Scotland Yard

What is Scotland Yard?

Scotland Yard is a classic hidden movement and deduction board game that immerses players in the thrilling chase through the streets of London. Players navigate a map of London, utilizing various modes of transport to either escape or capture their target.

The objective for the detectives is to strategically corner and apprehend Mr. X before he completes his escape. Mr. X, on the other hand, wins by evading capture for a set number of rounds. The game combines deduction, strategy, and a bit of bluffing, making it an engaging experience for a wide range of players.

Setup

First, head to the game lobby. Here, 3 to 6 players can join. If there aren't enough human players, you have the option to add AI bots to fill the remaining spots.

Once the lobby is full, each player chooses their role: you can be Mr. X or a detective. If you're a detective, you'll then select your unique avatar.

When all roles and avatars (for detectives) are set, the game board—a map of London—appears on your screen. Mr. X receives their avatar, a digital travel log, black tickets, and double-move tickets. Each detective gets their chosen avatar and a starting supply of taxi, bus, and underground tickets. All detective avatars are placed on their designated starting spaces. Mr. X secretly notes their starting location. The game automatically determines the first player, with Mr. X always starting.

Gameplay Overview

The game unfolds in a series of turns, following this sequence:

• Mr. X's Turn: Mr. X secretly moves to an adjacent space on the board. They select their desired transport method (taxi, bus, or underground), and the system automatically updates their digital travel log and deducts the corresponding ticket from Mr. X's limited supply. Mr. X's location remains hidden, only revealed at pre-determined intervals (e.g., every 3-5 moves).

• Detectives' Turns: Each detective, in turn, chooses a mode of transport (taxi, bus, or underground) and moves their avatar to an adjacent space on the board. The system automatically deducts their ticket and transfers it to Mr. X's ticket inventory. Detectives work together, using Mr. X's revealed locations and available routes to narrow down his whereabouts.

• Reveal Mr. X: On specific, pre-determined turns, Mr. X's current location is automatically revealed on the game board. This crucial information helps the detectives refine their pursuit.

• Special Moves: Mr. X has access to a limited number of Double Move tickets, allowing them to make two moves in a single turn. They also possess Black Tickets, which can be used for any transport type, including special ferry routes inaccessible to detectives.

Winning the Game

• Detectives Win: The detectives win if any one of them successfully lands on the same space as Mr. X, effectively cornering him.
• Mr. X Wins: Mr. X wins if they successfully evade capture until all the designated game rounds are completed.

Ticket Management

All used tickets are automatically managed by the system. Mr. X's used tickets are logged digitally, while detectives' used tickets are automatically transferred to Mr. X's inventory, increasing his available options.

Gameplay

When it's a player's turn, their available moves are highlighted on the game board, showing options based on their current location and available tickets. Only valid and reachable locations on the game board can be clicked.

Special Features

• Play against friends in online multiplayer or fill empty spots with smart AI bots.
• Track Mr. X's secret movements in a digital travel log.
• Zooming in and out on the London map for a detailed view of the game board. Sometimes, if you look very closely and the zoom level is just right, a tiny, unknown symbol might briefly flash into view.
• Enjoy an intuitive user interface and automatically managed tickets.
• Equip detectives with a special cheat function or a tracking device to pinpoint Mr. X's location.