🐾 The Animals of Baker Street
Make it stand out
⭐ 30/10
Players: 1–4
Play time: 45–90 minutes (per case)
Difficulty: Medium (thinking > rules)
Game type: Cooperative / Deduction / Narrative
Solo mode: 💎 outstanding
The Animals of Baker Street is a detective story set in the world of Sherlock Holmes — but seen through the eyes of his animal companions. There are no chases, no dice rolls, and no racing against other players. Instead, you read, connect clues, talk to characters, and make decisions that slowly guide you through an investigation — step by step.
Each case is a separate story. You open it like a book and begin a calm walk through London, visiting locations, meeting characters, and trying to understand what actually happened.
The Animals of Baker Street is a detective story set in the world of Sherlock Holmes — but seen through the eyes of his animal companions. There are no chases, no dice rolls, and no racing against other players. Instead, you read, connect clues, talk to characters, and make decisions that slowly guide you through an investigation — step by step. Each case is a separate story. You open it like a book and begin a calm walk through London, visiting locations, meeting characters, and trying to understand what actually happened.
🎯 Goal of the game
The goal is simple: solve the case. Not faster. Not for points. Not “better than others”.
The real goal is to understand the story.
Each case unfolds gradually: you read narrative fragments, travel across the London map, talk to characters, and connect facts in your head — until that quiet moment arrives: “oh… now it makes sense.” The game doesn’t hold your hand and doesn’t give you ready-made answers. There are clues, decisions, mistakes, and moments of doubt — just like in a real investigation. And that’s exactly what makes it so satisfying.
🃏 What does a turn look like?
A turn is simple, but meaningful. You choose a location on the map and pay for it with time — the most valuable resource in the game. At that location, you can use Character, Item, or Information cards, trying to match them to the situation — a bit like adjusting pieces of a magnifying glass until they finally (or not) align.
Sometimes:
you uncover an important clue,
sometimes you lose time,
and sometimes you head completely in the wrong direction.
And that’s okay. The Animals of Baker Street doesn’t punish curiosity — it simply lets you live with the consequences of your choices.
🌿 Why does this game work so well?
🐾 It trusts the player.
It doesn’t guide you step by step, but it’s never unfair. If you miss something, it’s because you haven’t connected all the dots yet.
🐾 It’s excellent solo.
No awkward scaling, no pretending something works differently. You play at your own pace, pause a case, and come back to it the next day.
🐾 The stories genuinely pull you in.
These aren’t dry puzzles — they’re narratives you want to follow, even when the solution doesn’t come easily.
🐾 The artwork is beautiful.
Warm, detailed, and narrative-driven. Every card feels like a page from a book you want to read slowly.
💀 Why might it not be for everyone?
For me, there’s only one real downside: 😩 Only 7 cases. That’s far too few. All that’s left is hoping I forget them quickly — just so I can enjoy solving them again.
This is not a game:
for fans of fast competition,
for people who want to “win in 30 minutes”,
for those who don’t enjoy reading and thinking.
There are no dice rolls, explosions, or pressure here. Instead, there’s reflection, conversation, revisiting earlier decisions — and accepting that you won’t know everything right away.
✨🧀🍞 Cheesy Joke Corner 😄
One of the great joys of playing solo is how quickly you become absolutely convinced you’re the best detective in the neighborhood.
(And no one is around to argue 😉)
☕ My impressions
A fantastic game for solo play — and I mean that sincerely. It even pulls in people who are after (or right in the middle of 😉) a midlife crisis. The stories are engaging, and the gameplay feels closer to reading a good detective novel than playing a traditional board game.
There were moments when I got stuck. Moments when I matched the magnifying glass incorrectly. And despite the 10+ age marking — yes, I did ask Toby for help a few times 🐶 This is not a game you play for adrenaline. You play it for the quiet satisfaction of discovery.
🎯 Final score: 30/10
Warm. Thoughtful. Absorbing.
A detective game that stays with you long after the box is closed. 🐾🕵️♀️
