Way out West – a Freeform Games murder mystery 
For 10 to 14 guests (or up to 24 with the expansion pack) and a host – costs £20.00 (about 30.71 US dollars)
Way out West is a dinner party murder mystery game for 10 to 14 guests (or up to 24 with the expansion pack) and a host – download the free introductory pdf file.
Kids' version – this game includes a FREE special version written for kids and younger teens.
Click here to see previous hosts' stories about their Way out West parties.
Click here to see the gallery of Way out West pictures.
Join us in a thrilling evening of scheming, intrigue and skulduggery. You will be in the middle of the action and it will be up to you to wheel and deal with the other guests. Can you achieve your goals, keep your secrets hidden and survive Way out West? It's up to you.
"We played the game [Way out West] on New Year's Eve and really enjoyed it a lot. I have flagged your website in my favorites so we can easily access you next year if not before. Thanks for all of your hard work on this game."
Jackie Vick, Minnesota, United States
Way out West
It is the spring of 1884. America's west coast is slowly being populated with small towns full of settlers, coming to prospect for precious metals, set up ranches and run dubious saloons. Now the railway is coming! Cactus Gulch is one such small town. Founded 20 years ago, tonight it has a festive air as the townsfolk get set to start their 20th anniversary celebrations. Plus, the railway is coming! However, all is not running smoothly. Land disputes, disreputable card games, strange folk from out of town and hostile Indians are all adding to a tense atmosphere...
Way out West lasts for about four hours and is suited to an evening. It is often played over a meal – a finger buffet if possible to allow guests to circulate and talk in private.
"Thanks for a great [Way out West] party -- definitely recommend it to friends!"
Mel Woods, London, United Kingdom
The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game, a list of all the characters, an invitation to send to your guests, a copy of the Cactus Gulch Gazette – plus details of how to buy the game.
New expanded version!
Now available in German!
You can buy a German translation of this game -- click here for more details.
These are the characters in Way out West:
- Able Blane – The town's reliable sheriff
- Blaise Sadler – Aging saloon owner
- Christy Martin – Storekeeper from out of town
- Clem Parham – City slicker, Mid West Rail rep
- Dan Fairweather – Slow and honest deputy sheriff
- Doc Faraday – Notorious gambler
- Elijah Entwhistle – Travelling preacher
- John Paulson – Town's much-revered judge
- Kalamata Kate – Young bar waitress
- Lucy Calhoun – Zeke's daughter, young woman, complete tomboy
- Mel Easton – City slicker, South West Rail rep
- Runs Like a Deer – Indian squaw
- Slick O'Hare – Scruffy ranch hand for hire
- Three Feathers – Revered Indian shaman
and these are the characters in the Expansion Pack:
- Etta Johnson – Local schoolmarm and newspaper gossip
- Frederick Lloyd – Wealthy English mining investor
- Marco the Mesmerizing – Travelling stage magician with a secret agenda
- Maxwell Jebediah Adams – Town drunkard and ne'er-do-well
- Minnie Mae Adams – Former Sunday School teacher with hidden depths
- Ol' Barr – Reclusive fur trapper and friend to the Indians
- Robert Barnaby – Shy young legal clerk
- Ruby Sapphire – Flame-haired singer, notorious beauty
- Soon Li – Chinese migrant worker, in a heap of trouble
- Widder James – Grande Dame of the ladies in Cactus Gulch
How Freeform Games Murder Mysteries Work
Way out West is unlike many murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a murder, most of the characters have more important things to do than to investigate it. And the killing may not be over – it is unlikely that everyone will survive the remainder of the evening!
Way out West is played just like a murder mystery game. You may be trying to solve the murder, but primarily you are (initially at least) concentrating on your own goals and objectives. Unlike most boxed murder mystery games, Way out West lets you decide how to achieve your goals and thwart your enemies.
"We received your game, Way Out West, and had our party last weekend. It was a huge success. Everyone went all out on their costumes and the game flowed smoothly. Thanks for your great customer service!"
Lisa and Anthony Perez, Oregon, United States
On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer, the Bartender of the Silver Dollar Saloon. They then receive their detailed backgrounds - including dark secrets, objectives and money. When everyone has arrived the celebrating starts, but it is immediately disrupted by a shocking announcement. The real fun then begins as everyone questions, bribes and blackmails each other. As the evening progresses they may even try to murder one another! Along the way they may solve some of Way out West's mysteries. Where is the map to the recently discovered silver lode? Who owns the land that the railways are desperate to get hold of? Why are the Indians threatening to go on the warpath? Why is a pack of cards so important? Why is the preacher so sinister? Finally, the game concludes and everyone finds out how they did, and what secrets everyone else was concealing.
Extra characters
Sometimes you have too many guests and you need more characters. So we've written a free extra character for each of our games that you can add in, and some of our customers have created their own characters for their parties and are kindly willing to share them.
Please note that we haven't tested these and they may not tie in exactly with our games.
IMPORTANT – if you've bought the game, you can download the files for these characters from the download page where you got your main game files. Contact us if you need the link and password to get back to that page.
- 'Ginger' Roberts – freelance reporter in search of the Big Story. (M/F)
(by Freeform Games)
Purchasing Way out West
Way out West costs £20.00 (GB pounds). That works out at about US$30.71 at today's exchange rate, although the rate charged by your credit card may vary slightly.
To purchase Way out West, follow these three steps.
Step 1: Download the free introductory pdf file. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read this. If you do not already have Acrobat Reader, click here.
Step 2: Read our terms and conditions of purchase. Then come back here and click on the button to buy the game!
Step 3: Our orders are processed by WorldPay – we don't actually see your credit card details. After you have entered your credit card details you will be emailed the location of the main pdf files, plus the password required to unlock them. You can then download those files and enjoy the game!
Or, buy now!
Cards we accept
We accept the following credit and debit cards:
Cast Iron Guarantee
We offer a Cast Iron Guarantee on all our murder mystery games. If you're not completely satisfied with Way out West then please let us know within 30 days and we will refund you.