Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases
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Find out who killed Beatrice. Then organize the murder of Berenice. The Berwick twins die in different ways, but only one of the two investigations leads to victory.
WHAT IT IS
Two twins, two murders, two opposing roles
Ron Gonzalo García and Paz Navarro Moreno have transformed the Awkward Guests formula into a duel for two. The Berwick sisters die in mysterious circumstances, and you play both roles: in the first investigation you are the detective, in the other the mastermind who orchestrated the murder. Art by Samuel Gonzalo García and Laura Medina Solera, published by Megacorpin Games in 2023.
Each game consists of two mirrored cases. You roll dice to interrogate suspects, search the crime scene, and question the staff. The other player controls the crime cards: they know everything, but can only answer your precise questions. The first to answer WHO, HOW and WHY wins the case. Then the roles are reversed: the one who was investigating builds the crime, the one who was building investigates. At the end, it is counted: the one who closed the case first wins.
What they say abroad
"The Berwick Cases takes what worked in the original and distills it into a tighter, faster duel."
The Berwick Cases takes what worked in the original and distills it into a tighter, faster duel.
— Meeple Mountain
It is a mystery game that you play twice in the same evening, and each time the perspective changes completely. It does not happen often.
— FroGames
Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases
FrogScore · FroGames editorial review · based on rules, international reviews and play sessionsWhat you find in the box
The tools of investigation (and crime)
Query dice
Each face corresponds to a type of question: suspects, motive, weapon, crime scene. Roll, choose, re-roll what you don't need. The answers build the puzzle.
Crime cards
Killer, method, motive: the mastermind keeps them covered and only answers if the investigator's questions hit the mark. Each card is a piece of the case.
Berwick Mansions board
The twins' villa is divided into rooms, each with clues and witnesses. The board organizes the information and keeps track of the areas already investigated.
Investigation sheets
Mark what you discover: who had access, who had the motive, what means were available. At the end, cross-reference everything and accuse. Or make a mistake and lose.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of every investigative turn
Roll, interrogate, deduce. Every turn brings you closer to the truth or makes you waste precious time.
Roll the dice. Each face corresponds to a type of question: suspects, motive, weapon, crime scene, servants, police reports. You can re-roll them and lock some, like in investigative Yahtzee.
Decide which symbol to use and formulate the exact question. The puppeteer checks the secret cards and answers according to the rules: a complete yes, a flat no, or a partial answer. Every piece of information must be noted on the sheet.
Cross out suspects, circle motives, mark connections. The logical tree of the crime is built question after question. If an answer contradicts the theory, you must review everything.
If you think you have solved the case, make the full accusation: who, how, why. Otherwise, pass and continue to interrogate. But time is ticking, and in the other case your opponent will be faster.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Crime setup
One of you draws the secret cards and builds Beatrice's murder: who killed her, how, why. The other prepares the dice and the investigation sheet. No one knows what is about to happen, not even the one who built the case: the cards remain covered until the first question.
First queries
The investigator rolls the dice. Different symbols come up: witnesses, weapon, scene. They choose which one to interrogate. The puppeteer answers according to the cards: yes, no, or partially. Every answer narrows the field. Every silence is information.
The tree is built
Now the investigation sheet fills up: some names are crossed out, others circled. Who had access to the room? Who possessed the weapon? The information intertwines. An unlucky roll can cost an entire turn. The investigator begins to formulate a theory.
The accusation
The investigator declares: who, how, why. The puppeteer reveals the cards. If all three answers are correct, the investigator wins that case and records the time taken. If even one is wrong, they have lost. Then the roles are reversed.
Second round
Now the one who investigated builds Berenice's murder. The one who built it investigates. Same system, different crime. Whoever closed their case faster wins the evening. At the end, you count the minutes: the fastest detective triumphs.
🐸Good to know beforehandThree honest things, between friends▼
Good to know beforehand
Three things that change the experience
The dice decide what you can ask
You don't choose freely: you roll and see which questions are available that turn. You can re-roll them, but every re-roll costs time. If you need police reports and witnesses keep coming up, you have to adapt or waste actions. Luck doesn't decide who wins, but it can slow you down.
The asymmetry is total
The puppeteer doesn't play to win: they play to answer correctly. If they get an answer wrong, the investigator can protest and force verification. It's not a game of bluff: it's controlled information. Those who love to manipulate and lie will get bored here.
You need to play both cases
A single investigation lasts 15-20 minutes, too little for an evening. The game requires two full rounds with reversed roles to work. If one of the two hates playing the puppeteer or investigating, the symmetry is broken and the experience loses its meaning.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How you win and how you lose
Whoever closes their investigation in the shortest time wins. Losing means accusing the wrong person.
Victory
- Correctly solve WHO killed the Berwick twin
- Identify HOW the murder was committed (weapon/method)
- Discover WHY the motive drove the killer (exact motive)
Defeat
- Accuse the wrong person: game over immediately
- Get the method or motive wrong: the investigation fails
- Take longer than your opponent in your role as an investigator
It's a mystery played from both sides of the mirror, and in the end you discover that building the perfect crime is harder than solving it. Available on FroGames.it with immediate shipping.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before the cart▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ on Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases
Do you need to know the first Awkward Guests to play?
No. The Berwick Cases is standalone and designed for two players. The first one was for 1-8 and used different mechanics (card combination without dice). They only share the narrative universe and the question structure.
How long does a full game really last?
Two full cases (one for each player in both roles) take 30-40 minutes in total. A single case lasts 15-20 minutes, but the game only works if you play at least two with reversed roles, otherwise the asymmetry makes no competitive sense.
Do the dice make the game too random?
No. You can re-roll them and lock results, like in Yahtzee. They limit tactical options but deduction remains deterministic: if you ask the right questions in the right order, you solve it. Luck can slow you down by 1-2 turns, not overturn the case.
What mechanics does Awkward Guests 2 use?
Logical deduction + dice rolling with re-roll and lock. The puppeteer manages a deck of secret cards (hand management), the investigator builds an elimination information tree. Variable setup guarantees cases are always different.
Is it available in Italian?
No. The edition for sale is in English. The cards contain descriptive texts (suspect names, motives, scene descriptions), so a good understanding of the language is needed. There are currently no official or complete fan-made translations.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they have done.
Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases is an asymmetrical investigative game for 2 players, lasting 30-40 minutes, recommended age 12+. Designed by Ron Gonzalo García and Paz Navarro Moreno, published by Megacorpin Games in 2023. It uses deduction mechanics, dice rolling with re-roll, hand management, and variable setup. One player builds the crime, the other investigates by rolling query dice to interrogate suspects and collect clues. Whoever solves first who, how, and why the Berwick twin was killed wins. Available on FroGames.it.
Awkward Guests 2: The Berwick Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
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