Detective: L.A. Crimes

Portal Games, GaGa Games, IELLO · Board game · 2019
1–5 · best 2 Solo 120–180 min Weight 3.1/5
8.5 rating Ludopedia
7.7 rating BGG
How to Play Buy
8.5 rating Ludopedia
7.7 rating BGG
Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS

Perfect for crime series lovers who want a deep, interconnected investigative experience.

Highlights
  • Impeccable 80s atmosphere
  • Engaging narrative cases
  • Interesting new stakeout mechanics
  • Moral dilemmas that impact the plot
Keep in mind
  • Heavy reliance on reading and language
  • Requires the base game to play
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

Grab your coffee and tune your radio, because you're heading to 1980s California! Detective: L.A. Crimes is the first campaign expansion for the acclaimed Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game. Here, you aren't just solving isolated cases; you're diving into a larger plot split across three interconnected cases that form a complete and gripping story. Imagine yourself as an L.A. detective in an era marked by neon, excess, and a dangerous underworld dominated by drug trafficking.

The game places you in a constant moral dilemma: do you play strictly by the book, or do you decide to 'stretch' the rules to get the confession you need? Inspired by the vibe of movies like 'Beverly Hills Cop', you'll have the chance to use controversial methods to advance your investigation, but beware, as police bureaucracy and red tape can be your biggest enemies.

To add more depth to the experience, the expansion introduces brand-new observation and stakeout mechanisms, allowing you to monitor your suspects and gather valuable information more strategically. The immersion is high, but remember that the deduction here is real: you'll need attention to detail and, possibly, a lot of patience to navigate the game's database. If you love feeling like a true investigator, where every choice can change the course of the story and the line between right and wrong is thin, L.A. Crimes is the way to go. The question remains: how far are you willing to go to close the case?

Expansion for

Published additional content

1 items

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Detective: L.A. Crimes English · PDF
Download PDF

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–5 players
1 REC
2 BEST
3 BEST
4 REC
5 REC

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Cities: Los Angeles (California, USA) Game: Detective – A Modern Crime Board Game (Portal Games)
Publisher Portal Games, GaGa Games, IELLO, Korea Boardgames, Maldito Games, Pegasus Spiele, Pendragon Game Studio, Rexhry
Designer Ignacy Trzewiczek, Mateusz Zaród
Artist Rafał Szyma

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
Can I play L.A. Crimes without the base game?
No, this is an expansion. You need Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game to play.
How long does each case take?
Sessions usually last between 2 to 3 hours, depending on your deduction skills and the group's pace.
Is the game difficult? What's the complexity level?
The weight is medium/high (3.05). The complexity isn't so much in the rules, but in the difficulty of solving mysteries and organizing clues.
How many people can play?
From 1 to 5 players. It's excellent for group play, but also works great as a solo experience.
Do I need internet to play?
Yes, the game uses an online database that is essential for the investigation.
Is the game very text-heavy?
Yes, there is a heavy reliance on language. You will spend a lot of time reading documents and researching information.