The Outer Limits

Journeys to the farthest reaches of interactive entertainment

- ALEX SPENCER

Playing detective is a common enough fantasy, one that's been well served by all kinds of games, but what of those other parts of the justice system similarly dedicated (at least, in their most idealised form) to peeling away untruths, but which lack the attractive glamour of sleuthing? What I mean is: who ever fantasises about being called up for jury service?

Well, apparently enough of us to support the continued existence of Jury Games. These interactive show-trials debuted online in 2020, before making the move in 2023 to in-person performances at London’s Theatre Deli. Admittedly, in order to make it more appealing than receiving an actual summons, a few liberties have been taken with the real legal process here, bringing it more in line with the traditional detective role.

In the branched-off reality of Jury Games, a pandemic backlog of cases led to legislation allowing the entire court process to be outsourced to a room of everyday people. That means you're playing both prosecution and defence, sorting through raw evidence and interviewing the suspect directly before voting on your group verdict.