Back in 2021 I reviewed The Mystery Hour Board Game and it deservedly got high praise from yours truly. My daughter and I have played the game ever since and it has become the main Christmas game for our family. In our house I am the only one who always listens to the Mystery Hour each Thursday (12-1pm) so there is no need to be familiar with the radio show to enjoy the board game.

This new travel edition is tiny (see picture above next to my AirPods), but there are advantages to the size because it means you can take it anywhere. It’s almost as if it is designed to be enjoyed when travelling…

The first play of the game with my daughter proved that the vast majority of the game remains intact with only some parts being missing. You no longer get to make up an answer which I believe to be a positive. In my experience few people are able to convincingly come up with something believable and thus they tend to avoid this option altogether. Personally, I would prefer to still see it included, but that’s just me- I can make up nonsense in seconds that at times passes for believable.

The price of £12.99 feels decent enough for the contents, and crucially it is well made and feels like something you will want to keep. It does not feel disposable in any way.

It feels like there is a bigger sense of jeopardy in the travel version because the tokens really can make you the Mystery Hour top dog or destroy your game in one turn. You get to build up your score over 10 cards and this way of playing ensures that good judgement, reasoning and instinct will be on your side. Games of pure chance can be great, but nothing quite beats using skill to win.

I actually think this version of the game lends itself to a more fun experience when playing with the family and it takes a lot of the setup away which means that wherever you are, you can start playing instantly. Kind of like a travel game. Guessing that joke has already worn thin…

There is another big advantage to playing a Mystery Hour board game. You don’t have to listen to James trying desperately to answer questions himself and then when he realises that he is probably wrong he will double down in order to cling on to the round of applause he wants Keith to kick off for him. In truth it’s one of the highlights of the show for me and so I have to become the less bright version of O’Brien when we play it at home.

This is a decent version of the Mystery Hour board game and in many ways could be the preferred option of the two available. When we first played we realised that using the tokens can swing the entire course of the game in an instant. My daughter was losing badly and then she pulled a 200 point score which ultimately put her in front. This resulted in much smugness, derision directed at her daft parents and most importantly no negativity from anyone. The game is interesting throughout, nerve jangling at times and great fun from beginning to end. Board games can be a trial, but here everything gets going quickly, you can pack it up quickly and repeat the experience whenever you like. It’s a winner and gets the board game balance just right.

At just £12.99 it is a no brainer of a Christmas gift and also a must-pack addition when you go on a trip.

More details here.

Categories: Product Reviews