Situation puzzle rules
One person knows the story. Everyone else pieces it together by asking questions that can be answered with yes, no, or irrelevant.
A game in four steps
Choose a narrator
The narrator reads the complete solution in private and makes sure they understand it. Everyone else becomes an investigator.
Read the opening scene
The narrator reads only the statement aloud. Investigators can return to it throughout the game. Keep the solution and its illustration out of sight.
Ask closed questions
Investigators ask one question at a time. The narrator answers yes, no, or irrelevant, using the solution as their reference. Players can discuss ideas and work together.
Reconstruct the story
Investigators explain what happened and why the opening scene seemed strange. The narrator confirms when the essential facts and their connections are understood. You do not need to repeat the original wording.
The three answers
- Yes
- What you are proposing is true in this story.
- No
- What you are proposing is false in this story.
- Irrelevant
- That detail does not help explain what happened. You can explore a different possibility.
If a question is ambiguous or asks several things at once, the narrator asks for clearer wording. They should not invent a detail just to give an answer.
Useful questions to start with
These prompts do not reveal any answers. They help you separate possible explanations.
- Does the location matter?
- Did this happen before the event described?
- Was the action deliberate?
- Did the person know what they were doing?
Ask one thing at a time. If a long theory gets a no, you will not know which part was wrong.
During the game
Can we ask for a hint?
Yes, if the group wants one. The narrator can point towards a detail in the statement without revealing the whole explanation. Agree on hints before you start.
Do we need to find every detail?
You need to find the explanation, not guess details the story never specifies. The narrator checks that you understand the essential events and the opening paradox.
What if someone already knows the story?
They can be the narrator or let the others investigate without giving away the answer. Rotate the narrator when you choose the next riddle.