5 MINUTE DETECTIVEABOUT THE GAME

A little time. A lot to discover.

5 Minute Detective is for people who enjoy a short mystery. Each case starts with a story, then gives you a room to search and four suspects to question. A few details do not quite fit. Finding out why is up to you.

The cases include murder, a stolen painting and a changed will. Follow the clues to work out who acted, how and when. Then choose something a suspect said and a clue that proves it wrong.

Five minutes, or your own pace

Timed mode gives you five minutes to solve the case. Practice has no time limit. Both give you the same clues and interviews. When an attempt ends, you can read the full answer.

Made for a quiet moment

Play free in your browser. You do not need an account or download. The game is made for a phone held upright. You can leave the sound off and skip any opening. An object list gives you another way to search the room.

Different ways to follow a mystery

The case files introduce all seven games without giving away their answers. Choose a place that interests you and meet its people before you begin.

Our detective guides help you check times, test alibis and spot false statements. Each uses its own made-up example. You can also read a quick mystery on the page. Hints and answers are ready to open when you want them.

The person behind the site

5 Minute Detective is published by Daniel Jenkins. The aim is to fit a whole mystery into a short break, with room to slow down if you prefer.

We use AI-assisted tools to help create the stories, pictures, game screens and music. We choose and edit the work for this site. You can find credits for the music samples in the game.

The stories are made up and aimed at adults. Some involve death and crime, but we avoid graphic images. The Sunset Alibi includes characters based on Daniel and his wife, with their permission.

What we check

A fair mystery gives you the facts needed to solve it. We check that the scene, statements and answer agree. We also check that the clues fit the answer and the wording is clear. Automated tests check things such as scores, saved progress and keeping hidden answers out of public game data.

Tests cannot tell us how a story feels to a new reader. Your feedback helps us find confusing clues and unclear words. Five minutes is a challenge you can choose. Some readers will need longer, which is why we offer untimed practice.

We aim for one answer that fits all the clues. If you find another, we want to hear it. Email daniel@jenkinsinteractive.com with the case name. Mark any answer details as spoilers. You can also report a problem or suggest clearer wording.

Free to play

The site is free to use. Ads stay off until Google approves the site. We plan to place them on written pages to help pay for running it. The game and opening scenes stay free of ads. Our privacy and cookies page explains what we store and how you can change your ad choices.