BoardGame Verdict
89

Detective: City of Angels is a narrative-driven board game set in the dark and violent world of 1940s Los Angeles. Players investigate mysterious cases, often involving murders or robberies, while one player takes on the role of 'The Chisel,' a challenging antagonist who knows the solution and aims to deceive the detectives. The game emphasizes mystery, deception, and investigation.

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89

The Verdict

based on 20 reviews

Positive 0%
Strong thematic immersion and evocative 1940s noir atmosphere through art and narrative.
Unique and engaging interrogation/deduction mechanics, particularly the dynamic "Chisel" role.
Well-written and challenging cases featuring clever misdirection and satisfying puzzles.
Gorgeous artwork and high-quality components, contributing to the game's aesthetic.
Versatile play options, including competitive, cooperative, and a robust solo "Sleuth Mode."
Limited replayability for individual cases once their mysteries are solved.
The overall game experience can be highly dependent on the quality and playstyle of the "Chisel" player.
Provided note-taking sheets are often considered too small, making it difficult to track all necessary information.
Movement actions can sometimes feel unproductive, consuming a turn without significant progress.
100
DicebreakerArticleTop List

“It’s the competitive edge and dynamic interrogations that make Detective: City of Angels unique in the world of mystery board games, putting the interaction between players at the heart of its immersive world.”

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100
Board Game Gumbo, BJArticle

“This was easily the game of the con for me. I can wholeheartedly recommend Detective: City of Angels, and right now, it has to be my front runner for game of the year.”

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95
Meeple MountainArticle

“Inspired by classic film noir like The Big Sleep, the works of James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential), and the video game L.A. Noire from Rockstar Games, Detective: City of Angels is a murder-mystery game unlike any other.”

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95
Game Boy Geek, The Game Boy GeekVideo

The reviewer praises Detective: City of Angels as a fantastic and amazing story-driven deduction game, highlighting its simple rules, deep gameplay, and particularly its unique and effective questioning system that immerses players in the 1940s noir theme. He considers it to be at the top of the list for deduction games.

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95
Unfiltered GamerArticle

“Detective: City of Angels is easily one of my favorite games of the year. It is a great experience I can’t recommend highly enough.”

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90
Gaming with Edo & Jessica, JessicaVideo

Jessica finds "Detective: City of Angels" to be an awesome solo gaming experience, praising its clever questioning mechanic and the enjoyability of its diverse and solvable cases, some of which feature surprising plot twists.

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90
Shut Up & Sit Down, QuinnsVideo

Quinns considers "Detective: City of Angels" to be an engaging and enjoyable crime-solving board game, highlighting its original mechanics, particularly the unique Chisel role, as a refreshing and fun experience compared to other games in the genre.

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90
eNVy Board Gaming, eNVy Board GamingVideo

The reviewers highly praise "Detective: City of Angels" as an engaging and rewarding experience, offering diverse and improving cases that leave players eager to return for more gameplay.

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90
One Stop Coop Shop, MikeVideo

The reviewer found "Detective: City of Angels" to be a phenomenal and highly enjoyable game that brings its noir theme to life, especially when played in a mixed solo and competitive format. While he fully recommends it for this experience, he notes that purely cooperative players might find other games more satisfying.

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90
Kotaku, Luke PlunkettArticle

“It’s rare that a game that puts you in a role actually has you feel like you’re doing that job, but Detective really succeeds on that front.”

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90
Beyond SolitaireArticle

“Absolutely. However you choose to play this game, it is truly excellent. I rarely see a game that is so immersive and well constructed.”

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90
The Lucky Roll, EricVideo

The reviewer highly recommends "Detective: City of Angels" for its engaging cases, rich stories, and well-developed characters, particularly enjoying the mystery and puzzles, and highlighting the fun of the head-to-head Chisel mode.

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