Dossier is a daily murder mystery game for iOS and Android where you solve a new case every 24 hours through real suspect interrogation and deductive reasoning. This beginner's guide walks you through your first case in under 5 minutes — from opening the case file to making your one-shot accusation.
What You Need to Know Before Playing🔗
Dossier is built around three rules:
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One new case per day — you can't replay old cases
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One accusation per case — no do-overs
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The daily Rookie case is free — forever
If you've played Wordle or Murdle, the daily ritual will feel familiar. The difference: Dossier gives you a full narrative mystery with suspects you can actually talk to.
Step 1: Open Your Daily Case File🔗
Launch Dossier and tap "Today's Case." You'll see three documents:
- Crime Scene Report — where the body was found, time of discovery, initial observations
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Victim Profile — who the victim was, their relationships, daily routines
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Autopsy Report — cause of death, time of death, forensic details
Beginner tip: Read all three carefully before touching anything else. The time of death alone can eliminate half the suspects before you start talking to them.
Step 2: Review the Suspect List🔗
After reading the case file, tap "Suspects." In a Rookie tier case, you'll see 3 suspects (Detective tier has 4, Inspector has 5, Cold Case has 6).
Each suspect card shows:
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Name and photo
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Relationship to the victim
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Known alibi (if any)
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Notable details
Don't make assumptions yet. First impressions are often wrong.
Step 3: Interrogate Each Suspect🔗
This is where Dossier shines. Tap a suspect to start a conversation. You can type any question — the suspect responds dynamically.
Important: You only get 5 free messages per suspect, so every question has to count. Don't waste messages on yes/no questions or small talk.
Good opening questions (each uses 1 message):
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"Where were you between [time of death], and who can confirm that?"
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"How did you know the victim and when did you last see them?"
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"What's your relationship with [another suspect]?"
Then dig deeper with follow-ups:
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"Why did [another suspect] say you were arguing with the victim?"
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"You said you were home — can anyone verify that?"
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"What were you doing at [specific location] that night?"
Beginner tip: Talk to every suspect before using all your messages on one. Their stories should line up. Contradictions = lies. Lies ≠ killer, but they point you to who has something to hide.
Step 4: Cross-Reference Clues🔗
Tap "Evidence" to review what you've collected:
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Physical clues from the crime scene
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Suspect statements (auto-saved from your interrogations)
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Autopsy findings
Look for:
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Timeline conflicts — did two suspects claim to be in the same place?
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Motive — who benefits from the victim's death?
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Means — who had access to the murder weapon?
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Opportunity — who was near the scene at the time of death?
The killer checks all three boxes: motive, means, and opportunity.
Step 5: Make Your Accusation🔗
When you're ready, tap "Accuse." You'll see the full suspect list one more time. Pick one.
You get one shot. No do-overs.
If you're right: XP, rank progress, and streak multiplier. If you're wrong: the case goes cold and the real killer walks.
Beginner tip: Don't accuse until you can explain the full story — who, why, how, when, and where. If any piece is missing, interrogate more.
Your First-Week Strategy🔗
| Day | Goal |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Just play. Don't worry about streaks. |
| Day 2 | Pay attention to time of death — it's often the key clue |
| Day 3 | Practice asking follow-up questions, not just openers |
| Day 4 | Try catching a suspect in a contradiction |
| Day 5 | Review evidence before accusing, not during interrogation |
| Day 6 | Attempt your first "motive + means + opportunity" full case |
| Day 7 | Upgrade to Detective tier if Rookie feels easy |
Common Beginner Mistakes🔗
- Accusing too fast — take the full 5 minutes, don't rush
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Ignoring the autopsy — cause of death narrows suspects quickly
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Burning all 5 messages on suspect #1 — spread messages across all suspects first
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Asking vague questions — with only 5 messages, every one must be specific
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Trusting alibis at face value — bundle verification into your first question
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Skipping the victim profile — motive lives here
Progression: From Rookie to Chief Inspector🔗
Every case you solve earns XP. Ranks unlock harder tiers:
- Rookie (start here) — 3 suspects, 4 clues
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Detective — 4 suspects, 6 clues
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Inspector — 5 suspects, 8 clues
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Chief Inspector / Cold Case — 6 suspects, 10 clues, 35 minutes
Free players stay in Rookie. Detective Pro ($6.99/mo) unlocks all tiers. Chief Inspector ($12.99/mo) adds exclusive cold cases.
Frequently Asked Questions🔗
Do I have to solve the case in one sitting?🔗
No. You can close the app and come back later the same day. But once you accuse, the case is over.
What happens if I accuse the wrong suspect?🔗
The case goes cold. You lose your streak but keep any XP earned during investigation. New case tomorrow.
Can I skip a day?🔗
Yes, but your streak resets. Daily streaks give XP multipliers, so regular play is rewarded.
Is there a hint system?🔗
No hints. Dossier is built for deduction, not hand-holding.
How many questions can I ask each suspect?🔗
You get 5 free messages per suspect per case. Make each one count — bundle multiple questions into single, specific messages whenever possible.
Does Dossier have a multiplayer mode?🔗
Not at launch. The daily case is shared globally, so you can discuss with friends — but gameplay is solo.
Ready to play your first case? Download Dossier free on iOS and Android.
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