How to solve a cooperative detective game together

Separate what you saw from what you think

Say ‘the receipt lists two items’ before saying ‘the clerk is lying’. The first is evidence; the second is an interpretation. Keeping them separate makes it easier to revise a theory without losing track of the clue that started it.

When a teammate reports a discovery, ask for the evidence title and where it appears. In HuntGig you can explore independently and share discoveries, so a short reference helps the rest of the room inspect the same thing instead of reconstructing it from memory.

Give every theory a test

Before submitting an answer, identify the clue that supports it and ask what would contradict it. A plausible story is not automatically the right solution. Check sequence, units, and the exact question being asked before committing.

If the game rejects an answer, read the feedback and inspect the relevant evidence again. Make one purposeful revision at a time. Rapidly submitting unrelated guesses makes it hard to learn what your original theory got wrong.

Use a hint as a new question

Hints can keep the group moving, especially when everyone has stared at the same detail for too long. Agree together before asking, then let a different player paraphrase the hint. This often reveals an assumption the group was carrying.

1. Name the specific point where your reasoning stopped.
2. Re-read the current evidence, including any transcript or written detail.
3. Request the next hint if the group still has no testable theory.
4. State what changed in your reasoning before trying another answer.

Make the final accusation a group explanation

At the end, ask someone to tell the chain of evidence in order. Each teammate should be able to add one detail or ask one question. Use the room’s final decision controls to register agreement; the person who types fastest should not be the only person deciding.

Once you finish, protect the next group’s first experience. A result image can celebrate the team and time without naming the solution. If you discuss the culprit in another chat, label the discussion clearly as spoilers and check that everyone there has finished.

Before you invite everyone