Our In-Person Murder Mystery Parties

How to Play A Murder Mystery Party Game

The instructions below are for playing the game in person at a live party. Your host guide will include additional details and inspiration for hosting the ultimate murder mystery party, including a virtual host guide.

All of our games include 20 characters and each game can be played by any combination or number of characters, since the killer is assigned at random each time. Additional players can participate (we’ve had groups of over 100 play before!) by acting as “detectives” who ask questions each round and guess who the killer is at the end. 

Before The Party Begins

Read the included Host Guide with detailed instructions on how to play. It also includes the character information for your chosen game.

Provide your guests with their character name and description in advance. This helps encourage players to dress up and arrive ready to play!

As Guests Arrive

Welcome your guests and give each person their character booklet as they arrive. They should not open them until directed by you. It can be nice to let guests arrive and mingle before officially starting the game. Each character packet includes a brief description of the character and information that they can read and share while mingling, as well as secret information for their eyes only. 

Each guest should also pick a “Who Did It Slip” and be informed that they should keep it secret. This slip tells each guest whether or not they are the murderer. If they are not the murderer, it also includes a number, which denotes the order in which guests should read their final statements. NOTE: Each character booklet has an “innocent” and “guilty” version for every character. If a guest chooses a “who did it slips” that reveals them as innocent, they should read the innocent answers each round. If they are the murderer, they should read the “guilty” answers each round. 

When You Are Ready To Officially Begin The Game

Start by playing or reading the Introduction Narration provided with your materials. 

Next, have each character read the “INTRODUCE YOURSELF AT THE START OF THE GAME” section in their character packet. 

When you are ready to officially start the game, it is played in three Acts. For each of the three acts you will follow these steps in order:

Reveal the Evidence: Listen to the narration of the evidence or read it aloud from the “Evidence Booklet” for the Act you are starting. If you are starting the game, then you would start with the narration of the Act One; Evidence.

Questioning: Once everyone has listened to the Detective and heard the evidence for that act, it’s time for each guest to ask another guest one question from the “Question Menu” for the current Act. Choose one person to start with a question, then when the answer has been revealed it’s time to pass the question sheet to another guest to ask a new question from the menu. If a particular character is missing from the cast, there is no need to ask their question from the menu. This round of questioning should continue until all present characters have been asked and answered a question.

Once all questions from the Question Menu for the Act have been asked and answered it’s time to either pause again or continue to the next act.

Final Act: Will The Murderer Be Caught

Now it’s time to end the game and reveal the murderer. Follow the steps below.

Accusations: Each guest should make their own accusation as to who they think the murderer is. It’s fun to include reasoning as to why they think that character is the murderer, but this is optional.

Final Statements: Each guest should look at their “Who Did It Slip” to review the number in which they are assigned to read their final statement. Then in order of lowest to highest (starting with 1) guests should read their final statements section in the character booklet. Any guest that has a number 1-19 should read the “Innocent” statement. The person who has the “Murderer” slip should read THE MURDERER statement LAST.

Who Wins? The winner(s) are those who guess the murderer correctly!

Want us to host your murder mystery party for you? 

What Our Killer Clients Have to Say . . .

Ann S.

Thank you to the entire crew at Broadway Murder Mysteries. Everyone has been so wonderful, responsive and thorough, and this has, by far, been the easiest holiday party to coordinate!

Mark F.

OMG what a fabulous time we had. Our host was amazing. Couldn’t imagine a better birthday event. I say run don’t walk and book them for your next event. From beginning to end it was great, professional, and well worth every penny. I am still over the moon. 

Rebecca L.

Thank you so much for that and thank you for your level of professionalism with such an unruly bunch of people. Ontario is under a complete stay at home order due to such high covid cases and it was just what everyone needed to blow off some steam. Cannot thank you enough.

Our In-Person Murder Mystery Parties

Our In-Person Murder Mystery Parties

All our private murder mystery parties are planned by our party planner to make the process painless and easy!

We come to you or a location of your choosing, be it your office, home, a restaurant . . . whatever the setting, we'll be there to make it a special event. We'll ship your game materials and light costuming in advance so you're ready for show-time when your host arrives on site. 

Your host, a professional actor who plays the role of the Lead Detective, will show up in costume ready to facilitate the game play and ensure everyone in your group understands the rules before diving into the three rounds of evidence and investigation.

Our parties are great for groups of 6-200+ people and our signature themes, which are all written by professional playwrights, allow for ultimate flexibility in group size.

Click the button below to inquire about booking your in-person party now!

Our Virtual Murder Mystery Parties

Allow our party planner to take care of everything for you, from sending e-vites with each guests' character assignments, to providing the Zoom link, and more.

Then during your event, our host will seamlessly guide your group through your virtual murder mystery party by creating a theatrical experience complete with immersive interrogation sessions, chat engagement, and Zoom backgrounds to set the scene. 

Our virtual murder mystery parties will have your guests cracking up as your host gets everyone involved in the scene of the crime. Once the party starts, you can sit back and relax as the mystery unfolds and your guests transform into hilarious suspects and sleuthing detectives to crack the case.