Murder Minute
A 48-hour game jam deduction game inspired by Cluedo, designed to deliver the core mystery-solving loop in under a minute.
Problem
Inspired by the SGC Game Jam theme 'Board Games,' I set out to adapt one of my favorite board games, Cluedo, into a compact digital experience. The challenge was to preserve the tension of deduction and solving a murder mystery while simplifying the format to fit both the game jam scope and shorter play sessions.
Solution
Built a fast-paced digital deduction game where players gather clues, eliminate suspects, and make a final accusation under a strict time limit, creating tension and replayability.
Role
Solo developer handling game design, programming, UI implementation, core logic systems (randomization, clue validation, win/loss conditions), plus basic art integration and polish.
Outcomes
Delivered a fully playable 48-hour jam project with working UI, randomized suspects/weapons/rooms, and a complete accusation system that made each short round feel urgent and repeatable.
Lessons Learned
- Rapid scope control is everything in a 48-hour build.
- Simple systems > complex features under time pressure.
- Clear UI and feedback matter more than visual polish in deduction games.
- Randomization systems need to be structured early to avoid logic bugs later.