Murdoku book comparison
Murdoku Book 1 vs Book 2: which volume should you start with?
Both official books contain 80 original murder-mystery logic puzzles, but they teach and escalate the format differently. Book 1 is the clean introduction; Book 2, Back in Time, adds historical settings and more rule twists.
- Book 1
- 80 original cases
- Book 2
- 80 new cases
- Best first choice
- Book 1 for the smoothest introduction
The short answer
Start with Book 1 if you are new to suspect placement, clue cards, rooms, and the one-person-per-row-and-column rule. Choose Book 2 if you already understand the system or care more about historical themes. The official publisher page explicitly says Book 2 can be played without completing Book 1 first.
What Book 1 is designed to do
The original Murdoku book builds the core solving language across 80 full-color cases. Early puzzles work as warm-ups; later scenes demand longer chains of elimination. Its main advantage is progression: the book spends more time making the base rules feel automatic before the largest cases arrive.
- Best for a first physical Murdoku purchase.
- Cases are exclusive to the book rather than copies of the free web catalog.
- Includes solution material at the back for checking a stuck solve.
What changes in Book 2: Back in Time
Book 2 moves the same deduction system through Stone Age, Medieval, Ancient Egyptian, pirate, and Wild West settings. The official description emphasizes new twists, denser artwork, and more visual clues. That makes it a sequel in design ideas, even though it does not require story knowledge from Book 1.
Book 1 and Book 2 compared
The important distinction is not simply easy versus hard. Book 1 has the gentler learning curve; Book 2 assumes you can absorb local rule changes more quickly.
| Question | Book 1 | Book 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzle count | 80 | 80 |
| Structure | General crime-scene progression | Five historical eras |
| Learning curve | Best introduction | Faster-changing twists |
| Need the other book? | No | No; officially designed as a valid starting point |
| Online duplicates | No; official page describes exclusive cases | New cases built for this volume |
Which one should you buy?
Buy Book 1 when you want the most orderly introduction or are giving Murdoku as a gift. Buy Book 2 when the historical theme is the main attraction, you have already played several online cases, or you want more variation per chapter. If you expect to complete both, publication order remains the clearest route.
Murdoku Book 1 vs Book 2 FAQ
Can I start with Murdoku Book 2?
Yes. The official book page says Back in Time was designed so readers can start there without playing Book 1.
Do the books contain the free online puzzles?
The official description says Book 1 contains original cases exclusive to the book; Book 2 also presents new cases for its historical format.
Which book is harder?
Book 1 has the smoother introductory curve. Book 2 changes themes and local twists more quickly, so experienced players may find it more immediately varied.
How many puzzles are in each book?
Each official volume is described as containing 80 puzzles.
Related Murdoku guides
Sources checked
This is an independent comparison. Book artwork and Murdoku belong to their respective rights holders.
