This week’s Featured Hotness spotlights two games full of furry characters and hidden secrets.
In one, undercover neighbors face off in a bluffing battle. In the other, a group of cunning critters draws you into a web of deception.
If you enjoy games where animal art leaps off the cards, both Agent Avenue and A Carnivore Did It! offer two unique mysteries to try at your table.
Agent Avenue is a quick two-player game from Nerdlab Games that mixes set collection, bluffing, and a smart 'I split, you choose' mechanic. On each turn, you give your opponent one agent face up and one face down. They pick one to recruit, and you get the other.
Your agents sneak both spies through the neighborhood, their moves shaped by the characters you collect. Recruit the perfect mix and you’ll outfox your rival, but beware: some agents become more dangerous the more you gather.
Designers Christian and Laura Kudahl transform a simple decision into a nail-biting duel of intuition. Illustrator Fanny Pastor-Berlie fills the neighborhood with flair, from dapper animal spies to quirky locals, each agent bursting with personality.
Keep a sharp eye on both collections before making your offer.
An agent that barely helps you could give your opponent exactly the movement they need, and a card that looks dangerous now might become valuable after another copy.
Do not hide your best option every time. If the face-down card always contains the card you want, your opponent will learn your habits quickly. Sometimes the safest bluff is placing the card you actually want face up and letting suspicion do the rest.
Pay special attention to Codebreakers and Daredevils. If you collect a third Codebreaker, you win right away. But if you take a third Daredevil, you lose the game.
A crime has rocked Furrow Heights, but the real culprit might not be who the title suggests.
A Carnivore Did It! is a cooperative logic game for one to five players, designed by Daumilas Ardickas and Urtis Šulinskas and published by Horrible Guild. In each case, animal suspects make statements about who committed the crime, who is innocent, and who might be lying.
The game includes 2,000 cases across 20 difficulty levels, from quick beginner mysteries to complex investigations with seven suspects, tricky clues, and more than one culprit. Cecilia “Lonnie” Petrucci’s colorful art makes each character stand out, even if you can’t trust what they say.
Start with the dossier’s facts, especially the number of culprits and which statements must be true or false. Test each claim in turn, crossing off any path that leads to contradictions or the wrong culprit count.
Above all, never assume the liar is guilty. Innocent suspects can fib, and culprits might tell the truth. Keep guilt and honesty apart to avoid chasing the wrong lead.
Whether you thrive on outsmarting rivals or cracking tricky puzzles, both games reward those who know a friendly face can hide a secret.
