When Doctor Watson is away and there’s no one else to play with, it’s time for Sherlock Solitaire.
Or, perhaps, your preference is a solo game. If so, then Sherlock Solitaire fits the bill.
I should say right from the start that Sherlock Solitaire (Wise Wizard Games, 2024) is more solitaire than Sherlock. Despite the fact that there are case cards, there is no mystery to solve. No thieves or murderers to apprehend. Sherlock Solitaire is solitaire with a twist or two and a few similarities to popular CCGs such as MtG and LotR. However, if you enjoy solitaire, in particular spider solitaire, and you enjoy Sherlock Holmes and Victorian England as a theme, I think you will enjoy Sherlock Solitaire.
Before moving on to the characteristics of the game, it is worth noting that one of the most appealing aspects of the game is the artwork. The artwork on the cards is consistently excellent. Some of the characters depicted on the investigation cards look like they may be from the Holmes canon.
Here is a sample of nine of the thirty-two investigation cards. (See below)
Sherlock Solitaire is moderately easy to play. A prior knowledge of solitaire is helpful, but not necessary and you don’t need prior experience with any other CCG’s.
Before starting a game, you should read the included rules pamphlet completely and thoroughly because there are quite a few additions to the standard solitaire rules. When you do start playing, keep the rules pamphlet close at hand for reference until you’ve memorized the finer points of the game.
The rules pamphlet, despite its brevity, is comprehensive and descriptively clear. However, it lacks a section for FAQ. I had some questions and had to turn to a third-party tutorial video for answers.
Because this is a review and not a tutorial, I am including the link to the third-party video tutorial that I found to be more helpful then the video tutorial on the Wise Wizard website. I recommend you watch it after studying the rules pamphlet that comes with the game to further clarify how each action is accomplished. (See below)
Click here to go to the Sherlock Solitaire game play tutorial.
Moving on to the actual experience of playing Sherlock Solitaire. The initial set up is easy. You begin the game with a Reference Card, a Case Card, a Detective card, and a Wound Card arranged in the play area, along with a draw pile and a discard pile.
You begin the game by drawing four cards. Two of those cards must be placed in the OFFICE area and two cards placed in the CRIME SCENE area. Sets are constructed in the Office area and Pairs in the Crime Scene area. Your case card tells you how many sets and what kind of sets you need to win the game. Making pairs triggers rewards or wounds which are activated by following the instructions on your Detective card.
Navigating the Office and the Crime Scene requires some thought and strategizing, which, for me, is a must have component in a game.
The Case Cards and the Detective Cards provide instructions for additional challenges of varying degrees once you’ve mastered the standard game.
Each game takes about 15 to 20 minutes to play.
In addition, there is a two-player option. I didn’t try it as I didn’t have another person to test play with me. However, other reviewers have mentioned that it’s just two people playing solitaire together which doesn’t sound like much fun. Of course, the gaming community can always be counted on to come up with a solution. Check out one gamer’s enhancement with House Rules for Sherlock Solitaire (two-player version) on the Board Game Geeks community here.
Also, it sounds like Wise Wizard Games is going to release additional case cards. You can sign up to receive updates on future releases here.
An additional bonus is that this is a great game to travel with. Super compact. You can carry the box in your pocket. Alternatively, there is also a digital version available from the Apple App Store. The standard version is free. You pay for the advanced version.
In conclusion, I liked this game a lot and recommend it!
