Unsolved Case Files vs Hunt A Killer: Which Should UK Detectives Buy?
The two names everyone Googles first — one is a tidy one-evening cold case you can order tonight on Amazon.co.uk, the other a sprawling multi-episode American saga you'll probably have to import.
Unsolved Case Files and Hunt A Killer both hand you a folder of "real" evidence — witness statements, autopsy reports, photos, maps — and ask you to name the killer. Beyond that shared premise, they are surprisingly different products, and for UK buyers one difference towers over the rest: you can buy one of them easily, and you mostly can't buy the other. Here's the full head-to-head.
At a glance
| Unsolved Case Files | Hunt A Killer | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Single-box cold case dossier; three staged objectives with sealed envelopes and online answer checks | Standalone premium boxes (e.g. Death at the Dive Bar) and six-episode "season" box sets played over multiple sessions |
| Typical UK price | ~£10–£19 per case on Amazon.co.uk | ~£25–£60+ imported; season box sets sit at the top of that range once shipping is added |
| Players | 1+, best with 2–4 | 1–6, best with 2–5 |
| Playtime | Roughly 2–4 hours, one evening | Single boxes ~2–3 hours; season sets 10–15+ hours over weeks |
| Difficulty | Moderate; staged objectives stop you drowning in paper | Moderate to hard; more ciphers, more red herrings, less hand-holding |
| Replayability | One play, then pass it on — nothing destroyed | One play, then pass it on — nothing destroyed |
| UK availability | Excellent — sold directly on Amazon.co.uk with a large catalogue | Patchy — US site and retail; UK buyers rely on eBay, importers and specialist shops |
Format: one tight evening vs a slow-burn season
Unsolved Case Files gives you a single cold case — the murder of Harmony Ashcroft is the famous starter — split into three objectives: prove the convicted person innocent, identify the real killer, then prove it. Each solved objective earns you a sealed envelope of fresh evidence, and answers are checked on the game's website, so you always know whether you're right before moving on. It's a genuinely clever structure that keeps a table of four moving.
Hunt A Killer made its name on the opposite idea: a subscription that drip-fed one episode a month. The subscription era is over and the brand now sells complete season box sets — all six episodes in one box — plus standalone single-evening games such as Death at the Dive Bar. A season set is closer to a true-crime box binge: character letters, physical props, ciphers to crack, and a story that develops across sessions.
Price: no contest at UK checkouts
On Amazon.co.uk, Unsolved Case Files cases float between roughly £10 and £19 depending on the title and current discounts . That's among the cheapest per-evening pricing in the genre.
Hunt A Killer has no meaningful UK price because there's no consistent UK channel. Imported single boxes typically land at £25–£40; a full season box set can push past £50–£60 once postage or a reseller's margin is included . Per hour of play a season set is actually decent value — but the upfront cost and delivery gamble are real.
Players and playtime
Both play fine solo and best with a small team. Unsolved Case Files suits a couple or a table of four for one evening; everyone can hold a document and the objectives give the table a shared finish line. Hunt A Killer's season sets suit a committed duo or a regular games group who want a case to come back to across several weeks — treat it like a series, not a film.
Difficulty
Unsolved Case Files is the more forgiving design. The online answer checks act as guard rails: you can't wander off down the wrong theory for an hour without finding out. Hunt A Killer leans harder on ciphers and deliberate red herrings, and in a season set an early wrong assumption can haunt you for episodes. Seasoned puzzle groups will enjoy that; first-timers may find it more frustrating than atmospheric.
Replayability and spoilage
Dead heat. Both are one-and-done mysteries — nothing forces you to cut or destroy components, so both re-box neatly for a friend, but the same group can never unknow the killer. If replay value matters to you, the honest answer is that this whole genre is single-serving; buy accordingly.
UK availability: the deciding round
This is where the fight ends for most readers. Unsolved Case Files maintains a proper Amazon.co.uk storefront with a deep catalogue — order today, play tomorrow. Hunt A Killer sells from its US website and US retail, so UK buyers are left with eBay listings, importer mark-ups and occasional specialist-shop stock, with returns being the obvious headache if a box arrives damaged .
For most UK buyers: Unsolved Case Files. It's cheaper, easy to buy on Amazon.co.uk, and its objective structure makes a better first case-file night.
Buy Hunt A Killer if you want a long, narrative-heavy investigation over several sessions and you're happy to import — a season box set delivers a depth Unsolved Case Files doesn't attempt.
If you want a UK-made case file folder for a date night, Cases & Clues House pick is worth a look — around £24 with digital evidence (unlockable phones, real websites) and a 60-day money-back guarantee , reviewed honestly (label and all) in our Cases & Clues review.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hunt A Killer available in the UK?
Officially it sells from its US website and US retailers. UK buyers usually rely on imported stock via eBay UK, specialist board game shops or marketplace sellers, which adds cost and delivery time. Unsolved Case Files, by contrast, is stocked directly on Amazon.co.uk with Prime delivery.
Which is harder?
Hunt A Killer's season box sets are the bigger commitment — six episodes of evidence, ciphers and red herrings over multiple sessions. Unsolved Case Files is a single-evening case with staged objectives and online answer checks, so it's easier to pace and harder to get hopelessly stuck on.
Can you replay either game?
No — once you know the killer, the mystery is spent. Both can be carefully re-boxed and passed on to friends, as almost nothing needs to be destroyed to play.
Keep investigating
- Unsolved Case Files review — our full test of the brand
- Hunt A Killer review — what a season set is really like
- Cryptic Killers vs Unsolved Case Files — the Amazon UK budget battle
- Best murder mystery case files in the UK — the full ranking