Méthodologie
The Murder on the Links
Take on the roles of suspect and sleuth from Agatha Christie’s acclaimed detective novel The Murder on the Links. Use your “little grey cells” to gather evidence, eliminate suspects, and ultimately level an accusation.
$45.00
Méthodologie
Méthodologie
The Murder on the Links
The Murder on the Links
Take on the roles of suspect and sleuth from Agatha Christie’s acclaimed detective novel The Murder on the Links. Use your “little grey cells” to gather evidence, eliminate suspects, and ultimately level an accusation.
DOWNLOADS
Méthodologie Rulebook
Tracker Board - Grayscale
Tracker Board - Full Color
How To Play
Watch this animated introduction!
The game of Méthodologie is played in two distinct phases: the INVESTIGATION PHASE and the ACCUSATION PHASE.
In the INVESTIGATION PHASE, the players will reveal cards from their hands, then interrogate each other in order to eliminate leads. This sequence continues until each player has only one character, one location, and one object left in hand.
In the ACCUSATION PHASE, the players will place target tokens to make accusations about the remaining cards in each other’s hands. Any cards not correctly identified by majority accusation will be scored when the game ends.
Explainer
Watch Alex Explain How To Play!
Play Session
Watch a play session on Tabletop Simulator!
Investigation Phase
The INVESTIGATION PHASE is played in rounds. Each round follows this sequence:
PRESENT EVIDENCE
Each player selects a certain number of cards from their hand (see below) to present as evidence. These cards are played face down on the table. When all players are ready, these cards are all revealed simultaneously.
However, each player must keep at least one character, one location, and one object in their hand at all times (if possible). If any player has three cards or fewer left in hand before presenting evidence, they cannot present evidence.
When every player has three cards or fewer left in hand after playing their cards face down, skip immediately to the ACCUSATION PHASE using the following guidelines:
• The face-down cards from this final round are considered “undisclosed” evidence and should not be revealed until the end of the game.
• If any player has multiple cards of a single type, they must play cards face down until they have a maximum of one character, one location, and one object. Some players may enter the ACCUSATION PHASE with fewer than three cards.
INTERROGATE SUSPECTS
For all three card types, whoever played the highest-ranking card of that type will conduct an interrogation. It is possible that the same player will conduct multiple interrogations. These interrogations are conducted in this order: characters > locations > objects.
Follow these steps for each interrogation:
• The interrogator checks, by a show of hands, which other players have at least one card from the same set as the interrogator’s card. The other players must answer truthfully. Any player who raises their hand becomes a suspect.
• The interrogator points to each suspect, one at a time, and demands the identity of the card they claim to have from that set. The suspect must name one card from that set, but they are not required to answer truthfully.
• After hearing from all suspects, the interrogator may (but is not required to) perform a background check on one of the suspects. If they choose to, the interrogator points at one suspect and says “J’accuse!” The suspect must reveal the card they claimed. If they lied, that
card is eliminated. But if they told the truth,
ELIMINATE LEADS
All cards played this round are now eliminated. These cards, along with any cards eliminated during background checks, are placed face down on their designated spaces on the matching boards.
DRAW CONCLUSIONS
Each player draws new cards, but only to replace the ones they presented as evidence. Any cards that were eliminated during background checks are not replaced!
Take turns drawing new cards, one card at a time, starting with the player who played the highest-ranking card this round and continuing in clockwise order from there. Players may choose from any deck for each card they draw.
Once a deck runs out, cards can only be drawn from the other decks. Once all three decks run out, no more cards can be drawn for the rest of the game.
Accusation Phase
NOTE: Each player should enter the ACCUSATION PHASE with one character, one location, and one object. However, if you are caught lying too many times or if you perform too many unproductive background checks, you can be reduced to two cards or fewer. Try not to let this happen!
In the ACCUSATION PHASE, accusations are made one board at a time in the following order: character > location > object. Follow these steps for each board:
• Each player makes one accusation against each opponent. To make an accusation against an opponent, place one of your target tokens with their player icon, white side up, on a board space that indicates the card you think they have.
• For each player, identify which board space has the most target tokens with their player icon. That space represents the majority accusation against that player. If there is a tie between multiple spaces for most target tokens, the higher-ranking space represents the majority accusation.
• Each player must reveal and eliminate the indicated card from their hand if the majority accusation against them is correct. Any cards eliminated this way remain face up in front of the players who had them.
At the end of the ACCUSATION PHASE, proceed to the end of the game.
End Of The Game
When the ACCUSATION PHASE ends, the game is over.
Each player reveals the remaining cards from their hand and scores their point values, as well as any bonus points for card combinations. Cards eliminated during the ACCUSATION PHASE are not scored and do not count for card combinations.
- All player tokens are now flipped, color side up.
- All target tokens are now evaluated to determine whether they were correctly placed. All correctly placed target tokens are now flipped, color side up.
- Each player scores one point for each of their flipped target tokens.
Track these points using the scoreboard and score tokens.
The player with the most points has solved the crime and wins the game!
If there is a tie, the tied players have revealed accomplices and share the win.
Customer Reviews
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Details
Game Design
Justin Waggle
Editing
Dustin Schwartz
Logo Design
Jord Riekwel
Illustration
Lea Ragos Segarra
Art Direction
Cynthia Garrett
Graphic Design
George McKeon
Components
18 Character Cards, 18 Location Cards, 18 Object Cards, 1 Character Board, 1 Location Board, 1 Object Board, 6 Player Tokens, 1 Scoreboard, 6 Score Tokens, 90 Target Tokens
Sean Libiran –
As a person who attends/hosts/crashes a LOT of board game nights, I know that it’s pretty difficult to know what to expect from them. Sometimes it’s all just socializing and Cards Against Humanity and Taboo, sometimes it’s hunkering down for hours with Nemesis or Terraforming Mars, or any number of other levels of gaming in between. Méthodologie is the only game in my collection that I can confidently recommend at any of these events. It is simple enough that anyone can learn it, but nuanced and unique enough to keep the attention of more seasoned gamers. This sort of universal appeal combined with absolutely beautiful art (the toasted bread card alone is worth the price of admission) makes this game a total winner in my book. I even brought it to family dinner and my famously anti-gaming grandmother loved it. Do yourself a favor and buy this game!
Oh also, I should mention that I typically do not enjoy social deduction type games, but I gave this one a shot on a whim and glad I did. If you’re hesitant for that reason, rest assured. It’s much more than just the bluffing and lying to your friends that many other SD games boil down to.
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Bill –
I’ve played this with my family a few times and we all really enjoyed it. The artwork is beautiful and the game components are well made. It’s a fun game that can be quickly learned and each game is a new mystery to solve.
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Cindy –
Our family had so much fun playing Methodologie at Thanksgiving! The game play is both clever and unpredictable. The artwork on the cards is beautiful and sets the tone of a vintage mystery, which just adds to the fun. This is a game you will find yourself going back to often for board game night.
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