Clue, the game of whodunit, has not only offered a number of themed variations, but has also inspired many other games in its vein of murder mystery. The idea of sitting together with friends to solve a murder, or indeed be the one to commit it from the safety of their own home, has spawned a great many colorful and engaging strategy games over the years.

Clue is a murder mystery game first released in 1949 in which players attempt to solve a murder by discovering who did it, with what murder weapon, in which room. It has seen numerous reskins including Seinfeld, The Office, and Harry Potter to name a few. It has even had its own comedic film and is rumored to have an upcoming remake.

Related: Pokemon Version Of Classic Labyrinth Board Game Coming This Year

This spooky setting of solving deadly crimes has inspired many other games with unique features, but they have yet to reach the same height of popularity as the original. For those passionate about Clue but who find the premise may have grown stale, these are some of the best murder mystery board games for fans of the genre.

Mysterium - Clue Meets Dixit

Strategy board games like clue for murder mystery fans Mysterium

Following Clue's formula, Mysterium adds a new layer with Dixit's communication mechanics. One player is the unfortunate victim who cannot pass into the afterlife until their murder is solved. They cannot speak but can give hints to players through the use of surreal and gorgeously crafted vision cards. Each player has their own set of clues they must solve within six rounds before trying to decipher the real culprit. It's a cooperative game, letting everyone work together to interpret these visions, instilling a great sense of teamwork.

Kill Doctor Lucky - A Dark-Humored Twist On Clue

Strategy board games like clue for murder mystery fans kill doctor lucky

Rather than trying to solve the murder, each player has it in for the titular Doctor Lucky. The players must move through his mansion and attempt to kill the old man with no witnesses, but other players are able to foil any attempts on his life. The more attempts are made, the easier it becomes to finally do him in for whatever nefarious reason the player may have. The artwork is inspired by the original Clue and other classic board games, the level design is complex but easy to master, and it is filled with take-that mechanics as everyone races to be the one that ends Doctor Lucky.

Chronicles of Crime - Murder Mystery In The Digital Age

Strategy board games like clue for murder mystery fans chronicles of crime

Paired with a smart device, Chronicles of Crime and each of its offshoots utilize a deck of cards with QR codes. Each adventure will use these cards in different ways; a murder victim in one game may be a key witness in another. As these cards rely on the input of a smart device and offer no specific information, there are hundreds of ways these components can be used, with new adventures loaded onto the app all the time. It even allows players to view 3D rendered crime scenes in 360 degrees. It's a modern murder mystery game with the added terror of a time limit, as each action eats away at the remaining time players have left to solve the case.

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong - Crafting Theories

Strategy board games like clue for murder mystery fans Decption: murder in hong kong

A hidden identity board game not unlike Among Us, all players are given four pieces of evidence and four murder weapons. The murder selects one of each card in front of them as clues for the forensic investigator, who cannot speak or hint at the murderer's identity. Instead, they can offer clues as to the cause of death and a whole host of other random categories which could help the players. Each player can see the other's cards and must use these clues from the forensic investigator to pitch a theory on who did it, with what weapon, and what the evidence was. Each player, however, can only make one accusation for the entire game and must get all three parts correct to win. If by the end of three rounds the murderer has not been discovered, they win.

Each of these board games are engaging and tense experiences that build on the murder mystery genre established by Clue, with so many more to discover.

Next: 10 Best Board Games For Adults