Some evenings call for something more than another series. A printable cold case game gives you a closed police file, a pile of evidence and one question: what really happened? Case File: The Night Ferry is our new detective game for adults, and everything in it is on paper. You print it, open the folder and start reading.
The case: a disappearance on the night ferry
Autumn 1994. On the night ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich, bookkeeper Marten Vos disappears. The investigation ended with a short conclusion: "probably washed overboard". Thirty years later, the file is on your table. Statements, a passenger list, receipts and a torn ledger page. Somewhere in that pile is the detail everyone missed. Who made Marten Vos disappear, and why?
There are no actors and no app. You are the detectives, and the evidence is all you get.
What is a printable cold case game?
A cold case game is a detective puzzle built around an unsolved case. Instead of a host reading out clues, you get a full case file and work through it at your own pace. You compare statements, check alibis against times, spot what does not add up and build your own theory. The game tells you when you are right.
A printable version adds one big advantage: it is ready tonight. You download the PDF straight after buying, print it at home and play. Nothing is shipped.
Hands-on detective work, not just reading
Plenty of detective games are a stack of documents. We wanted The Night Ferry to feel like you are physically handling evidence. That is why there are four things you actually do with your hands:
- Cut out the evidence and build a timeline. Lay the receipts and statements in the right order on the table and the gaps in the story show up.
- Turn the timetable wheel. You assemble a paper wheel with a split pin and turn it to check which departure times and stops match the statements.
- Read the erased passage with a red filter. One document hides a message that only appears under red. A red see-through folder, red film or a red sweet wrapper works. No red at home, or printing in black and white? The window template is included and shows the same message through cut-out holes.
- Fold the ship map. The deck plan folds in a way that points you to the right sealed envelope. Pick the wrong one and you know you need to look again.
Prefer not to cut at all? There is a basic version you can play without scissors.
Looking for a murder mystery game for adults? Try a cold case instead
If you are searching for a murder mystery game for adults printable, you probably picture a dinner party with roles and scripts. The Night Ferry is a different kind of evening: a cold case about a disappearance, not a murder. Nobody has to act or stay in character. You sit around the table together, argue about suspects and get that moment when the timeline suddenly clicks. It works for a couple on a quiet evening, a group of friends or someone who just loves to puzzle alone: the game is for 1–6 players aged 16+.
Plan on 90–120 minutes of play and about 10 minutes of prep. You can also split it over two evenings.
A team building game you can print
The Night Ferry also has a team licence, which makes it a simple team building game printable for offices, clubs and schools. With the team licence (Dutch and English versions included) you may print the game as often as you like within one organisation. It works like this:
- Print one case file per team of 3–5 players.
- One person acts as game master, using the extra host page to hand out the envelopes.
- The first team with the correct code wins. The suggested time is 75 minutes.
- Working remotely? Each team prints its own copy and sends the final code to the game master via chat.
Because the game comes in Dutch and English, mixed international teams can each play in their own language.
What you need
- A printer: single-sided, at 100% or "actual size". The game comes in A4 and US Letter. Colour is needed for the red filter, or use the window template.
- Regular printer paper; 160 g/m² card makes the timetable wheel turn more smoothly.
- Scissors, a split pin or drawing pin for the wheel, tape or stickers and a pen.
- Something red and see-through, or the window template from the file.
How to set up the evening
Print everything, put the three sealed envelopes aside and place the case file in the middle of the table. Dim the lights a little, make coffee and let everyone read the police report first. Then split up the work: one person on the timeline, one on the wheel, one going through the statements. Stuck? Every piece of evidence has its own hint, so you can nudge yourselves forward without spoiling the ending. When you think you have it, enter your answer on the code page and read the solution.
Ready to open the file?
Case File: The Night Ferry is an instant download: 19 pages in A4 and US Letter, in English and Dutch. The standard edition costs €12.95 for home use; the team licence costs €24.95. Print it tonight and find out what really happened on board.
Looking for more puzzle games for grown-ups? Browse our For adults collection.