ages is this game for?
The company recommends ages 8+, and I would say it’s for anyone from late elementary school through adulthood.
How Many Players?
This is a single-player game, though you can take turns if multiple people want to play.
Does the game require reading?
Yes, the player needs to be able to read the clue cards or have someone read them aloud.
