A Carnivore Did it! Review

Horrible Guild | 1–5 players | 8+ | 20 minutes

In this cooperative deduction game, published by Horrible Guild, players assist Chief Inspector Fox Banner in cracking cases and unmasking the culprits. The game offers two modes: Open Case and Campaign. In Open Case, players choose any dossier, arrange the suspects in a circle, and place the indicated statement cards next to each suspect. Their objective is to identify the culprit by determining who is lying and who is telling the truth through logic and deduction. Each dossier specifies how many culprits there are and how many statements are true or false, providing just enough information to solve the puzzle.

Once everyone agrees on a solution, players flip over the dossier and use the included magnifying glass to reveal the correct answer. The Campaign mode consists of eight consecutive cases that gradually increase in difficulty. Each case is played in the same way as Open Case but introduces a time limit, adding extra pressure to every decision.

Every dossier lists three target times. Finishing within the first earns three stars, while completing the case within the second or third target awards fewer stars. If players fail a case, they may skip it by spending one of their two badges, although doing so costs them one star at the end of the campaign. After completing all eight cases, players total their stars to see how well they performed.

Impressions

I wasn't expecting this game to be as straightforward as it is. At its core, it's a pure deduction game wrapped in a fun and playful theme. The seven suspects are beautifully illustrated and each has their own personality, while the fifty statement cards and the cardboard magnifying glass add plenty of charm to the presentation.

The deduction itself is easy to understand but satisfying to solve. Every case gives each suspect a single statement that is either true or false, and by combining the information you know with the clues you uncover, you can gradually eliminate possibilities until the culprit is revealed. One of my favorite twists is that culprits can tell the truth, while innocent suspects may lie, preventing players from making easy assumptions. With twenty dossiers containing a total of 2,000 cases across increasing difficulty levels, there's an incredible amount of content. Even if you revisit a case later, there's a good chance you'll have forgotten the solution.

Personally, I preferred simply picking a random case and solving it at my own pace. Although the game is officially designed for one to five players, it's easy to enjoy with a larger group, and it also works exceptionally well as a solo experience. Overall, this is an accessible deduction game that offers a satisfying challenge for puzzle lovers. Its charming theme, huge variety of cases, and approachable gameplay keep every session engaging, making it an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys solving mysteries on their own or with friends.