Under the Open Dome
A meteor shower. A broken lamp. A death the Sheriff called an accident. Twenty-seven years later, a forgotten roll of film says otherwise.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Time
- 60 to 90 minutes
- Ages
- 14+
Printable cold case files
Case files you can trust.
Casekept makes printable detective games for couples, friends and puzzle lovers who want a case that is actually fair. Every file has one solution you can prove from the evidence. No outside knowledge, no luck, and no last-page twist that the file never set up.
See the cases Our Etsy shop opens soon.
Holding a sealed solution envelope?
Find your case below. Its page walks you through the reveal without spoiling anything on the way, and tells you what to do if you are stuck.
The cases
Seven files across five lines. Every case stands alone, so start anywhere.
The Glasshouse at Half Past Ten
A poisoned thermos. A rose show in the morning. A chart that said he was alone. Forty-nine years later, a letter arrives saying the file is wrong.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Time
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Ages
- 12+
Dead Air
A blizzard. A radio station cut off on a hill. A death the Sheriff called a tragic accident. Forty-eight years later, a reel of tape proves something went out on the air that never should have.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Time
- 90 to 150 minutes
- Ages
- 14+
Still Keeping House
For three days, the village saw her at her lamp, heard her on the telephone and watched her draw her curtains. The pathologist says she had been dead the whole time.
- Players
- 2 to 4, or 4 to 8 as a party
- Time
- 30 to 45 minutes, party 60 to 90 minutes
- Ages
- 12+
The Seventh Post
Seven posts a day. A stamp dealer dead at his desk. A police case that looks finished. London keeps time in a hundred ways, and every hour leaves a mark somewhere.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Time
- 60 to 90 minutes
- Ages
- 14+
Agreed Value
A locked, alarmed glass case. A gala full of guests. A painting that turned into a print overnight. The owner wants €5,500,000 in thirty days. Nobody gets paid until you know exactly what happened.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Time
- 90 to 150 minutes
- Ages
- 14+
The Star Swap
The museum's star exhibit is a real meteorite from space. This afternoon, someone swapped it for a painted copy. Nobody was hurt and nothing is broken, but the real Star is missing. Can your sharp eyes find it?
- Players
- 1 child with a grown-up
- Time
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Ages
- 8 to 12
Honest difficulty
Every case carries a tier, and we set it by checking the logic, not by guessing.
Rookie
A short chain of reasoning with every clue on the page. A good first case.
Detective
You'll need a timeline and you'll argue about suspects. You won't need luck.
Chief
Lies, false records and a long chain of proof. Our hardest.
Junior
Gentle mysteries solved with pictures, maps and charts. Nobody gets hurt.
Printing tips
- Start with the one-page START HERE file in your download. It tells you which file to print.
- Print one main case file: colour or ink-saver, in US Letter or A4 to match your paper. Each one holds every exhibit you need.
- Print at 100% / "Actual size", single-sided. Plain paper is fine; card stock is nice for the cover and the hint cards.
- Saving ink? Use the ink-saver edition. No clue depends on colour alone.
- The hints and the solution are separate files, so nobody opens them by accident. Print them only when you want them.
- On a phone, the Etsy app does not always show downloads. Use a web browser.
Questions
Is anything shipped?
No. Every case is an instant digital download. After payment, Etsy gives you the files under Purchases (and by email).
Where do I find my files?
On a computer, go to etsy.com, then You, then Purchases and reviews, then Download files. The Etsy app doesn't always show downloads, so use a browser.
Letter or A4? Colour or ink-saver?
Every case includes colour and ink-saver editions in US Letter and A4. Print at 100% / "Actual size".
Do we need the internet to play?
No. Hints, checkpoints and the solution are all printed in your files. This site is only a guide.
How many players? How long?
It's on every case above. Most cases are built for 2 and work well for up to 4, or solo. Times are our estimates.
We're stuck. Help!
Use the hint cards. They reveal one level at a time: a nudge, then where to look, then the answer to that step only. They never give away the culprit. Still stuck? Message us and we'll send a nudge, not a spoiler.
What is the Fair-Play Guarantee?
The solution can be proven from the evidence alone. If you find a contradiction or a logic gap, tell us. We'll check it, fix the file and send you the update free.
Is it scary or gory?
No. Our cases are serious but never graphic: no gore and no images of bodies. Each listing has a content note.
Can I use it in a classroom or at a paid event?
The standard purchase is a personal licence for your household or private group. Message us for classroom or team licences.
Do you use AI?
Yes, as a tool. AI helps draft text and create illustrations. A person designs, edits and checks every case, and we say so on each listing.