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This blog focuses on English-language jubensha (剧本杀, ‘script murder’) murder mystery games in Singapore, but also includes reviews of Chinese games was meant to focus on English-language jubensha in Singapore, but as there aren’t many of those, most reviews here are of Chinese cases.

Start here: What is jubensha? or How to play

Or try the review index and categories:
English-language games
Physical-set games (EN or CN)
Tabletop boxed games (EN or CN)

Though the gender composition of each case is provided, it’s common to play characters of another gender (反串), so don’t let that be an obstacle!

*Do note that your experience of a game might vary depending on the quality of the DM, especially if the game requires a high level of DM intervention.

✨ Join the Discord for Singapore-based jubensha players: https://discord.gg/wQ4r7GdJ4c ✨
(We also organise langrensha sessions!)

上路

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: 忆南馆
5 players (2 male, 3 female)

This fun, lightweight (<4 hours) case is beginner-friendly but still provides a decent experience for veterans. It’s often tagged as a horror case, but 忆南馆 provides a non-horror version too.

The PvP nature of this case means that case-solving can stall if players withhold too much information; you might have to eventually abandon individual goals for the sake of wider case-solving.

After recent marathon cases, this was a nice change of pace. I enjoyed the multimedia aspects in particular. The plot does get quite dark, however, so watch out for that.

Try if you like: Short but non-trivial cases; PvP rather than PvE cases; a bit of horror.

Not recommended for: Players who prefer cooperative cases; players who dislike dark or sordid cases.

十字馆事件

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: AK推理社
6 players

This case is published by 灰烬工作室, with everything that that entails. Despite the title and its component cases, I wouldn’t consider it an architectural case. Much more brainpower will be spent on tabulating stuff and keeping character relationships straight (aided by whiteboard-assisted DMing at AK推理社).

The structural rigour of the case lends it a 做题 flavour, but the narrative is strong enough to provide emotional stakes, in contrast to pure case-solving games.

With a playtime of over 8 hours (our group took rather more than 10 hours…) this case will test your stamina. But if you’re up for a marathon, this is a worthy enough choice. I did appreciate the narrative conclusion, too.

Try if you like: Anything by 灰烬; the sort of cases that require detailed whiteboard tabulation; substantial cases with a mix of case-solving and story-reconstruction; close reading.

Not recommended for: Players who don’t enjoy having to overturn their earlier conclusions; players who aren’t up for a marathon; players who don’t enjoy reading.

一夫一妻环岛异闻

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: AK推理社
6 players (3 female, 3 male)

This popular hardcore case from 2025 has many familiar aspects: complicated character relationship webs; 设定推理; and having to overturn one’s earlier conclusions. It does all of that decently, and is somewhat elevated by its narrative endgame.

Some of the solving process can feel rather dry, with 做题 vibes. But I personally appreciated the final turn towards an emotional ending, which not all hardcore cases manage to pull off.

It doesn’t feel like a must-play, but in the universe of ~7-hour hardcore cases, I think it’s still worth a try.

Try if you like: The sort of cases that require detailed whiteboard tabulation; substantial cases with a mix of case-solving and story-reconstruction; close reading.

Not recommended for: Players who dislike unrealistic 设定推理; players who don’t enjoy having to overturn their earlier conclusions.

A look at the evolution of 情感本

As my group generally plays solving-focused 推理 or 还原 cases only, this blog doesn’t reflect the vast spectrum of jubensha, including alliance-based 阵营 cases, game-mechanics-heavy 机制 ones, or emotional 情感 cases.

Emotional cases, in particular, have evolved wildly. It’s not just that they may lack murders (as was the case with massive 2022 hit《告别诗》, which I didn’t play). This fascinating English article takes a look at how 情感 cases have become their own sub-industry, with the main relationship threads 感情线 no longer happening between players, but between players and NPCs.

白原侦罪集：猎命

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: 忆南馆
4 to 10 players

This fascinatingly pure 本格 刑侦本 is a breath of fresh air in an era of silliness and 设定推理. When you enter the room, you’re greeted by a table-sized map of the city and a whiteboard for character relationship diagrams, setting the tone for the next six to seven hours.

As players are investigators rather than characters, this game can take anywhere from 4 to 10 people, making it convenient for smaller groups or when players have to drop out.

The case-solving itself is largely rigorous, complex and satisfying. While some bits can get technical, the experience isn’t too dry.

The case also rewards attention to motives. Granted, it’s less psychologically or socially realistic than something like《一座城》. But amid today’s 新本格 and 变格 hardcore cases, it still stands out.

Try if you like: Case-solving; 本格 hardcore cases; 刑侦 cases or co-operative cases in general.

Not recommended for: Role-players; players who dislike complicated webs of relationships.

百物语：怪谈事件簿

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: AK推理社
6 players (3 female, 3 male)

This fun folklore-themed 日式本 starts out simple before gaining satisfying complexity, making it a good case for beginners who want to move on to harder ones.

Solving-focused players will face a worthy challenge. But the game is far from dry, with plenty of twists, revelations and interactivity along the way.

The story does get pretty dark and gruesome, though with an undercurrent of humour. While not a horror case per se, there are some delightfully creepy moments.

This case is WeChat-enabled, so it’s best if most players have WeChat (though if there are just one or two exceptions, the DM can help out).

Try if you like: Twists; close reading; interactive offline aspects; light horror; cases like《头颅们的失眠夜》

Not recommended for: Players who prefer realistic settings; players with zero tolerance for horror or gore.

奇异人生

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: 忆南馆
5 players (2 female, 3 male)

This case is perhaps more demanding on the DM than on players. Its unique selling point is that player decisions truly affect how the story develops.

This is implemented through multiple story booklets: after making a choice, you might receive booklet A instead of B (and you might cause another player to receive booklet C instead of D, if your choice affects their character).

The actual mysteries may not necessarily be that satisfying for experienced case-focused players. The focus on emotional writing may not appeal to everyone, either.

But if you’re interested in role-playing and narrative immersion aspects of jubensha, you might find this to be a worthy ride.

Try if you like: Role-playing; an emotional journey; making decisions that affect how a story unfolds.

Not recommended for: Purely mystery-focused players; players with no patience for sentimentality or emotional writing.

患者们的临终游戏

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: AK推理社
6 players

This has been described as a 欢乐设定推理 case (similar to 不良少女与独眼Kitty猫) and is best enjoyed by just accepting the silliness and 推理ing from there. We did literally laugh out loud at various points.

Yet the outlandish 设定 are all in service of genuinely rigorous case-solving, to the extent that this has also been described as a 做题本. The overall case structure is also appreciably complex.

A satisfying experience for hardcore player groups that don’t mind silliness and 设定推理.

Try if you like: Silly, light-hearted aspects even in a hardcore case.

Not recommended for: Beginners; players who dislike silliness and unrealistic settings.

阳光普照

As this is a commercial boxed game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: AK推理社
6 players (3 female, 3 male)

I played this a while ago, so my memory of it is hazy (and I can’t find my notes). This substantial seven-hour game features rigorous case-solving with fun narrative developments, and even aspires to social commentary.

Perhaps its main weakness is that the player-characters aren’t that involved in the narrative, so there isn’t a personal stake.

But if you don’t mind that, then this provides both a solid case-solving time and the slow unfolding of a complex story — it’s just that the story won’t really be your own.

Try if you like: A mix of case-solving and narrative mystery.

Not recommended for: Complete beginners; players who want their characters to be deeply involved in the story.

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