A New UnSolved Cold Case Game That Helped My Husband and I ReConnect

By Jeneane Vanderhoof

As an Amazon Vine Reviewer, I get to try out many things- one of which was a new Unsolved Cold Case game. While I might pay for the items I pick on Amazon Vine, per se, I do still pay taxes on a fair market value of the item- which is usually the price (with exceptions when it comes to some health and beauty). So when it comes to what I do choose, I do choose with care. In trying out the Unsolved Cold Case game, my husband and I loved the first case so much (well, both of the ones reviewed) we decided to order two more (pur current one being a case about the abduction and murder of the Gardner twins, being one of the ones I came back to purchase after my inital review). My husband and I found it to be a great case and with different props and pieces than the others (as it included a detective’s notebook about the case, as well as many, many other items). At first I thought that there would be less information with this particular case- but then I saw that there were business cards included for some suspects, witnesses and family members of the victim- and all included links to active websites. What made the use of websites better (within the game rather than more colored photos in the other cases we worked)- is that the print photos included in these unsolved cases sometimes need to be magnified to see (but a magnifying card is always included in your game for your use). But my husband has really bad eyes, so we oftentimes would use our phone to enlarge a print photo. However, the website photos (in this case) can be enlarged on your phone, tablet, or computer screen- along with all the insight you gain into the case from them.

My husband and I are amazed at the detail of these “unsolved cases”. My favorite part is always the clipped newspaper article included in all four we played- as it comes on real newsprint and is always about the case (clipped prefectly like it was cut from the newspaper with care). In some of the other cases (and even this one), you can gain knowledge from some of the other things that appear on the back of the print and cut page- sometimes it’s just information not needed but insightful, nonetheless into something that has to do with the game. These cold “game” unsolved cases are much like what I think solving a real cold case would be like. And since we are big fans of Dateline and true murder shows, being able to be the ones to find out what happened- find the “culprit”, unmask the killer- is always the most fun for us. As a child and teen, growing up in the eighties, I remember always wanting games like Clue to be more detailed- any game, really. This is the type of game I feel I have been waiting for my whole life and everytime my husband and I finish one- we are left wanting another (and will definitely make our way through them all one day).

This is our fourth cold case solved, two that I (and he) reviewed as an Amazon Vine member and two that I came back to purchase on my own, after those trial (review) cases. I have to say, hands down, a game has never been so much fun. However the best thing (and what makes it seem more true to life)- is that game always wraps up for you in the end, as a detective you get a big thank you- from those who want to get the victim justice (whether it be a cop that worked on the case when it happened, a family or friend of the victim, someone is there to advocate for the victim and prompt you to move along in the case during each step and thank you, in the end). You even get to find out what happens- whether by letter or a news story that is included in the case. Sometimes I even have a tear or two (reading these thank you’s)- so embedded in the case (and game) I have become.

Each case has objectives and several steps. When you think you have solved the objectives, you scan a QR code and are asked for the evidence that helped you do this. If you get it wrong there are always three hints to help during each objective (on the website). No matter how long it has taken my husband and I to solve an objective (and some are easier than others), we have always been able to- even if we set the case down for several hours or days and come back to it. Since this was the fourth game we played and there were lots of details we actually played it over two weeks- a few hours each sitting. We probably could have gotten through it faster if we wanted (as our first cases were both solved in one night, seven hours without break playing) but we wanted to savor this last game- as we'd weren't able to purchase another game (as it didn't fit our budget and savings) for a couple months.

One of the best games I have ever played- like I said, this is the kind of game I have been waiting a lifetime to play- where the evidence seems so real, detailed and plentiful- I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my weekend! Plus, it was a real boost to my husbands and my relationship- as the first one we played really improved our communication skills, in the end we felt we had achieved something together- and we really felt closer as a couple. It was a well needed refresher that I think all couples should try- if you feel your relationship is in a slump- it’s amazing how something like this can make a difference. This game helped remind my husband and I of many things, one of which is qualities we love about one another. I often find myself thinking too, how much fun a game like this might have been in my early teen years- with my girl friends during a sleepover (but then we never had anything good and detailed, game-wise in the eighties and nineties. We were the generation to grow up and create what we lacked ;). Though these games do present unsolved murder’s, there hasn’t been anything that I have ever seen in a game that couldn’t be shown to a kid who also watches true crime shows (or grows up around American media). It’s such a change of pace to try and be a detective with this unsolved cold case game- and have so much fun, even if it’s something you want to do on your own (as I sometimes think my husband and I will each work our own case, become proficient in it and then share ;).

So, if you’re like me (and my husband), and true crime can get you hooked (even if for a bit), these Unsolved Cold Case games give you a real feel for what I’m sure detectives really do- and you get the chance to uncover the culprit in different types of murders/disappearance themes (with cool evidence)- and be a hero, as they really have given my husband and I an experience we never thought to have, even if it was only a game- having had so many great memories already (and still, with more cases, more to come ;). Talk about a good game night game…..they really surpassed any experience I thought to have- within a game!

Check out the gamemaker and their many Unsolved Cold Case games at:

UnsolvedCaseFiles.com