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Here's what people have been saying about Way out West:
"Way out West Expanded was my first game from Freeform Games – but I will DEFINITELY be using your site again – nevermind that I know several people who are planning to use your games as well :)
It was GREAT FUN – I purchased this game to use for my 30th birthday party and it was a HUGE success. Everyone had such a great time – people were even trying to resolve character "disputes" over the next couple days! Several guests have told me that they want to do something similar for their own get-together. I've referred EVERYONE to your site :)"
Elizabeth Holthouser, United States
"Thanks so much – everyone at our party thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of Way out West. There were so many more mysteries to be worked on besides the murder and all members of the party enjoyed having so much to do. We never had a 'dull' moment! "
Lee Nelson
"Just wanted to email you all and say what a fantastic day we had Saturday night when we ran Way out West. We all had a blast, everyone dressed up and got into the spirit of things... Nearly a week on, we are still talking about it, and the photos have proved a great success! I am hoping to run another on New Year's Eve, so will probably email you at the time asking for help on that one!"
Kerry Walmsley, Preston, United Kingdom
"Way out West was a very good simple theme for people to obtain fancy dress and get into their characters – with no excuses of not being able to find a costume! This was our first attempt at a freeform game and I think it was very successful and was much more of challenge than a previous murder mystery game we played. Once people got over the shock of actually having to think for themselves they all got into it! No-one guessed correctly who the murderer was! "
Kim Loftus, United Kingdom
"Our Way out West party was a great success. My husband was the bartender and I helped. We had an adult playing Kate and 18 year old playing Christy and the rest were 11 and 12. They did great and were even trying to settle the land dispute the next day at school! "
Stephanie McLaughlin, Texas, United States
"Just wanted to say thanks. We held our Way Out West party last night and it was a huge success. Everyone had a great time and the characters worked out perfectly. Will check back every so often to see if any new ones come out as I am sure the group would enjoy another mystery at some point down the road. As for me, I have to rest up -- keeping track of everything has worn me out. I enjoyed the system and look forward to trying another one. Thank you for your help."
Bob Cantlay, Alabama, United States
"It was the very first time that I ever participated in any murder mystery game and it was great!! I hosted Way out West. People loved it and are asking for more :D !
The players were so creative! [Character X] was pretty smart, they got the cards and everything they needed to be all set. Then in the end [Y] and [Z] put the map together so they could find the silver lode, give money to [A] and they could buy the Range from [B]. It was awesome!!!!"
Klaudia Smith, Hungary
If you would like to tell us how your party went, please click here to send us your story.
Way out West – a Western murder mystery game for 10 to 14 guests (or up to 24 with the expansion pack) and a host 
Costs £20.00 (about 30.34 US dollars)
Written by Tracy Bose
Download the free
introductory file
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.
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 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…
Read Way out West
stories See Way out West
pictures Read the
Cactus Gulch Gazette
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 party – definitely recommend Way out West to friends!"
Mel Woods, London, United Kingdom
The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game, a list of all the characters, 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 Expanded version:
- 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
- Etta Johnson – Local schoolmarm and newspaper gossip
- Frederick Lloyd – Wealthy English mining investor
- John Paulson – Town's much-revered judge
- Kalamata Kate – Young bar waitress
- Lucy Calhoun – Zeke's daughter, young woman, complete tomboy
- Marco the Mesmerizing – Travelling stage magician with a secret agenda
- Maxwell Jebediah Adams – Town drunkard and ne'er-do-well
- Mel Easton – City slicker, South West Rail rep
- 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
- Runs Like a Deer – Indian squaw
- Slick O'Hare – Scruffy ranch hand for hire
- Soon Li – Chinese migrant worker, in a heap of trouble
- Three Feathers – Revered Indian shaman
- Widder James – Grande Dame of the ladies in Cactus Gulch
| Number of guests | Male characters | Female characters | Characters that can be played by either sex |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
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$30.34 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.