Classic Board Game Clue Or Cluedo

The classic board game Clue or Cluedo is one of the few board games or puzzle games that maybe better known outside of board games than in it.

Clue was originally known as “Murder!!” it was developed in 1944 by Anthony E. Pratt, an English office worker. Pratt based his game on role playing games played in English country houses in the 1930s. These role playing games were loosely based on the popular mystery stories of Agatha Christie. The object of Clue or Cluedo is simple, to puzzle out which one of the guests at an English country house committed the murder in this puzzle game.

As mentioned, this puzzle game of Clue was originally called “Murder!!” but the name was changed to Cluedo when the game was purchased and released by British game maker Waddington’s. When Cluedo was exported to the United States the name was changed to Clue which is marketed by Parker Brothers.

The basic idea of clue is simple there are six possible murder suspects alone at an English country house and six possible weapons. The facts of the case are laid out on cards, three of which contain the murder scenario. These are put aside in an envelope. The players then have to figure who committed the murder, what murder weapon was used and in what room the murder was committed.

Players move around the board with pieces which represent the suspects. It’s possible for a player to be playing with the piece representing the murderer.

Clue has entered the popular culture of puzzle games and is the butt of many jokes. Many of which involve one of the suspects Colonel Mustard. 

The Clue Suspects are Miss Scarlet represented by a red piece, Colonel Mustard represented by a yellow piece, Mrs. White represented by a white piece, Reverend or Mr. Green represented by a green piece, Mrs. Peacock represented by a blue piece and Professor Plum represented by a purple piece. Some versions of Clue add other suspects.

There are some interesting differences in terminology between the British and American versions besides the name. In British Cluedo the knife is called a dagger and the wrench a spanner. In the British game Ms. Scarlet’s name is spelled as Ms. Scarlett with an extra T. In American Clue before 2002 Reverend Green was called Mr. Green.

Off the board Clue has been the basis of movies, plays and Jigsaw puzzles game shows. Most famously a comedy movie based on Clue that had three different endings which were shown in different theaters was released in 1985. The film was a flop but is now considered a cult classic.  A video board game was produced in conjunction with this movie. A new film is currently in development from Universal Pictures.

Cluedo game shows have aired in a number of countries including the UK, Australia, and Germany. In the game show panelists compete against a professional detective in an attempt to solve a murder mystery.

A Cluedo play with 216 possible endings was successfully produced in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s. The play can’t be legally produced today because of copyright restrictions. A musical based on the American version of Clue with 216 possible endings was produced off Broadway between 1997 and 1999.

Parker Brothers has attempted to cash in on the Clue Franchise by releasing many other versions of Clue. These include a Simpsons Clue, an Alfred Hitchcock Clue and a Harry Potter Clue. All very interesting puzzle games that can keep you and your friends occupied for hours on end!