Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before opening your first case file. Not answered here? Email info@it-msp.net.
What is Detectively?
Detectively is an online detective game you play in your web browser. Each case is a self-contained interactive investigation: you read a briefing, examine an evidence board of exhibits, interrogate suspects, pass checkpoint deductions and finally submit a verdict naming the culprit, their motive and their method. Your verdict is scored, and the full solution shows you exactly where your reasoning was right or wrong.
How much does it cost?
A game token costs £2 and unlocks one full case. There is no subscription, no account fee and no in-game purchases. You pay per case you want to investigate.
How long does a case take?
About 60 minutes for a focused solo playthrough. Playing with a partner or a group usually stretches a case to 90 minutes or more, because debating the evidence is half the fun.
When is my token used, and how long do I have?
Your token is spent the moment you open a case file, not when you submit your verdict, so only open a case when you are ready to play. Opening starts a 60-minute clock that runs in real time, even if you close the tab. If you run out of time before you finish, you can reopen the same case later at no extra cost: one token buys the case, not a single sitting.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. Detectively runs entirely in your web browser on desktop, tablet and mobile. If you can read this page, your device can play the game.
Can I play with friends or family?
Yes. Many players share one screen: cast the case to a TV or gather round a laptop, debate every interrogation question, and vote before submitting the verdict. One £2 token covers the whole room, since the case belongs to the account that opened it.
How hard are the cases? Are they actually solvable?
Every case is designed and tested so that a careful player can reach the full solution, and a perfect score, using only the evidence provided. There are red herrings and the obvious suspect is rarely the right one, but nothing depends on information you were never given.
What happens if I accuse the wrong person?
You still get your score and the complete solution, including what the decisive evidence was and how the timeline really fitted together. Each token covers one attempt at one case, so commit to your verdict carefully.
How is my verdict scored?
Your final accusation covers the culprit, the motive and the method, and the checkpoints along the way count too. A full investigation scores out of 120: enough resolution to separate a lucky guess from genuine detective work.
How many cases are there?
Six original cases at the moment, each a different style of crime and setting, from a locked-room murder at 38,000 feet to a 1988 cold case reopened with modern forensics. More are in development.
Do the cases contain graphic content? What age is this suitable for?
Cases deal with fictional crimes, including deaths, through documents, interviews and evidence photos rather than graphic imagery. Think classic crime drama rather than horror. They are written for adults and sharp teens; roughly ages 13 and up is a sensible guide, at a parent's discretion.
Do I need an account to play?
Yes, a free account, so the game can save your progress mid-case and keep your solved-case history. Sign-up takes under a minute and needs only an email address.
Can I get a refund?
If a case fails to work, we will put it right or refund you. Because a case is digital content you access immediately, the standard 14-day cooling-off period ends once you start investigating. The short version lives on our refunds page.
Can I replay a case I have solved?
You can revisit a solved case's file, but a whodunit only truly works once: you cannot un-know the culprit. That is why we keep adding cases, and why each is priced like a coffee rather than a console game.
Can I gift a case to someone?
The simplest way today is to send them the link and let them create a free account; tokens are bought on the account that plays. A proper gifting option is on our list.