NOIR: Deductive Mystery Game

A hidden-identity murder duel in 54 cards: one of you is the Killer, the other the Inspector, and both are hiding something.

Designer: D. Brad Talton, Jr.
Published by: Level 99 Games
Editions by: GaGa Games, Planeta Igor

NOIR is a murder mystery squeezed into a 54-card deck, and the real fight happens inside two heads. In the core duel, each player gets a secret identity from 25 suspects plus an open role. The Killer wants to eliminate people and relies on instinct and bluffing, while the Inspector uses secret information and accusations to narrow down the field logically. A round takes only a few minutes, so you swap roles and go again. The Black Box edition adds fifty suspect and fifty innocent cards and six modes, including Hitman vs. Sleuth and Master Thief vs. Chief of Police. It fits in a coat pocket, plays on any table and works best as a duel between two sharp minds.

Killer against Inspector, both with secret identitiesFits in a pocket-sized boxSix game modes in the Black Box edition

Who it's for

You want a sharp two-player bluffing duel for a train ride, a café table or a quick rematch after losing.

Not for you if…

You are more than two or hate bluffing. The best mode is a head-to-head, and you will be reading faces.

Vibe's take

Tense and quiet, like a staring contest with paper. You watch what your opponent does, what they avoid, and wonder whether they are as clueless as they look.