Murder mystery game for 6 players, host included

How many players for a murder mystery party?

For our games, six, no more, no fewer, host included. Every role holds part of the story: without one of the six, the case cannot be played. It is a rule of construction, not a comfort limit.

The characters’ first names are mixed: every role can be played whatever the gender. The host guide describes the six roles, suggests an outfit for each and helps you assign them according to your guests’ temperaments.

The host plays too, without knowing the solution

The host reads the rules and the prologue, then hands out the roles without knowing which one is the killer’s: the host booklet does not say. After that the host plays like everyone else.

Nobody runs the game from outside. Clues arrive in envelopes at the planned moment, the solution waits in envelope S until the vote, and everyone finds out the ending at the same time. Only the killer knows, from their own booklet.

A guest cancels, or you are not six

A guest drops out? If you find a replacement before the start, they take the free role: the host guide has you hand out the booklets on arrival, with fifteen minutes of reading.

You are five: the game cannot be played, and it is better to know before you send the invitations. You are seven or eight? Two games and two tables of six work better than one stretched game.

To choose among the games, start with the occasion, then open all games. Short answers are in the frequently asked questions.