WHO TOOK
CELIA ARDEN’S
LAST DRAWING?

A digital game, delivered as a ZIP of PDFs and a getting-started text file. You receive an opening story, setup instructions, evidence, hints and a solution. Nothing is shipped; decorative props in the cover artwork and preview videos aren’t included.

Open a game’s details above for its exact file and page counts, and read a sample before buying.

Yes—all five. The host follows the spoiler-safe setup guide and joins the investigation. Nobody needs to know the solution in advance, and nobody secretly plays the culprit.

Keep later evidence and the solution closed until the guide says to open them. Turn off PDF page thumbnails to avoid seeing ahead.

You solve together in all five games. No costumes, scripts to perform or secret character roles. Players read documents, compare accounts and explain their theories.

In The Second Signature, each player is an investigator assigned a particular person or line of inquiry to examine. Marginalia uses four investigation teams of one or two people. The other cases give players discussion jobs, such as tracing records or challenging a theory.

Guides, hints and solutions can stay digital. For The Second Signature, each player or pair also needs a phone or tablet for the shared player-pack PDF. Its case sheet is optional: copy the headings onto blank paper, or print one extra page. Printing player packs adds more pages.

Use single-sided printing: Actual Size on US Letter, or Fit on A4. Grayscale works for every case. No cutting, folding or measuring is needed.

After payment is confirmed, open Etsy in a computer or mobile web browser. Go to Purchases and download the files next to your order. Guest buyers receive a download link in their receipt email. Downloads aren’t available through the Etsy app.

Save and extract the ZIP, then open READ-ME-FIRST.txt and 01-start-here.pdf. Download and share any player files before the evening. A PDF reader opens the game; your device’s file manager may be needed to extract the ZIP.

Etsy’s download instructions. Still stuck? Message the shop with your game title and the problem.

Count everyone playing, including the host, and stay within the game’s stated range. Blue Hour, Halcyon and Track Seven support 2–4; Marginalia supports 4–8; Second Signature supports 6–10.

In Marginalia, make four teams using singles and pairs. For five players, that’s three singles and one pair. In Second Signature, always assign all six core investigators first, then add the optional investigators for 7–10. If your final group falls outside the range, choose another case or contact the shop before buying.

The current editions haven’t yet completed independent human playtesting, so these are planning estimates, not measured playing times.

Every case has pauses between rounds or acts. There’s no timer to beat; let everyone finish reading before comparing theories.

Anyone can ask for a hint. Blue Hour has a separate hint file, with an index and one page per act; the strongest hint gives that act’s answer. The other four games put hints and the reveal in the same PDF, with a safe opening page.

Use the guide’s page references or the file’s index. Read only the hint for your current round or act, keep thumbnails closed, and stop before the solution pages. Open the reveal together after recording your final theory.

The Blue Hour Switch is an art theft, The Halcyon Check-In an attempted jewel theft, Track Seven a music leak and The Marginalia Affair a blackmail case. None of those four involves murder.

The Second Signature includes non-graphic murder and financial misconduct. All five are intended for adults, involve reading and discussion, and have content notes in their case details.

All five work offline after you’ve downloaded, extracted and shared the files. You need a PDF reader, pens and blank paper, plus the printing or screens listed for your case. There’s no special game app, in-game account, audio playback or outside research to arrange.

Track Seven’s leaked song is supplied as a written transcript. Marginalia includes its own fictional book extracts. Music expertise and an outside novel aren’t required.

Each case has a fixed solution, so returning players will know the answer. You can use the files again with a new group.

The purchase is for personal, non-commercial play with your own group. Don’t resell, publicly upload or redistribute the files beyond that group. Contact the shop about commercial event use before buying for that purpose.

Etsy handles payment, file delivery and your order record. It also gives you one place to contact the shop about a purchase and read any customer reviews as they arrive.

The Etsy listing confirms the current price, applicable taxes and purchase policies. This website helps you choose and look inside the games.