How to Play SherlockAI
SherlockAI is a browser-based deduction game. You choose a mystery answer in your mind, respond to a sequence of clue questions, and the game narrows its catalog of candidates until it can name your answer. A typical round takes two to five minutes, and you can start a new round immediately after the last one ends.
Basic Rules
- Choose a mode: Characters, Careers, or Sherlock's Profile.
- Think of one answer before the first question starts and stick with it for the whole round.
- Answer each clue honestly using the five available choices.
- Let SherlockAI make a deduction. If the guess is wrong, reject it and the game continues with the candidates that are still possible.
- If SherlockAI cannot solve your round after several guesses, you can submit the missing answer so the catalog can be reviewed and improved.
The Five Answer Choices
Every clue offers five responses: Yes, Probably, I don't know, Probably not, and No. They exist so you never have to fake certainty. A strong Yes or No gives the engine the most information, while Probably and Probably not nudge the probabilities without eliminating candidates completely. I don't know simply skips the clue and the engine picks a different question.
You do not need perfect knowledge of your character or career. Choose the option that best matches what most people would say about the answer you have in mind, and the engine will still converge.
A Sample Round
Imagine you pick a famous footballer in character mode. Early clues such as "Is this a real person?" and "Is this person mainly known as an athlete?" cut the 600-name catalog down quickly. The engine then asks more specific clues about region, sport, and era. After a dozen or so answers it offers a guess. If the guess is a different footballer, rejecting it tells the engine to try the next most likely candidate instead of starting over.
Tips For Better Results
- Pick one clear answer before starting a round and do not switch targets midway.
- Use Probably or Probably not when a clue is partly true, and I don't know when you genuinely cannot judge it.
- For career mode, answer based on typical duties rather than rare exceptions.
- For profile mode, answer as yourself rather than as an ideal version of yourself.
- Check the character catalog or career catalog if you are unsure whether your target is included.
For a deeper look at how the engine thinks, read the deduction strategy guide.
Statistics And Progress
The game tracks your rounds on your own device: wins, losses, clue counts, and streaks. These statistics live in your browser's local storage, so they stay private and disappear if you clear your site data.
Privacy During Play
The main deduction game runs in your browser. Game preferences and statistics are stored locally on your device, no account is required, and the details are covered in the privacy policy.