903 Crime Detector

Big Jim: Crime Detector is an Italian deduction board game released by Mattel in 1978 under catalogue reference No. 903. Designed for two to four players aged six to fourteen, the game invites participants to assist Big Jim in uncovering a criminal conspiracy organised by his enemy Zorak. Players question a colourful gallery of suspects and use the battery-free mechanical Crime Detector, operated with punched cards, to determine whether their statements are true or false. By analysing the resulting clues and eliminating innocent characters, they must identify Zorak, who is concealed among the suspects under a disguise. Combining deduction, observation and mechanical interaction, the game is distinguished by its vivid comic-book artwork and its strong connection to Mattel’s late-1970s Big Jim adventure universe.