Cluedo In 2008, "" was created (with changes to board, gameplay and characters) as a modern spinoff, but it was criticised in the media and by fans of the original game. "Cluedo: The Classic Mystery Game" was then introduced in 2012, returning to Pratt's classic formula but also adding several variations. By 2016 Hasbro launched the current standard version of the game with the first new original character in over 67 years: Dr. Orchid. In 1944, Anthony E. Pratt, an English musician, applied for a patent of his invention of a murder/mystery-themed game, originally named "Murder!". Shortly thereafter, Pratt and his
Anthony E. Pratt Anthony and his wife Elva (1913-1990) began designing a murder mystery board game. The original game was called "Murder!", with the artwork for the board itself designed by Elva. Pratt filed his original patent application on 1 December 1944. He had spoken to a close friend, Geoffrey Bull (who had invented the board game Buccaneer), and it was Bull who introduced him to Norman Watson, managing director of games manufacturer Waddingtons. In February 1945, Pratt demonstrated the game to Watson, who immediately saw the winning formula of the game and, after a few minor modifications, decided to go ahead and