Paper game · ages 8–10 · 2–6 children + adult
A birthday mystery, with the printing sorted
Choose one or two teams, download just the necessary pages, and keep a clear sorting plan beside your printer.
Use Pocket Detective Club: six clues about records, signals and a final evidence check. Allow roughly 35–50 minutes for play, plus time to print and read the host pages. This is a design estimate; preparation time has not been measured.
- Choose one shared team or two small teams.
- Download the prepared PDF or separate-file ZIP below.
- Keep the host and hint pages; give each team six clues and two record pages.
- Put pencils at the table. Read the opening and start with clue one.
Keep every sheet whole. No cutting, folding, hiding clues or buying locks is needed. Invitations and certificates are optional.
Make your birthday pack
Your print plan
One team: 14 necessary pages. Two teams: 22 necessary pages. Host and hints are included once.
Sort before guests arrive
The live plan above gives the page ranges for your exact choices. Player clues and records go on the table. The adult keeps answers and hints out of view. In the ZIP, the adult files begin with HOST-ONLY.
If the group needs more help
Read each instruction aloud, offer the next hint on request, and pause for a break. For a younger group, try the read-aloud plan. For a larger party, check the eight-player guide.