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Box art via BoardGameGeek
The Search for Planet X
A logic puzzle that makes you feel like a real astronomer, app and all.
Designed by Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset · 2020
If you like the click of a deduction puzzle locking into place, this is one of the best, as long as you can forgive the app dependency and play it with three or four.
Best for: Logic-puzzle lovers who don't need table chatter to have fun.
What it is
Here's the pitch. You're an astronomer hunting for a hidden planet at the edge of the solar system, and the only way to find it is to rule out everything else. You point your telescope at slices of the night sky, the companion app tells you what's lurking there (asteroids, comets, dwarf planets, empty space), and you scribble it all onto a deduction sheet until the gaps point to Planet X. The app handles the bookkeeping so the puzzle stays clean.
The catch
What makes it more than a glorified logic grid is the theory system. Every couple of turns you commit to public guesses about what sits where, and you only score them if they survive a few rounds of peer review. So you're not just solving quietly in a corner, you're racing the table to publish first and gambling on half-formed hunches. The rondel-style time track ties every action to turn order too, so picking the powerful move means falling behind. Real decisions, small board.
Who it's for
The honest part. This is a heads-down brain game, and players consistently say it shines at three or four and sags at two, where downtime grows and the review phase turns into a staring contest. Some folks shrug it off as a phone app with a bit of cardboard attached, which isn't wrong. If you want banter and chaos, look elsewhere. If you love that quiet click of deduction snapping shut, few games do it better. Bring a fresh brain.
What other players say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
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