Murder mystery game FAQ
This is our FAQ, frequently asked questions about our murder mystery games
Download your game, your order, refunds
How soon will I get my game?
You can download your game immediately after making your purchase.
We will also send you an email message containing a download link so you can download your game later.
The message might go into your spam/junk, so please do check there.
Where's my download link?
Please check your email (including your junk folder).
If you’re sure you haven’t received it, then please get in touch. (Please tell us when you purchased the game and what email address you used.)
My download link has expired or isn't working!
That’s not a problem; you will always have access to any game that you’ve purchased from us.
Your download links are set wth expiry dates for security, but contact us and we can refresh them for you right away.
Please include the email address you used when you made your purchase, so we can find the transaction.
Can I get a refund?
Choosing a murder mystery game
Have you got any games for beginners?
Yes! If this is your first time hosting a Freeform Games murder mystery, we suggest choosing one of our more straightforward games.
Do you have any games suitable for all-male or all-female groups?
Yes! We have several games where all the characters are ungendered and can be played by anyone.
What size murder mystery game do I need?
We design our murder mystery games so they can be played with different numbers of players.
So for each game we specify a minimum and maximum (for example, 8 to 13 guests). That means the game will cater for a minimum of 8 guests and a maximum of 13. (Plus, someone to be the host.)
If you aren’t using all the characters, the step-by-step instructions tell you which ones to leave out.
Our games also have at least one free extra character for when you end up with more players than originally expected.
Do you have any games where the host can also try to solve the murder?
Yes!
In these games, the host prepares the game materials without reading the characters – and the instructions do not say who the murderer is.
Click here to see which games the host can play.
We have also written a page about simultaneously hosting and playing one of our other games. Click here to read Being the Host and playing a character.
About our murder mystery games
How do freeform murder mystery games work?
Most of our games have an impartial host who organizes the party. Hosts don’t solve the murder with everyone else – they have already read the game and instead watch the game unfolding.
At the start of the party, the host gives each player their detailed backgrounds (including dark secrets, objectives, and money).
Although our games (usually) involve solving a murder, each character has other goals they must pursue. Our games include plenty of side plots and secrets to keep everyone busy.
During the game, players question and negotiate with one another and may resort to bribery or blackmail to get what they want. In some of our games, they may even try murdering each other!
Finally, the game concludes, and everyone learns how they did and what secrets others were concealing.
Are your games scripted?
No!
We provide each player with a character booklet containing that character’s background, goals, secrets, abilities, and information about other characters.
Players are then free to decide how much information to reveal – they aren’t reading from a script.
How do I play a Freeform Games murder mystery game?
Our murder mystery games are interactive role-playing events where players act out characters involved in a fictional murder.
As well as solving the murder (or getting away with it!), we give all the characters other plots and objectives.
There’s much more to our games than just the murder!
How to play murder mystery games covers playing our games in more detail.
Click here for our beginner’s guide, which we include with each game.
How long do your games take to play?
Usually about 3.5 hours in total, including an introduction and wind-down. Smaller games are often a little quicker, and bigger games usually take a bit longer.
We also have some shorter games, playable in an hour or less: 60 minutes games.
For more on this: How long do murder mystery games take to play?
What does the host do?
Before the party the host:
- Buys the game and downloads the files.
- Reads the instructions and other material (including character sheets) so that they have a good understanding of the game and how it works.
- Decides who is going to play which character.
- Sends out the invitations.
- Prints out the character information and prepares the character envelopes (which contain character information, rules, and so on) for the evening.
- Prints out clues and other information that will be needed during the party.
The host might also be responsible for sorting out the venue and refreshments – or that may be done by others.
During the party, the host:
- Meets and greets the guests, and hands out the character envelopes.
- Introduces the party and reads the introduction and runs through any key rules.
- Issues timed handouts and clues, and makes announcements as necessary.
- Oversees key rules, such as combat, or poisoning or pickpocketing.
- Answers questions about the game world.
- Oversees the game wrap and debrief.
The host might also be involved in serving food and drinks – but it’s often better if others are responsible for that.
Does the murderer know they are the murderer?
Yes – they’re told that right at the beginning, in their briefing. And they’re told all the details of why they did it and exactly how it happened.
What happens to those playing murder victims?
Most murders take place before the game starts, so there’s no need for anyone to play the victim.
However, for those games where a character is murdered during the game, that player adopts a new character.
Some of our games include rules for poisoning or attacking other characters. However, characters can only die towards the end of the party – so if they are killed, they won’t miss much of the party.
Other questions
Do you have any tips for running a murder mystery game?
Can I host the murder mystery game commercially?
Yes – but you need a commercial licence. Click here to learn more about our commercial licence.
What rules do you use?
We use the same rules across our games to cover situations such as combat, poisoning, death and the like.