boardgames

I was excited to see someone mention this game! I have it too, but have yet to find anyone to play it with.

I would highly recommend checking out some of the files that users have posted on Board Game Geek, which include player-made rules variants that think improve the game - a major rules variant I have always wanted to try is the Co-Op variant, which allows you to work with other players to solve the murder and work against the conspiracy to cover it up.

BGG Files for Android

It doesn't solve the problem of complexity, as there is a LOT to cover, especially since the way the Co-Op rules materials were created basically require learning the game twice: learning the original rules and then learning what is added/changed when making the game Co-Op. I felt like the Co-Op rules improved a lot, though, especially because the original rules had the "ask" of learning such a complex game followed by you causing extreme trauma to the other player's characters (ex. "haha, I just caused your character's wife to leave him and now he's contemplating suicide").

Making the game cooperative helps with that saltiness; at least you, the teacher, are no longer responsible for the bad things happening to the other player's characters.