Lie Detector from Mattel (1960)

In the 1960s, amateur detectives had a new game to test their skills of reasoning and deduction. Lie Detector from Mattel featured 24 cartoon suspects. Two to four players follow the clues and use a small, non-electronic Lie Detector machine to interrogate suspects and use the process of elimination to ferret out the guilty party.

Players score points by making a successful accusation and arrest. The first player to reach 25 points is declared Chief Detective and the winner of the game.

In addition to the all-plastic Lie Detector machine and Suspect cards, the game also came with a plastic pegboard for keeping score and numerous Secret Information, Guilty, Arrest, and Summons cards that were used through each round of the game.

The popularity of Lie Detector led Mattel to issue Spy Detector, a second version of the game with different artwork, in 1963.