Description
Mister X is hiding somewhere in London. All anyone knows is which kind of transport he took, but not where he is. In Scotland Yard one player takes the role of the fugitive, and the rest of you are detectives who track him together from station to station. This Ravensburger classic won the Spiel des Jahres award in 1983.
How to play Scotland Yard
Mister X always travels first each round. He secretly writes his new station in the travel log and covers the entry with the ticket of the transport he used. So you detectives can see whether he went by taxi, bus or underground, but not where. Then you move, in any order, each with your own limited supply of tickets. After his third, eighth and thirteenth move, and a few more times later on, Mister X has to show himself on the board for a moment.
You detectives win as soon as one of you steps onto the station where Mister X is. Mister X wins if he is still at large at the end of round 22 or if the detectives run out of tickets.
Why you will like it
- The detectives play together: you agree on who blocks which route and work out from Mister X's tickets where he might be.
- Mister X has black tickets up his sleeve, which hide the transport and are the only way to take the ferry on the Thames, plus two double moves.
- The tension builds with every reveal: where will Mister X show up, and where will he run straight after?
- Every game is different, because you draw the starting stations with cards, and there are no dice in play.
Who is Scotland Yard for
Scotland Yard is for 2 to 6 players aged 10 and up, and a game takes about 45 minutes. Players like it best with two or five. With fewer players, the detectives are helped by neutral police officers (bobbies) who move without tickets, and in a two-player game one detective player controls two pieces. The rules are moderately simple, so the game suits families with somewhat older children and groups who enjoy working together. This is the Slovenian edition of the game.
What you might not like
Mister X plays alone against everyone and has to be careful all the time not to give himself away, so this role may not suit those who prefer playing as part of a group rather than under pressure. That is why the rules recommend it for a more experienced player.
What is in the box
- game board
- 12 playing pieces (6 standard and 6 character pieces)
- 29 starting cards
- 130 tickets (57 taxi, 45 bus, 23 underground and 5 black)
- 2 double-move tickets and 1 spare
- 10 ticket boards for the detectives
- 2 ticket boards for Mister X
- travel log with paper for Mister X
- visor for Mister X
- 2 rings for the police officers
A pencil for the travel log is not included.
