Official Clue Rules

Last Updated on October 7, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Clue is a classic mystery board game where players race to solve a murder by deducing the suspect, weapon, and location. Using strategic questioning and logical deduction, players gather clues to eliminate possibilities and uncover the truth. With suspenseful gameplay and endless possibilities, Clue is a timeless favorite. In this guide, we’ll explain the rules and share tips to help you crack the case!

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How to Play Clue

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Objective

Solve the mystery! Be the first to correctly identify the suspect, weapon, and room involved in the murder.

Ages: 2–6
Players: 2+

Contents

• Mansion Gameboard
• 1 Yellow Murder Envelope
• 1 Detective Notepad
• 6 Character Tokens
• 21 Black Clue Cards
• 13 Red Bonus Cards
• 6 Weapon Tokens
• 2 Dice

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The Case

Samuel Black was found murdered in his mansion! Six suspects, six weapons, and nine rooms are involved, but only one combination is correct. Your mission is to deduce:

1. Who committed the murder
2. With which weapon
3. In which room

Suspects: Plum, White, Scarlet, Green, Mustard, Peacock
Weapons: Rope, Dagger, Wrench, Pistol, Candlestick, Lead Pipe
Rooms: Courtyard, Game Room, Study, Dining Room, Garage, Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom

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Setup

1. Place all weapon and character tokens in the center of the board. Each player chooses a suspect and takes the matching token.
2. Sort the Black Clue cards into Suspect, Weapon, and Room decks. Shuffle each separately. Without looking, place the top card of each deck into the Yellow Murder Envelope—this is the solution.
3. Shuffle the remaining Black Clue cards together and deal them facedown evenly to all players. If cards remain, place them face-up beside the board.
4. Each player takes a Detective Notepad and pen. Cross off cards in your hand and any face-up extras. Keep your notes secret.
5. Shuffle Red Bonus cards (optional for original play) and place them nearby for bonus moves.

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How to Play

Turn Order: Roll dice; highest roll goes first. Turns proceed clockwise.

Movement:

• Roll the dice and move your token that number of spaces vertically or horizontally. Diagonal moves aren’t allowed.
• Enter rooms or stop in corridors; exact rolls aren’t required to enter a room.
• If another player moved your token, you may ask a question without moving.

Asking Questions:

• Once in a room, ask about one suspect, one weapon, and the room you’re in.
• Bring the suspect and weapon tokens you ask about into the room.
• The player to your left answers first: if they have a card you asked about, they show one card secretly. If not, the question passes around until a card is shown or no one can answer.
• Cross off the card you were shown on your notepad.

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Special Moves

• Secret Passages: If your room has a connecting door or passage, move to the linked room at the start of your turn without rolling. You must ask a question in the new room.
• Bluffing: You can ask about cards in your hand to confuse opponents.

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Making an Accusation

• Once you narrow it down to one suspect, one weapon, and one room, move to the center of the board.
• Announce your accusation and secretly check the Murder Envelope.
• Correct: Reveal the cards and win the game.
• Incorrect: You are out of making further accusations but still answer questions. Keep your cards hidden.

Game End: If everyone guesses incorrectly, the murder remains unsolved. Reveal the solution from the Envelope.

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2-Player or Team Variations

• After setup, place the top four leftover Black Clue cards face-down beside the board before dealing the rest.
• Red Bonus cards are not used.
• If your opponent cannot answer your question, secretly view one of the four face-down cards, cross it off your notepad, then return it to its exact spot.

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Clue Strategy Tips

1. Take Detailed Notes
Use your detective sheet wisely. Mark off every card you see during suggestions and accusations. The more precise your notes, the faster you’ll narrow down the solution.

2. Watch Opponents Closely
Pay attention to which cards other players show and how often. If someone never reveals a card, it may mean they’re holding key evidence.

3. Make Smart Suggestions
Suggest rooms, weapons, and suspects that you personally don’t have in your hand. This helps you gather new information instead of repeating what you already know.

4. Use Rooms Strategically
Once inside a room, consider suggesting it—even if you suspect it’s not the answer—just to force other players to reveal cards. This helps eliminate options faster.

5. Track Movement Efficiently
Try to move toward the center of the board (the hallways connecting rooms). This gives you flexibility to reach more rooms quickly, avoiding wasted turns.

6. Bluff When Possible
You can throw off opponents by making suggestions about cards you already own. This may confuse them into thinking those cards are part of the mystery.

7. Don’t Rush the Final Accusation
Only accuse when you’re certain of all three parts (suspect, weapon, room). A wrong accusation eliminates you from the game, giving your opponents the edge.

8. Cross-Reference Information
Combine what you see with what others suggest. For example, if multiple players keep suggesting the same suspect but no one disproves it, that’s a major clue.

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Clue FAQ

“Clue” by Hasbro Games is a mystery game of deduction, strategy, and a bit of luck, providing engaging gameplay as players work to solve the mystery.