Choosing a murder mystery game

So you want to have a murder mystery party game? That's great, we have lots of different ones! This page is here to help you find out which is going to be best for you.

"I just want to say thank you for your fantastic games! We've played at least 6 of them, and every single one has been great fun. We have played a lot of murder mystery games over the past 5 years, and yours are absolutely the best."
Mary Lantz, USA

First – narrow your search

We have a wide range of games, but if you have a specific need you may find them here:

Kids' games: Murder mystery parties suitable for kids aged 8 and up.

Bestselling games: Our most popular murder mystery games.

Murder mystery games for beginners: If you're new to the whole idea of our murder mystery parties, these games are particularly suitable for beginners.

Halloween games: Spooky games for adults and kids.

Christmas games: Festive fun for your friends and family.

Or to choose a game from across our whole range, keep reading!

Second – how many guests are you inviting?

Way out West

Some of our games are for large groups of players, others are for smaller numbers, and others cover a wide range. You can use these tables below to see which of the games might be suitable for your particular playing group.

We recommend choosing a murder mystery game that you can fill as much as you can (so if you have 12 players, choose a game for 10–12 rather than one for 12–16). That's because our games are generally a bit better when they're fuller. It's not crucial, though – they still work perfectly OK when a few places are empty.

Most of our games need a host, as well as the guests – so where we say 'for 10 guests', that means 11 people in total.

"Your games are the absolute best! I tried half a dozen other murder mystery companies before I found yours and I will never go back. Your games are so much more fun to play, with opposing agendas, secret abilities, and weapons."
Jennifer Ellis, United States

Third – who are you inviting?

Will the game be suitable for the age of your players? Or are they a more conservative group? The tables include our view of the minimum age for each game: 18, 15 or 12. (In the cases where there are two ages shown, that's because we include two alternative versions of the game in your purchase, one of which is more family-friendly.)

We've explained what the ages mean and our reasons for each game's classification on our recommended ages page.

"I think you folks have put together a fantastic product. Gives opportunity for imagination, using and honing a wide variety of skills."
KB, California, United States

Fourth – the murder mystery game setting

Then, consider your party's theme and setting. Which will appeal most to your guests – pirates, or wild west? Spies, or superheroes? Hollywood or historical?

Clicking on each game's name will take you to a page which describes the game in more depth. There you'll find a free introductory file you can download and read at your leisure.

What the icons mean

In the tables below, you'll see some icons. This is what they mean:

Includes rules for the use of poison.Includes rules for the use of poison.
Includes rules for combat.Includes rules for combat.
Uses superpowers instead of our usual combat and poison rules.Uses superpowers instead of our usual combat and poison rules.
No combat, no poison.No combat, no poison.
One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.
The host can either play one of the characters or can just be the host, as they prefer.The host can either play one of the characters or can just be the host, as they prefer.
Does not start with a murder that needs solving.Does not start with a murder that needs solving.
All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.

Smaller murder mystery games (for when you have fewer than 10 guests)

GameAgeNumber of guests
Death in Venice (film-festival, present-day) No combat, no poison. The host can either play one of the characters or can just be the host, as they prefer.15+5 to 9
Reunion with Death (high-school reunion, present-day) No combat, no poison. The host can either play one of the characters or can just be the host, as they prefer.18+6 to 9
Christmas Reunion with Death (Christmas high-school reunion, present-day) No combat, no poison. The host can either play one of the characters or can just be the host, as they prefer.18+6 to 9
A Will to Murder (family-feuding, 1930s) Includes rules for the use of poison.18+6 to 9
Lei'd to Rest (Hawaiian, present-day) Includes rules for combat.15+6 to 12
Curse of the Pharaoh (archaeological, 1890s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.18+6 to 19
Murder on the Istanbul Express (luxurious passenger train, 1914) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.12+7 to 11
Death on the Gambia (riverboat, 1939) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat. Does not start with a murder that needs solving.15+8 to 11
A Heroic Death (superhero, futuristic) Includes rules for the use of poison. Uses superpowers instead of our usual combat and poison rules.15+/12+8 to 12
Bludgeoned on Broadway (theatrical, 1940s) No combat, no poison.15+8 to 13
A Purrfect Murder (cat-show, present-day) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.15+9 to 12

Mid-sized murder mystery games (for when you have 10 to 14 guests)

