The 5 Best Murder Mystery Games for Beginners

New to murder mystery games? You’re in the right place! If you’re looking for murder mystery games for beginners, Red Herring Games has you covered. We know jumping into your first whodunnit can feel a bit daunting – so we’ve rounded up our most popular and beginner-friendly games to help you get started with confidence.

Check out our 5 top titles that are easy to set up, work brilliantly for first-timers, and are proven crowd-pleasers. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, a family gathering, or a virtual get-together, these games make sure everyone has a great time, even if you’ve never played before.

5 Top Murder Mystery Games for Beginners:

1. Murder at Merkister Hall

Murder at Merkister Hall is our all-time bestseller and a perfect introduction to murder mystery games for beginners! With a traditional setting, easily recognisable characters for dressing up, and a classic vibe, it’s a hit for groups of all sizes. No acting experience needed – just bring your sense of fun.  It’s great for all ages, and the plot lines are clean enough for young ears.  The ease of adding in additional roles for under 10s as nieces and nephews, or indeed as the family dog; not to mention our ability to customise the house name to order – makes it an ideal choice for those big family reunions.

2. Gangsters, Guns and Garters

Step back into the roaring 1920s with this lively, light-hearted game – Gangsters, Guns and Garters. It’s packed with humour and over-the-top characters, making it ideal for beginners who want a bit of drama without too much pressure.  It’s heading into more mature territory with the plot, but still clean enough for younger ears.  The big bonus with this one is again the easy of decoration and fancy dress.  Throw on a fedora and braces, or a feather boa and fascinator and that’s all you need.

3. Murder at Gatsby Manor (Gender Neutral)

Murder at Gatsby Manor is new out and already hitting best seller status, this was created following customer demand for something more flexible but with the Gatsby vibe.  Everyone knows how to dress for a Gatsby party, and this one is a classic.  The plot is engaging, fun, slightly racy, but not too complex and certainly not rude.  With the sheer volume of Gatsby ideas out there for scene setting and decoration it’s easy for newbies to gather props and create the right vibe in the house, and you can guarantee the guests will turn up looking glamorous and won’t be calling you for ideas.  The biggest bonus with this game though – is the fact you can invite ANYONE in ANY role.  The entire character list is gender neutral so if you have an uneven gender split – you’re still good to go!

4. Murder on the Disorientated Express

Murder on The Disorientated Express is a classic train-themed mystery that’s easy to follow and fun to play making it one of our best murder mystery games for beginners. The setting is familiar, the characters are fun to play, and the game works well for mixed adult groups.  The plot lines are more mature than some of our others, so we don’t recommend this one for kids – but it’s a classic whodunnit, and finding train themed memorabilia and classic 1930s style makes decorating the room easy.  When we played it – we created full size train station signage on wallpaper.  Some hosts have adjusted their seating to create the stereotypical train carriage look.  Sound effects of steam engines are easy to locate to create atmosphere and you can even get that classic look of scenery flashing past while you play.  All Aboard!!

5. You Only Die Once

If your group loves a bit of spy drama, You Only Die Once is a fantastic starting point. It’s full of intrigue but keeps things light and accessible – great for anyone new to the genre.  James Bond spans the generations and Tuxs and cocktail dresses are easy to locate in the wardrobe!  Built for mixed age ranges, it’s a fun modern theme, one of our perfect murder mystery games for beginners and always in our top 10 month to month.

Ready to Play one of Our Murder Mystery Games for Beginners?

You can find all these murder mystery games for beginners (and loads more) on our website. Still not sure which one to pick? Drop us a line on +44 (0)2030 112 215 we’re always happy to help you choose the perfect fit!