The 1991 Secret Door Cooperative Board Game from Family Pastimes

The Secret Door is a mix between Clue, Mystery Mansion, and Memory. The cooperative board game published in 1991 by Family Pastimes combines elements from these classic games.  Ok, maybe Mystery Mansion, isn’t considered a classic by most, but it is one of my family’s favorite.  It is a search for treasures throughout a mansion.

Players of The Secret Door search for treasures in a mansion too.  And like Clue, 3 of these treasures are hidden behind a Secret Door. It is up for the players, through game play similar to Memory, that players work together to discover just what those hidden treasures are.

And if that isn’t enough, all of this has to be done before the clock strikes Midnight!  Can The Secret Door players, the team of detectives, accomplish this task and keep thieves from sneaking away with the treasures? That is the question!

The board shows rooms in a mansion from basement to attic.  Across the top of this board are ‘Clock Spaces’.  If these spaces are filled up before the treasures behind the Secret Door are discovered, players all lose together.  If players discover the treasures before time runs out, they all win together.

The Secret Door is recommended for ages 5 to 8, and for 1-8 Players.  Game set up is easy.  From the 12 Treasure/Valuable Cards, 3 are taken from the faced down, mixed up pile, and secretly placed on the board behind the Secret Door.

Next the ‘Clock Cards’, and the remaining Treasure Cards (which they have pairs, so the remaining 21 Treasure Cards) are mixed and then placed face down throughout the mansion on the white dots in the various rooms.

Players then take turns turning over two cards per turn, trying to find pairs. If a pair is found, it is then known that particular ‘Treasure’ is not behind the Secret Door. 

If a Clock Card is turned over, it immediately goes on a Clock Space at the top of the board. 

Can pairs of Treasures be found, helping to discover what is behind the Secret Door, before the Clock Cards are placed on top?

What fun!

This is a great game for parents to play with their younger children. It helps build memory and deduction skills with the excitement of exploring through a mansion looking for treasure!

Who wouldn’t love this?

Enjoy playing a game, any game, today!

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