Scotland Yard
2–6 players • 45 min • ages 8+ • Ravensburger • 1983
- Publisher
- Ravensburger
- First published
- 1983
- Players
- 2–6 players
- Playing time
- 45 min
- Age
- 8+
- Genre
- Deduction game
How it plays
Scotland Yard plays 2–6 players, takes about 45 minutes to play, and is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Genres
Mechanics
Where to find one
Search for Scotland Yard on the marketplaces collectors use.
Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Where it came from
Scotland Yard was published by Ravensburger in 1983, emerging from a rich German tradition of cooperative-style board games. Designed by a collaborative group known as the 'Werner Schlegel, Dorothy Garrels, Fritz Lubnow, Werner Bürgi, Werner Müller, and Tom Werneck' collective, the game was developed during a period when the German board game industry was beginning to experiment with more immersive, logic-based experiences. Its creation was inspired by the mechanics of hidden movement and deduction, requiring one player to act as the elusive Mr. X while others coordinate their movements as detectives traversing a stylized map of London.
The game received significant critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award in 1983. Its design is noted for its clean aesthetic and the effective use of a physical board to create a high-stakes cat-and-mouse dynamic. By focusing on public transport routes—taxis, buses, and the underground—the designers successfully translated the tension of a police pursuit into a tabletop format that encouraged teamwork and strategic communication, leading to its enduring status as a staple of modern board gaming.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real games collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 2–6 players • 45 min • ages 8+ • Ravensburger • 1983. It's filed under deduction game. The catalog entry lists cooperative gameplay as its mechanic. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Scotland Yard?
Scotland Yard is a board game for 2–6 players, running about 45 minutes, filed under deduction game. The catalog entry lists cooperative gameplay as its mechanic. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — for the full rulebook, use the copy in the box or the publisher's own site.
How many players is Scotland Yard for?
Scotland Yard is built for 2–6 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
How long does Scotland Yard take to play?
A game of Scotland Yard is listed at about 45 minutes. Real sessions run shorter or longer depending on player count and how well the table already knows the game.
What age is Scotland Yard for?
Scotland Yard lists a minimum age of 8. That's a recommended starting age rather than a hard rule.
Who publishes Scotland Yard?
Scotland Yard is published by Ravensburger. The catalog gives its publication year as 1983.
Has Scotland Yard won any awards?
Yes — the catalog entry for Scotland Yard lists Spiel des Jahres.
How many collectors track Scotland Yard on collecto.rs?
Scotland Yard doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Scotland Yard?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your game, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other board games collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Scotland Yard catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Scotland Yard is sourced from Wikidata. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs games tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your games is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every game you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
