The Key: Theft in Cliffrock Villa
WE PLAY 2 LEARN
Game Ratings
FAMILY
9
YOUNG KIDS
3
OLDER KIDS
9
ADULTS
9
Overview
| Players | Playing Time | Best Age | Educational |
| 1 - 4 | 15 - 25 minutes | 9 - Adult | Deductive Reasoning Observation |
| Skill | Luck | Strategy | Social | Game Type | Play Style |
| 70% | 30% | 80% | 20% | Deduction | Competive |
The Key series brings a whole new level of fun to deduction games. Most deduction games are either 1) challenging but slow paced or 2) just too easy to figure out. Plus finding one that works for more than 2 players AND is competitive may be even more rare. But the Key games hit it out of the park. They are challenging, work great with 2 or more players, and are even fast paced. Eliminating turns creates a great rhythm to the game and it's especially impressive this was done without putting slower players at a big disadvantage. And most important of all, they are FUN! Our kids always want to play "just one more game". While this won't be the go to game with younger players, older kids and parents can all play great together.
Unsurprisingly, this game can be great for building deductive reasoning skills. Players will need to interpret individual clues, but also start linking seemingly unrelated clues together. Other clues can help practice observation skills.
Let's answer a common question up front. How are the Key games different from one another? (See the others linked in our Similar Games section below) The basic mechanics of the games are exactly the same and all are a lot of fun. But there are some differences in the types of clues you get, so be sure to review the new clue types when you play a different version the first time. If you're trying to decide between the games, the other major differences are listed below.
- Sabotage at Lucky Llama Land vs Murder at the Oakdale Club vs Theft in Cliffrock Villa
- Lucky Llama and Cliffrock Villa may be more kid friendly because they do not involve solving a murder, but nothing in Oakdale Club would be considered scary. The clues with blood on a watch are the most "graphic" item in Oakdale Club, but with the cartoony graphics these have not bothered our kids that can be sensitive to this kind of thing.
- Oakdale Club is definitely a little more difficult.
- Players have to identify 4 items for each of the days, not just 3 items like in the others.
- Some of the clues in Oakdale Club will be harder to figure out. The alibi clues and the math puzzles in particular can be quite tricky; some require multiplication or are just more difficult to think through.
How to Play
FAQ
How many players?
- Playable with 1 to 4
- Best with 2 to 4
What ages can play?
- Playable for ages 8 to Adult
- Best for ages 9 to Adult
There are a few things that make it hard to include young kids in this game. First, it requires quite a bit of reading. Every clue will require reading either on the card or in the case file. Second, the logic and reasoning required to interpret the clues are not trivial. Many kids will be able to handle it by 8 or 9 years old, but younger kids will likely be confused with all the information. However, younger kids can be included by teaming up with an older kid or adult to help guide them through the game.
Can different skill levels or ages play together?
Yes and No. Adults will have an advantage over kids in applying the logic required to interpret the clue cards. However, this is somewhat offset by the fact that the first player to find the solution is not automatically the winner. The player that finds the correct solution and uses the least clue points wins the game. So even if a kid cannot process the clues as fast as an adult, they still have a chance at winning as long as they can get through them eventually. Also, there is some amount of luck in the clue cards you draw. Sometimes you will find multiple clues that reveal the exact same information. This can also help compensate for differences in skill level.
How long does it take to play?
15 - 25 minutes, depending on how lucky players get in the clues they draw
Will we get bored after a few games or does it have good replayability?
This game can be very replayable, but with one caveat. Each game players will choose one of nine variants of the game to solve. These different variants are represented by the colored keys. Solving the case for each of the keys will be a fresh new game. However, the 3-digit code you solve for in the end will always be the same for a specific color of key. For example, the solution for the blue key is always the same 3-digit number. This is the potential downside to the game's replayability. But with 9 different keys, most people will not be able to remember the specific 3-digit number that applies to each key. So as long as players don't remember that number from previous games, the game will be very replayable. There are 140 clue cards to choose from, so even replaying a game with the same color of key will feel like a different game.
Setup/Cleanup
How much work is it?
Low.
Would kids be able to do it on their own?
Yes, any kids that can work through the logic required to play the game should have no problem with the game setup.
Will parents have fun too...
...when playing with the kids?
Yes, as long as the kids can work through the logic in the game.
...without the kids?
Yes, this is really meant to be a game for older kids and adults.
Educational Value
What skills will this game help develop?
Deductive Reasoning
This game contains many elements of classic logic puzzles packaged in a very fun format. Working through these clues is great deductive reasoning practice, especially because some cards will only be useful when combined with elements from other cards.
Observation
Some of the clue cards will contain evidence the players must carefully examine to find the helpful information.
But will my kids actually have fun playing it?
Yes, this game is a lot of fun for those old enough to play.
Tips
Tips for Using Clues
Sort Clue Cards
Some clue cards will give you information that can be used immediately, but others will only be useful once you have eliminated certain options. We find it helpful to sort the "used" clue cards from those that still need more information to be helpful. This could be as simple as keeping them in two piles in front you. However, as you will eventually end up with quite a few cards, we've found it easier to place "used" cards out of the way and only keep out the clues that haven't been used yet.
Take Notes
The part of the briefcase screen for marking off options you've eliminated is sorted by time. However, you will often get a clue that ties two elements together (suspect, item, or escape method) without knowing which time they go with. If you're just using the normal part of the briefcase screen, you won't then have anything to mark off and can lose track of these important connections. You could keep these clues in the "unused" stack of clues, but we've found it better to just take notes when we have definite links like this. You can do this on the top part of the briefcase screen that shows the large pictures of the three suspects, though it might be simpler for kids on a separate piece of paper. Either way, when you finally connect the elements with the correct time, it is easy to transfer that information to the lower portion of the board without going back through the cards.
Note that if you use the top of the briefcase screen for notes: In this version of The Key, the suspects are shown in a different order on the larger pictures at the uppermost portion of the briefcase screen than the bottom pictures where clues are usually tracked. Don't let this confuse you when transferring notes between them.
Interpreting Clothing Colors
A few clues will reference the color of the clothes a suspect was wearing when they FLED. For these clues, make sure to check the color of the clothes in the getaway vehicles at the bottom of the briefcase screen, not the clothes they are wearing in the profile pictures at the top.
Do you have tips we haven't thought of? If you have found other ways to improve gameplay, please share them with us through our Contact page.
Where to Buy
Similar Games
If you like this game, we suggest these others
- The Key - Sabotage at Lucky Llama Land
- The Key - Murder at the Oakdale Club
- Telepathy
- The Initiative
- Brain Freeze
Or check out our full list of Reviews where you can sort by any of these categories
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