clue

Clue is information or a hint used to solve a puzzle, mystery, or problem. In everyday use, clues guide reasoning and help distinguish plausible explanations from improbable ones.

Clue also refers to a family of mystery-themed games and media centered on solving a murder. The best known is the board game Clue, originally titled Cluedo in the United Kingdom and other regions. The game was designed by Anthony E. Pratt and first published in 1949 by Waddingtons in the UK and by Parker Brothers in the United States. The standard setup places six suspects, six possible weapons, and several rooms within a mansion. The objective is to determine who committed the murder, with which weapon, and in which room.

Gameplay involves players moving their tokens around the board by dice, entering rooms, and making suggestions that name a suspect, weapon, and room. Other players must reveal a card if it matches part of the suggestion, providing information to narrow the possibilities. The solution is kept in a sealed envelope and revealed only when a player makes a correct accusation. The board also includes secret passages that connect certain rooms.

Since its release, Clue has spawned numerous editions, variations, and licensed adaptations across physical boards, digital formats, and other media. It remains one of the most recognizable mystery board games and has influenced contemporary storytelling approaches to deduction and dramatic investigation.