P.I. (Second Edition)

BoardM Factory · Board game · 2026
2–5 45–60 min
rating Ludopedia
6.7 rating BGG
Buy
rating Ludopedia
6.7 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you love gritty street mysteries, you’ll dig the noir vibe and fast‑paced deductions.

Highlights
  • fresh, striking artwork
  • solo mode with leaderboard
  • tight two‑player duel
Keep in mind
  • points pool shrinks quickly
  • limited strategic depth
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About the game
On a sweltering city day, you step into the shoes of a lone private investigator trying to stay ahead of the cops and rival shamus. What starts as a straightforward case quickly spirals into a maze of recovered documents, footprints and a solitary key, hinting at a deeper conspiracy. In P.I. (Second Edition) you scour the harbor, Chinatown, main street, and keep an eye on the central station, civic center and cafés, constantly piecing clues together and asking new questions. This is the long‑awaited remake of Martin Wallace’s classic, now with fresh artwork, a dedicated two‑player head‑to‑head mode, and a QR‑code‑linked companion app that unlocks a solo time‑attack variant where clues stay hidden until you uncover them. Scoring has been overhauled: instead of tallying at the end of each round, each deduction scores points in real time, and the maximum pool shrinks once a player cracks the case, speeding up play. In the two‑player duel, victory no longer hinges on total points; the first to win two out of three rounds takes the game, but each round win requires returning a hint token, imposing a penalty on the next round. The solo mode, the biggest change, runs in real‑time: the faster and more accurately you solve, the higher your score, which can be uploaded to an online leaderboard. In short, P.I. blends gritty investigation, sharp deduction and multiple play styles, from casual sessions to competitive challenges.
BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 OK
3 OK
4 OK
5 OK
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Game details

Mechanics

Categories

Families

Admin: Upcoming Releases
Publisher BoardM Factory
Designer Martin Wallace
Artist COSMOS
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can join?
2 to 5 players, with a dedicated two‑player mode.
What’s the playing time?
About 45–60 minutes, depending on player count and experience.
How complex is the game?
Medium‑level deduction; you need to track clues but the rules aren’t overly heavy.
What components are included?
Double‑sided board, clue tokens, hint tokens, document cards, investigator pieces, QR‑code for the app, and a score tracker.
Can I play solo?
Yes, the companion app adds a timed solo mode with an online leaderboard.
Does the two‑player mode change scoring?
It does; instead of points, each round is won or lost, and the first to 2‑out‑of‑3 wins, returning a hint token after each victory.
Is the app required to play?
The app is optional and only needed for the solo mode; the core game works fine without it.