Which is the best murder mystery game for me?

You’re thinking of hosting a murder mystery for the very first time? Great! It’s really exciting. But what you’re faced with now is a LOT of options and a lot of different possible websites to buy them from and weirdly not really enough information to help you find the right sort of party for you.

If you’ve never hosted a murder mystery before it’s really easy to get lost in the mass of options, but how will you know which is the perfect game for you?

Should you focus on the theme first? Or the number of players? Or should you be looking at price? And what IS the difference between everyone’s games anyway?

If you’re new to hosting – don’t worry! We’ve got you! And hopefully this blog will help you navigate the world of murder mysteries to find something suitable for you!

Picking the right format

It’s important to understand that there are several different formats of murder mystery games out there. Picking the right format for you will ultimately help you have the best and most fun murder mystery experience.  Most companies have most themes and if they don’t have the one you want, many will be able to adjust one or amend one to suit.  So don’t get too distracted by themes and storylines too early.

How you plan to host the game and how familiar your guests are with murder mysteries will determine which game is best for you.  So to avoid time wasting and putting a lot of energy into something that might have been easier done another way, lets talk about finding the right format first.

Key Questions to Ask Before You Start

• Where are you going to host?  At home / at work / in a venue / indoors / outdoors.
• How long do you want the game to take?
• Are you eating and if so is it formal dining or more buffet style?
• Will it be a “mix and mingle”over several rooms, or something more structured in one area?
• How many guests will be attending?
• What is the personality of your guests like? Are they outgoing and familiar with role play? Or total newbies?
• How much time are you willing to dedicate to play?
• Do you want props/fancy dress / scene setting?
• Would you like to add activities/evidence or other things into the mix?
• Do you want your guests to interact with each other, be in teams or be more focused on individual play?
• Do you want to take part too or do you plan to host?
• How much time do you have to prepare the game?

Knowing what you want to do will help you navigate your way through the world of murder mystery games and find the best fit for you.

Whether you opt for a structured dinner party game, an immersive free-form LARP, or a simple card game, understanding your needs is the first step in creating a memorable murder mystery experience.

To find out more about the key formats available to you – check out our next blog on the different formats of murder mystery games available.