How to solve the lunch mix-up
Open the evidence in whichever order you like. Each clue narrows down where a lunch can go. Move the lunches between the bags, compare your arrangement with every clue, and check your reconstruction when it fits. The goal is a consistent explanation rather than a fast guess.
- Read the opening situation.
- Inspect all four clues before committing to an arrangement.
- Move the lunches between the three bags. Say which clue supports each move.
- Check the reconstruction, then revisit anything that does not fit.
If a clue rules out one bag, ask which of the other two remains possible. You need no outside trivia or knowledge of another story to finish.
Play a mystery alone or with a partner
Play alone for a brief puzzle break. With two people, share a screen: one reads a clue, the other explains what it rules out. Swap jobs for the next clue. Over a call, share your screen and have one person make the moves.
This is a cooperative case with no hidden character roles. Both players see the same evidence. For different information on each device, try the free island in Pocket Expedition.
A complete free case, with a fixed answer
The Switched Lunch is the free first case from Five Small Mysteries. No account, payment or app download is needed. The full edition contains five cases in total, including this one. It is not an additional sixth case.
A solved case has a fixed answer. Once you know it, invite someone else to lead or choose a new case. Keep the solution to yourself while the next detective works through the evidence.
Paper sheets and your next puzzle
Prefer pencils? Download the lunch mystery player sheets in A4 or US Letter. The host guide keeps answers separate. Choose your printer’s paper size and hand out only the player file.
Follow the case with our free family quiz. For a longer evening with another adult, read how to choose a murder mystery for two. The guide distinguishes a shared case file from a party where everyone plays a suspect.