Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Easier to teach
Lower replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Light strategy
Luck-sensitive
How it plays
How does it play?
Work as hard-boiled detectives in 1938 New York, combining lead cards and unique abilities to solve twelve cooperative cases.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Cooperative Game
Players coordinate their actions toward a shared objective and win or lose together.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Variable Player Powers
Each player has different abilities, restrictions, or strategic advantages.
Set Collection
Gather related items that become more valuable when scored together.
Read the full game description
Deadline is a cooperative mystery card game set in a smoky 1938 New York. The group chooses one of twelve cases, reads its opening, and follows a web of clues by playing lead cards whose symbols match the evidence. Each detective bends the rules in a different way, while plot twists, bullets, and limited hot tips threaten the investigation. Players must decide which leads deserve scarce cards and when to stop digging. At the deadline, the team answers case questions using only what it uncovered, then checks the solution to see how completely it reconstructed the crime.
