One question we frequently get asked about our murder mystery games is whether the host can play. We wrote our first game for our Mother who was always the host and always knew who the killer was before the game began, so we pride ourselves on the fact that in each of our games, the host can absolutely play.
Read on to discover the different types of game, and how you can avoid spoilers for yourself. Just you, your guests, and the mystery of whodunit…
Our evidence based games
The first thing you have to do with our mysteries is to check the format. We have two different types of game, and while the host can play either type, they are very different and there are different steps you have to take to avoid discovering the killer ahead of time. With our collection of evidence based 10-20 player mingling murder mysteries, there is only one solution and one killer.
For these games, it is essential that you don’t open the file labelled ‘Guilty Declaration’. This is the only place where the killer is revealed unless you manage to work it out yourself from the evidence and character answers.
Our fully scripted games
For our fully scripted games that suit a variety of group sizes and styles including all female games, groups as small as 4, and as big as 15, each character could be the killer. They all have their own means, motive, and opportunity for being the murderer, with innocent and guilty answers to read depending on if they are innocent or not.
The best way to determine this without spoiling it for you as the host is to cut up the innocent and guilty slips included in your files. You can then place them in a hat or bowl and have your guests pick out a slip one by one so that only the killer will know who they are.
Avoiding spoilers
It can be really exciting when you first receive your murder mystery game, and the urge to look through the materials can be overwhelming. But if you want to keep the ending a mystery, don’t look at everything! You can still read through the host guide, the extras, and the character overview, but don’t look through the character booklets.
If you are playing the 10-20 player evidence based format, you might see secrets that will be important later. Likewise in the fully scripted games, you might remember an ‘if guilty’ answer which you hear when you play the game properly.
But…spoil it if you want!
Some hosts want to know who the killer is, to choose which of their friends or family will be the killer and to allocate the role to them. With our fully scripted games it is simple enough. For instance, if you want Tallulah Taylor the show girl in our 1920s speakeasy mystery to be played by the birthday girl and you want her to be the killer, just tell her she is guilty.
For our 10-20 player games it is a little tougher as there is only one possible killer. In that case, you have to look at the guilty declaration to see who the killer is, and then you can allocate that character as you wish. You can even let them know they are the murderer if you want, it really is up to you.
You are the host, play it your way!
In the end as our treasured host, we want you to have the best time possible. You are the one buying the game, getting set up, providing snacks, and so you are the most important person to us! If you have any questions at all about how to play, or about anything else, check the host guide, look at our blog, and don’t hesitate to contact us directly whenever you want.