GameAgeNumber of guests
Lei'd to Rest (Hawaiian, present-day) Includes rules for combat.15+6 to 12
Murder on the Istanbul Express (luxurious passenger train, 1914) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.12+7 to 11
Death on the Gambia (riverboat, 1939) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat. Does not start with a murder that needs solving.15+8 to 11
A Heroic Death (superhero, futuristic) Includes rules for the use of poison. Uses superpowers instead of our usual combat and poison rules.15+/12+8 to 12
Bludgeoned on Broadway (theatrical, 1940s) No combat, no poison.15+8 to 13
A Purrfect Murder (cat-show, present-day) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.15+9 to 12
Snow Business (snowbound, present-day) No combat, no poison. One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.18+10 to 12
The Roswell Incident (mystery, 1940s) Includes rules for combat. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.12+10 to 13
The Karma Club (hippy, 1960s) No combat, no poison.15+10 to 14
Davy Jones' Locker (pirate) Includes rules for combat. Does not start with a murder that needs solving.15+10 to 15
Way out West (Western) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+10 to 24
Happy Birthday R.J. (Texan, 1980s) No combat, no poison. One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.18+11 to 15
Lord and Lady Westing's Will (aristocratic, 1930s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.15+11 to 16
The Food is to Die For (restaurant, present-day) Includes rules for combat.15+12 to 15
Dazzled to Death (glamorous, 1948) Includes rules for the use of poison.15+12 to 15
The Night before Christmas (Christmas, 1948) Includes rules for the use of poison.15+12 to 15
Under the Big Top (circus, 1950s) No combat, no poison.15+12 to 15
Who Shot the Sheriff (Western) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+12 to 15
Death on the Rocks (village, 1930s) No combat, no poison.18+12 to 16
A Dead Man's Chest (pirate) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+12 to 16
Spellbound (magical, present-day) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat. Does not start with a murder that needs solving.12+13 to 17
Court in the Act (Elizabethan) No combat, no poison.18+13 to 21
The Spy Who Killed Me (spy-infested, 1960s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.15+14 to 18
Murder on the Dancefloor (diner dance-off, 1950s) Includes rules for combat.15+14 to 20

Larger murder mystery games (for when you have more than 14 guests)

GameAgeNumber of guests
Lei'd to Rest (Hawaiian, present-day) Includes rules for combat.15+6 to 12
Curse of the Pharaoh (archaeological, 1890s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.18+6 to 19
Davy Jones' Locker (pirate) Includes rules for combat. Does not start with a murder that needs solving.15+10 to 15
Way out West (Western) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+10 to 24
Happy Birthday R.J. (Texan, 1980s) No combat, no poison. One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.18+11 to 15
Lord and Lady Westing's Will (aristocratic, 1930s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.15+11 to 16
The Food is to Die For (restaurant, present-day) Includes rules for combat.15+12 to 15
Dazzled to Death (glamorous, 1948) Includes rules for the use of poison.15+12 to 15
The Night before Christmas (Christmas, 1948) Includes rules for the use of poison.15+12 to 15
Under the Big Top (circus, 1950s) No combat, no poison.15+12 to 15
Who Shot the Sheriff (Western) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+12 to 15
Death on the Rocks (village, 1930s) No combat, no poison.18+12 to 16
A Dead Man's Chest (pirate) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+12 to 16
Spellbound (magical, present-day) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat. Does not start with a murder that needs solving.12+13 to 17
Court in the Act (Elizabethan) No combat, no poison.18+13 to 21
The Spy Who Killed Me (spy-infested, 1960s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.15+14 to 18
Murder on the Dancefloor (diner dance-off, 1950s) Includes rules for combat.15+14 to 20
Vanished in Vegas (Las Vegas hotel and casino, present-day) Includes rules for combat.15+15 to 20
Casino Fatale (casino, present-day) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.18+15 to 30
A Speakeasy Murder (gangster and showbusiness, 1920s) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.18+15 to 32
Hollywood Lies (Hollywood, present-day) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.12+16 to 32
Halloween Lies (horror-movie, present-day) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.12+16 to 32
Christmas Lies (Christmas-movie, present-day) No combat, no poison. All the characters are ungendered, and can be played by anyone.12+16 to 32
Murder at Sea (seaborne, 1910s) Includes rules for combat. One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.15+17 to 33
Arabian Nights (exotic, fairy-tale) Includes rules for the use of poison. Includes rules for combat.12+18 to 24
The Reality is Murder (tropical, 2000s) Includes rules for combat.18+23 to 30

Note also that most of our murder mystery games have at least one free extra character who can be added in if you have extra guests turn up at short notice. But we recommend that you start off by choosing a game of the right size, not by buying one that's smaller and planning to fill it out with free extra characters – because while they're fine for use in an emergency, they aren't as well integrated into the game as the "real" characters are!

"You folks are the best. Great customer service and great writing!"
Benjamin S., Illinois, United States

Please do let us know how we can improve this page to make it more helpful! We want to hear your ideas about how we can make the process of choosing a game better for you. Please do send us your thoughts via this form.