Where can I find a Murder Mystery Games for 20-25 Players?

If you’ve ever tried to organise a murder mystery game for 20-25 players / guests, then you’ve probably noticed that most games available to you stop at 20 characters or less.  Why is this, and what are your options if you want to host a larger party?

Firstly – don’t worry!  We’ve helped countless customers with exactly this problem.  So here’s what you need to know about “sizing up” your murder mystery with Red Herring Games.

Why Aren’t There More Murder Mystery Games for 20-25 Players?

In short, murder mystery games get pretty unwieldy with really large groups.

1. Timing. Without explaining in detail how murder mysteries work, the crux of the matter is: the more characters you include the longer the game takes to play.The reason for this is the number of interactions needed.  If you assume each character needs to talk to another, and each one has a question and answer that takes 1 minute.  Then with 25 players, assuming nothing else and limited interactions – each round will take 25 minutes.  Most games need more than 1 question and answer per round to give a rounded experience.  So as you increase in numbers, you extend game play time into something that may be come unworkable.
2. Complexity. Added to that, when you have more than 20 people all trying to keep track of clues, motives, and alibis, it just becomes very difficult to follow and more than a little chaotic.
3. Flexing guest numbers. With more guests, there’s a higher chance that someone will drop out last minute (life happens!), which can throw a spanner in the works if every guest has a crucial role.

That said, we have versioned some of our games up to larger numbers before – so if you’re determined, it’s not impossible! It just takes a bit more planning.

What Are My Options for Murder Mystery Games for 20-25 Players?

1. Large Group Versions

Our top recommendation is to use one of our “large group” scripts. These are designed to flex for bigger parties and keep everyone involved, even if not everyone has a starring role.

How do these sorts of games work? Well, instead of every single guest having a unique character with backstories and plot, some people just ask questions.  We call these guests “detectives”.  They still get to participate, but they just ask questions, and join the fun with a little less pressure to perform.

To make life as easy as possible for you – these detectives are entirely flexible, they don’t even have a character.  Which means you can “plug and play”.  If someone suddenly drops out – another guest can ask their questions.  The game still works. And if you lose a suspect, just get a detective to switch role – thats what makes these large group scripts make the perfect murder mystery game for 20-25 players.

2. Adding More Characters to a Murder Mystery Game for 20-25 Players

If you’ve got your heart set on adding guests to a 20-player game, we can add extra guests in a few different ways.

1. Witnesses – who get a character booklet and a role to dress up for, but they don’t have lines between rounds or lengthy introductions. Their role is to ask questions in each round.
2. Witness Participants – as above they have a booklet and a character to dress up to, but as well as questions they also join in with the intro and exit statements and dialogues between rounds.
3. Additional Witness Characters – As witness participants above, but with the addition of 1 question and answer that rules them out in round 1.
4. Full Character Additions – with the same level of involvement as the other guests.

We will always suggest option 1 first, as this is the cheapest (usually £35) and the EASIEST option for you to facilitate.   And for a group of 20-25, we’d suggest splitting the group down the middle so that half the guests are in suspect roles and the other half in witness roles.

A 25 player game might look something like this: 12 suspects (the main characters) 12 witnesses (supporting players with questions to ask) 1 inspector (leading the investigation)

What Does It Cost to get a Murder Mystery Game for 20-25 Players?

Here’s a quick breakdown:

1. 1. • Large group dinner party scripts: straight off the peg with no amendments – £52.50 to download (with the private party discount).
      • Witnesses: £35 reformatting fee (assuming you’ve got a fairly even split of men and women), with additional costs if printing.
      • Witness Participants: £55-£100 reformatting fee (assuming you’ve got a fairly even split of men and women), with additional costs if printing.
      • Full character additions: £100 per extra character, with additional costs if printing.

Insider tip: You can save money by casting one person as the inspector (rather than using a pre-recorded video/MP3).  There are ways to make the recordings work with larger numbers, by ruling out the extras with a piece of evidence before the solution, but it’s often better to have them ruled out in person by a real inspector.  A real inspector is a boon when hosting for large numbers, as it’s often like herding cats!

Will the Game Take Longer with More People?

Not necessarily! Using witnesses actually helps keep the game “punchy.” The main suspects drive the story, while witnesses add to the fun without bogging things down. Many groups prefer this approach, as a 12-suspect game with everyone else in witness roles typically lasts around two hours, even with a bigger crowd.

Have More Questions About Murder Mystery Games for 20-25 Players?

We know every party is unique! If you’re not sure which option is right for your group – or you want to chat through the details – just get in touch. We’re always happy to help you find the perfect murder mystery games for 20–25 players or more, and can even customise scripts to suit your theme, venue, or guest list.