A great Murder Mystery night needs a relaxed host, guests who love a good bluff, and snacks already on the table. The app guides every round, from the first clue to the final accusation. You bring the people.
Plan the night
Step 1: Choose your mystery
Browse the Murder Mysteries, pick a theme your group will love, and buy it.
Step 2: Set the scene
Pick a date and plan your space. Decorations and costumes that match the theme go a long way.
Step 3: Plan the menu
Your setup page shows a party shopping list and themed recipes whenever your game has them. Our recipes page has plenty more game night ideas.
Set up your game
After you buy, open My Games and start setup. It saves every time you move to the next step, so you can close the tab and come back later.
Step 1: Choose who narrates
Every mystery has an Investigator who welcomes everyone, announces the crime, opens each round, and reveals the culprit. You pick how tonight’s Investigator works.
- You narrate and play too
- You play your own character. We hide your character’s evidence from your view so it stays fair.
- You narrate only
- Great for big groups, or when you want to focus on running the game.
- An AI Investigator
- The app reads every part for you, in the voice your game’s designer chose.
Step 2: Pick when and how you will play
Choose a start date and time if you have one, and whether you are playing in person, online, or hybrid. Online and hybrid games get a live video room automatically, and you can make cameras optional, required, or off.
Step 3: Name your group and assign characters
Give your group a name, then decide how characters are handed out: you assign them, which we recommend, or guests pick their own.
Step 4: Invite your guests
Add each guest with a first name, last name, and email. Guests RSVP, claim a character, and upload a photo so everyone arrives in character.
- Eight suspects
- Every mystery has eight suspect seats. A seat without a guest is played by a character the app runs for you.
- A bigger crowd
- Guests beyond the eight suspects get bonus roles. They still receive evidence and a vote, but they can never be the culprit.
Step 5: Personalize the invitation and send it
Add your address, start time, and a note in your own voice. Then choose Save and send invites to email every guest, or Save, and do not send invites yet if you are not ready.
On game night
Step 1: Decide on a big screen
Before the lobby, the app asks about putting the clue board on a big screen. Say yes to pair a TV or computer with your game, or choose Continue with just phones. Either way works.
Step 2: Open the lobby
The lobby is your command post. Guests gather, you see who is still missing, and everyone can tap Help for a quick tour of their phone. When a big screen is live, the intro film plays there and phones stay quiet.
Step 3: Press Start Game
The detective welcomes everyone, and you launch Round 1 from there. From then on your screens move together. When you open the next round, every guest’s screen follows.
Step 4: Run the rounds
Each round hands out new clues. Some are yours to share and some you keep quiet. Guests talk, question each other, and bluff. Everyone knows something, and not everyone is honest.
Step 5: Crack the victim’s phone
In games that include the victim’s phone, the Evidence round starts with it locked. The whole table pools what each person remembers to crack the code, and a wrong guess never locks anyone out. Inside are items that can expose a lie.
Step 6: Take the accusation
Each guest names a suspect in the Accusation round. Already sure? A guest can lock in a pick early, and if they are right, the reveal shows they solved it early.
Step 7: Close the case
Advance past the last round, or choose Finish. The reveal names the culprit and everyone who got it right, and it plays on the big screen if you have one. There are no points in a Murder Mystery. Everyone who names the culprit wins.
Step 8: Keep the memories
If your group captured photos or clips, tap Create my memory video after the case is solved. It lands in Mission Memories in your account and in the app.
Host extras
- Host HQ collects the guides, printables, and name tags for your event.
- When your game has a host guide, it covers how the game plays, food suggestions, and tips for a great night.
- Hosting online? Players join a live video room built into the game.
Keep going
Create your first event
The host walk-through for every play style, from picking a game to pressing start.
OpenWatch the Murder Mystery intro
A short film that shows what a Whodunit night is like. Great to send to guests.
OpenGame night recipes
Simple food and drink pairings to feed your suspects.
OpenPut your game on a TV
Smart TV, Chromecast, AirPlay, Fire TV, Roku, or an HDMI cable.
Open
Ready to solve the case?
Pick your mystery, invite your guests, and let the detective take over.