Murdery Mystery Party Ideas

The term "murder mystery party" is well known these days, even if you don't know exactly what goes on at one. And even if you've been to one, you probably don't know what goes on at different types of murder mystery parties.

In all murder mystery parties you take on the role of a character in a murder mystery. You may be the killer, the detective, or the upstairs maid. All the characters have secrets and information.

Limited knowledge games are those where you are given envelopes to open at certain times during the evening. Each envelope gives you a little more information about what your character knows. In this sort of game, you may be the murderer and not know it until the last envelope is opened! The focus here is on everyone getting a chance to solve the mystery.

Full knowledge games are those where you know everything your character knows up front. So if you are the murderer, you start out knowing that. The focus here is on having fun playing your role and accomplishing the goals set forth for your character.

I far prefer the full knowledge games myself, but will talk more about both types.

The How To Host A Murder games are the best known of the murder mystery games. These are limited knowledge games, and most suitable for someone who wants to try a murder mystery party, but isn't sure they'll know what to do.

Everything is fairly structured in these games, with envelopes you open after each round of questioning. You're limited in what you can tell other people based on what's in your envelope.

While the clues in each round point to who the murderer is, you won't know for sure if it's you until the last envelope is opened! This allows you to participate in the mystery solving process even if you're the murderer.

These games are typically played sitting around a table while eating, or just after eating. Like all murder mystery games, they can take place in any time period.

The term "freeform games" refers to both a style of murder mystery games and to a specific company that publishes games in that style.

In a freeform game, you are given full knowledge of what your character knows, including whether you're the murderer or not.

Each character also has specific goals. Some characters will have the goal of solving the murder, while others will have more important tasks (at least, more important to themselves).

Within the rules of the game, you're free to lie, cheat, steal, and generally do whatever you need to do to accomplish your goals.

These sorts of games are played while mingling at a party. The food involved is usually finger food that people can put on plates while they mingle. Talking to other characters is your only way to get the information you'll need to accomplish your goals.

Generally you have abilities of some sort. For example, your character may be able to pick pockets. Each game uses different rules, but a common technique is that you must spend a few minutes talking to a person before you can pick their pocket. Once you've spent the time, go to the host and tell them whose pocket you picked.

Other abilities may include the ability to trick other characters into revealing their secrets. Again, you talk to a person for a given amount of time, and then reveal your ability. They must then reveal their secret.

Freeform games are a bit like improvisational acting, but only if the acting is primarily making smalltalk while pretending you're someone else. Everyone else is doing the same thing, so no one person is under the spotlight.

A common apprehension about freeform games is being afraid that you can't pretend to be someone else. I've seen the shyest people do well and have a blast playing freeform games, so I know from experience that it's possible if you give yourself a chance.

I far prefer freeform games to limited knowledge games for the freedom they offer. People generally have fun at the limited knowledge games I've run, but always rave about the freeform games afterward.

If you enjoyed this lens, you might also enjoy Who Is Jay Shaffstall?, my lens about myself, which also contains links to other lenses and blogs I've written.