This is Scotland Yard with the difficulty dial turned way down—which is exactly what it's supposed to be. For first or second graders who love detective stories and are ready to graduate from Candy Land, it hits the sweet spot: simple rules, cooperative teamwork, and just enough thinking to feel accomplished.

The problem is the narrow age window. A 5.8 BGG rating (out of 10) tells you what you need to know—it's fine, not great. Parents report it works well for the target age, but there's limited strategy and lots of luck. Once your kid turns 8 or develops stronger logical reasoning skills, this will collect dust.

It's a decent stepping stone, not a destination. If you've got a 6-7 year old who's into mysteries and you need a 20-minute cooperative game, grab it. But don't expect it to have the staying power of games that grow with your kids.