How to play a murder mystery game
Here we explain how to play a murder mystery game – particularly our kind of murder mysteries (which can be different to other murder mystery publishers).
How to play a murder mystery game
Our murder mystery games are interactive roleplaying events where players act out characters involved in a fictional murder. The goal is usually to solve the murder (or get away with it!), but we have a lot of other plots and objectives in our games as well.
Before the game you will receive a character briefing containing:
- An introduction to the game and its setting
- Your backstory
- Your objectives for the game
- Information about other characters
- Suggestions for the first things you might want to do
- Your dark secret and a clue
- Three abilities that let you do things like get information from other players
- The rules for the game
- A cast list
If you are the murderer, you will know that you did it!
You will also receive a costume suggestion, so that you can dress appropriately.
During the murder mystery
The game starts with an introduction from the host, and then as a player you mingle and interact with the other players to find out what’s going on and achieve your goals.
(We provide two suggested first moves to give you an idea of the kind of things you might want to do.)
Solving the murder involves looking for clues and asking questions. You’re usually trying to establish the killer’s motive (why they did it), their means (how they did it), and opportunity (when they did it).
However, it is up to you how you approach your goals. We don’t tell you what to say or who to say it to.
Other objectives
Our games don’t just focus on a murder!
Characters have other objectives which might include finding something (a lost will, a missing contract, a stolen videotape) or joining a club or blackmailing another character.
Solving the murder
At the end of the game, everyone points to who they think murdered the victim, and then the detective reads out the solution to the mystery.
Exceptions!
We have a wide range of murder mysteries and not all of them follow this pattern. Some don’t start with a murder! Another doesn’t decide the murderer until partway through the game! So be prepared for something unusual!
Tips for players
We’ve prepared a guide to playing one of our mystery games which we include with every game. You can read it here.
However, here are some key tips:
- Stay in character, but don’t worry about perfect acting.
- Don’t be afraid to lie if your character would.
- Keep the tone appropriate to the genre: dramatic, silly, or serious.
- Don’t solve everything too quickly — enjoy the mystery!
How to play a murder mystery game
So that’s how to play a murder mystery game. (In particular, our murder mystery games!)
Players receive detailed character briefings and then, during the party, talk to other players, pursue their goals and solve the murder.