Mysterium

2015
Mysterium is like a séance in a box.

Set in a haunted mansion in the 1920s, players act as psychic investigators, working together to solve a murder mystery. One player gets cast as the silent ghost of the victim, trying to communicate the details of their murder. The ghost can only speak through vision cards: abstract, painterly images that hint at the killer, crime scene, and murder weapon. Investigators must interpret these clues, debate their meanings, and reach a consensus before time runs out.

In that way, Mysterium is the kind of game that makes quite a first impression: a spooky theme and novel premise, with gorgeous artwork. Beneath that surface, though, lies a game that’s more style than substance. At times, its narrative logic feels confused, its clairvoyance mechanic feels arbitrary + repeated plays can lead to meta-gaming.

So while Mysterium is a must-play for fans of the supernatural - for me, it’s a game that’s somehow more impressive on the shelf than on the table.
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