About SQL Holmes: The Baskerville Files
SQL Holmes is a free detective game that teaches SQL. You read a fictional case file, write real queries against it and follow the clues across ten chapters until you can name the culprit.
How it works
- Each chapter teaches one SQL idea, from SELECT to window functions.
- Press Run as often as you like; Submit checks your answer. You get three attempts.
- Hints cost points. About a third of chapters bring a case event, such as fog (a free hint) or a telegram (a free wrong answer).
- Solve the case to earn a certificate with your detective rank.
The ten chapters
- Clue 1: SELECT + WHERE
- Clue 2: ORDER BY + LIMIT
- Clue 3: GROUP BY + COUNT
- Clue 4: INNER JOIN
- Clue 5: GROUP BY + HAVING
- Clue 6: Multi-table JOIN
- Deduction 1: Subqueries
- Deduction 2: CASE WHEN
- Confrontation: Window functions
- Unmasking: CTE + JOIN + window
FAQ
Is SQL Holmes free?
Yes. It is free to play with a Skillancy account.
Do I need to know SQL?
No. The first chapters teach SELECT and WHERE step by step, then the case gets harder.
Does my query run in the browser?
Yes. A real Postgres database runs in your browser; answers are checked on our server.
Is the story the original novel?
No. It uses public-domain character names with an original plot and an original culprit.
Link to us
Teaching SQL? Copy this link for your page or course notes.
<a href="https://skillancy.in/games/sherlock-sql">SQL Holmes: a free SQL detective game by Skillancy</a>
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