Clue Jr. Game Instructions

History of Clue Jr.

Clue Jr. is based on the adult board game Clue, in which players try to solve a mystery based on different clues in the house and the movements of the other players.

For Clue Jr., the puzzle is made a little easier for younger players ages five to eight. Playing cards incorporate symbols as well as words, making it easier for kids with limited reading skills to play and solve the puzzles.

There are several different Clue Jr. games, including:

• Classic Clue Jr.
• Clue Jr. The Case of the Missing Pet
• Clue Jr. The Case of the Hidden Toys (several different games)
• Clue Jr. The Case of the Missing Chocolate Cake

There is also a Clue Little Detective game, which uses color matching for kids without reading skills.

Clue Jr. Game Instructions

For the sake of simplicity we will consider the Clue Jr. game instructions for the basic Clue Jr. game. Each of the other manifestations of the game have slightly different scenarios, but basically the same rules.

The game is designed for two to four players ages 5 to 7. The object of the game is to find which child is in which room with which pet. Like the adult version, Clue Jr. takes place in a mansion, but instead of trying to find out who committed the murder with what weapon and where, kids are trying to discover where a child is hiding, which child it is and what pet they have with them.

The game includes four movers for the players, as well as four cards with mysteries on them (a total of 16 different mysteries, making game play somewhat limited). Players start by picking a mover and taking a sheet of the detective note pad and a pencil (not included). The card with the mystery in question is placed in the clue revealer sleeve with the door closed.

Each player puts his or her mover on the colored start space that matches their mover. The youngest player goes first and play moves to the left.

To move, just spin the spinner and go as many spaces as it says in any direction. If there is already a player in the space you would end up in, skip that space. But if you want to see the room that person is looking into, wait in the space in front of the room and look into the room before you roll the dice on your next move.

When you end your turn in front of a room, you can turn the keyhole and look into the room to see which child and which pet are inside. Mark the child, the pet and the room off on your detective pad. Don't let the other players see what is inside the room.

When you have seen enough rooms that you're ready to guess which child and pet are hiding in which room, announce that you're ready to solve the mystery. Say your guess and look at the mystery card to see if you are right.

If you aren't right, put the card back so the other players can try to solve the mystery. If you are right, you win!

Playing Clue Jr.

Now that you know the Clue Jr. game instructions it's time to play. The game is pretty quick because there are only a few rooms to look at. Different variations of the game may take a little longer.

Clue Jr. is a good game for kids who need a relatively easy game that is also fun. Your little detectives will have a lot of fun finding the missing pet (or toy, or cake) while learning a little bit about memory and the powers of deduction at the same time.