Detective: L.A. Crimes
Official Description:
Detective: L.A. Crimes is the first campaign expansion for Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game. Set in the 1980s, this expansion transports players to Los Angeles, where they take on the roles of LAPD detectives. The game consists of three interconnected cases that together form a complete narrative, immersing players in the gritty world of crime and investigation.
Players will use the same innovative mechanics as the base game, combining traditional board game elements with digital investigation tools. Throughout the campaign, they will gather evidence, interrogate suspects, and make critical decisions that influence the outcome of the story. The cases are designed to be played in sequence, with each case building upon the events and discoveries of the previous ones.
Detective: L.A. Crimes challenges players to think like real detectives, utilizing logic, deduction, and teamwork to solve complex mysteries. The expansion emphasizes narrative depth and player agency, offering a rich, thematic experience that captures the essence of classic crime dramas set in Los Angeles.
Detective: L.A. Crimes delivers a tightly engineered campaign experience rooted in the gritty, neon-lit world of 1980s Los Angeles. The expansion’s narrative arc—three interlinked cases—channels the tension and urgency of classic crime cinema, while the investigative mechanics demand a sharp audit of player logic and deduction. As a direct descendant of the Detective engine, it preserves the core system’s blend of analog components and digital sleuthing, but overlays a new layer of time pressure and resource management that keeps the table on edge. This is a top-tier strategic dividend for any collection: the campaign’s high operational reliability and narrative cohesion ensure significant long-term shelf retention, especially for groups that value immersive, story-driven play. Its status as a completed campaign further cements its value for curators seeking a proven, replayable experience.
From a logistics standpoint, L.A. Crimes is refreshingly manageable for a campaign expansion. The compact box, dedicated 80s-themed board, and a handful of thematic extras (like dot-matrix printouts for early adopters) integrate seamlessly with the base game’s components. Setup and teardown are straightforward, fitting comfortably within a 15-minute prep window—ideal for hosts who want to minimize downtime. With a session time clocking in at around three hours, this is a main event title, best reserved for focused groups ready to invest an evening in collaborative deduction. The physical footprint is modest, but the narrative and decision space are anything but.
Teaching L.A. Crimes is a procedural affair: expect a 20-minute rules overview, but the transition from the base game is smooth for returning players. The collaborative structure means the group wins or loses together, and the system’s mental friction rewards teams that communicate, delegate, and synthesize information under pressure. The 80s setting subtly shifts the investigative process, challenging players to adapt their search strategies and manage limited resources. As a facilitator, you can step back once the session is underway—players quickly become self-sufficient, and the table’s energy remains high thanks to the constant flow of leads, revelations, and tough decisions. The skill dividend here is substantial: teams leave with sharper deductive reasoning and a deeper appreciation for narrative-driven problem solving.
Category
Thematic & Narrative
My score
8
Our Total Plays
3
Last PLayed
28 Aug 21
🏆 Complete
Player Count
1-5
Playtime
180 mins
Proficiency Perks
Strategic Planning
Systems & Logic
Check Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
