Objective

To identify the guilty fox before it escapes down the foxhole.

Components

• 16 suspect cards

• 16 thief cards

• 12 clue markers

• 4 detective hats (player pawns)

• 3 custom dice

• 1 clue decoder

• Game board
  

Setup

1. Place the Game Board: Lay out the game board and put the 16 suspect cards face up around the board.

2. Prepare the Clues: Shuffle the thief cards and place one under the clue decoder without looking at it. Place the remaining thief cards back in the box without revealing them.

3. Distribute Pawns: Each player takes a detective hat and places it at the start of the path.

4. Set Clue Markers: Place the 12 clue markers in their designated spots on the board.
   

Gameplay

Turns: Players take turns in a clockwise order. Each turn consists of two phases: rolling the dice and deciding whether to search for clues or reveal suspects.

1. Rolling the Dice

• Roll the Dice: Roll the three dice up to three times to get either paw prints or eyes. You must get three of a kind (either all paw prints or all eyes).

• Dice Results:

  • If you get three paw prints, you can move your pawn.

  • If you get three eyes, you can reveal a suspect.
    

2. Actions

• Move (Paw Prints): Move your pawn the number of spaces equal to the number of paw prints rolled. You can move horizontally or vertically but not diagonally.

  • Finding a Clue: If you land on or pass over a space with a clue marker, you stop and pick up the clue marker. Insert it into the clue decoder to see if it matches the thief's attribute (like wearing glasses, carrying an umbrella, etc.). The clue decoder will show either a green or red dot.

    • Green Dot: The thief has this attribute.

    • Red Dot: The thief does not have this attribute.

  • Removing Suspects: Based on the clue, eliminate suspects that do not match the attribute.

• Reveal a Suspect (Eyes): If you rolled three eyes, you can flip over any one suspect card to see if it matches the thief card. If it matches, you know who the thief is. If not, continue eliminating suspects.
  

End of Game

• Winning: The players win if they identify the thief before it reaches the end of the fox track and escapes.

• Losing: The players lose if the thief reaches the foxhole before they identify it.
  

Strategy Tips

• Communicate and plan moves together to efficiently gather clues and eliminate suspects.

• Keep track of all revealed clues and suspect attributes to avoid redundancy.
  

Fun Variations

• Advanced Play: Use fewer clues and suspect cards for a more challenging game.

• Younger Players: Simplify by using visual clues only and providing hints.