Murder on the Ornament Express is a festive, family-friendly, murder mystery game from CU Adventures. Yes, you read that right – a family-friendly murder mystery! Flakey the Snowman has been melted and it is your job to find the culprit. Are you up for the challenge?
Players: 1-4 // Age: 10+ // Playtime: 30-60 mins
What you need: A pen/pencil and paper. An internet connection is required to access hints. Scissors are optional.
Story
“Six train cars, six suspects, and a snowman melted before his time.
It’s up to you to crack the case and save Christmas in this holiday whodunit by CU Adventures. Murder on the Ornament Express is a 30-60 minute mystery for 1-4 players, where clues and puzzles are on postcards you can hang as Christmas Ornaments!”
First impressions
It’s not very often that I get to suggest playing a murder mystery with my young nieces. Usually full of gory details, photos or generally more adult content, they aren’t appropriate for a young audience. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered this super fun festive (PG) murder mystery game. Although the game title does include the word “murder”, this game doesn’t contain any graphic content and is totally suitable for a festive family game night.
Murder on the Ornament Express is packaged in a deep red A5 envelope that feels distinctly Christmassy. I was delighted by the on-theme postage stamps featuring Poinsettias, often referred to as a Christmas flower. The envelope contains six postcards, a booklet with witness statements, evidence close-ups and a list of questions that must be answered to solve the case. Each glossy postcard shows a different section of the Ornament Express train – interior on one side and exterior on the other. The cards feature a vintage art style which is charming and nostalgic and perfectly hides secret codes and clues.
Gameplay
The ‘Facts of the Case‘ songsheet is a clever and unique way to guide players through the stages of gameplay. You can read the lyrics as they are, or sing them to the tune of a famous Snowman song. I sang them in my head; I wouldn’t want to subject anyone to me singing out loud! The lyrics give step-by-step instructions on what you need to do in the game, so this is the best place to start.
I relish playing detective, so quickly set to work linking the witness statements with the relevant suspects. The game employs a fun mix of puzzles and deduction. You may come across a cipher or two, you’ll need to be very observant and you will need to use your logic skills. I enjoyed the ‘ah-ha’ moments as I played but found it easy enough to complete without using the hints. Tiered hints are available on the website if you do get stuck.
Once you have solved the puzzles and interrogated all the evidence, the final task is to make your accusation. This is done via a website that presents you with a range of potential culprits, motives and weapons. Once you have selected an option for each of these you will have a choice of “What happened” statements. Correctly answer all of the above and you will unlock the game’s ending. It took me around 30 minutes overall but for new puzzlers, it may take a little longer.
On the back of the Facts of the Case songsheet is an Alternate Game Mode note. This suggests adding some extra intrigue to the investigation by cutting out the train cards and hiding them around the house. Then, once they have all been found the investigation can begin. This is entirely optional, and it is still possible to regift the game if you have cut the cars out as it won’t negatively impact gameplay.
Verdict
Murder on the Ornament Express
Summary
Murder on the Ornament Express is a charming murder mystery, which isn’t a sentence I thought I would ever type! The perfect blend of puzzles and deduction makes for a fun festive activity that can be completed in 30-60 minutes. It is suitable for puzzlers of all abilities and gameplay can be expanded by cutting out and hiding the train cars first.
It’s an ideal stocking filler or Christmas gift that won’t break the bank, and is bound to bring a smile to whoever receives it. I’m hoping that CU Adventures come up with some more of these bite-size cases in future!
WINTER SALE: Use code “EXPRESS” for $3 off a single purchase or use code “CABOOSE” for 25% off of four or more train mysteries! This offer expires on December 14 2024.
About CU Adventures
CU Adventures is a US-based escape game company owned by Chris and Anne Lukeman. They offer a range of physical escape rooms and play-at-home adventures.
Disclaimer: CU Adventures kindly sent me a copy of this game in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences the content of my review.
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