What exactly is a murder mystery party?

A murder mystery party is an interactive party where you and your guests witness and try to solve a ficticious murder that occurs at the party.


How are Night of Mystery Games formatted to run?

Prior to the party, each guest will receive a detailed character description (including costuming and acting tips) and background information on the night in question along with their invitation. The guests will arrive at the party in character and are given a set of objectives (to complete at the beginning of the party), a nametag (to identify themselves) and money (to use for bribery, blackmail or any other creative purpose). The objectives given to each of the characters are designed to help the guests mingle with one another and to help divulge more information about possible motives for the murder that is about to occur. (See example objectives below.)

As the lights go off and someone falls down dead, a murder will be committed!

At this time, the guests will receive another envelope with more objectives to complete and secrets to keep. Some envelopes will also contain evidence for the crime and one envelope will contain the secret that that guest is the murderer! (The murderer will find out that they are the murderer at this point.) These objectives will help the guests reveal more information about the murder in question, some evidence and possible motives each character may have.

While trying to maintain their own innocence, each guest will be instructed to conduct their own investigation into the crime using their second set of objectives and the knowledge they have previously gained in order to guide them. One guest, the investigator at the party, will be in charge of officially collecting the evidence and presenting it to the group. (More instructions will be given to this character.)

After ample time has been given for the guests to conclude their own investigation (including reviewing the evidence that is presented by the investigator), each guest can vote on whom the murderer is, the best dressed at the party, and the best actor/actress at the party.

Once all of the votes are collected and tallied, the investigator will have a "solution" to read explaining the murder. Awards will then be given to the guests for the best dressed, best actor/actress, wealthiest player and a super sleuth award will be given to all of the guests who solved the crime by guessing the correct killer.

Or, In Short:

1) Guests arrive at party in character-- each guest receives a detailed character description in their invitation along with some background information on the party.

2) Host reads an introduction to the party-- this explains how the night is to proceed.

3) Guests recieve a prepared envelope with information and objectives-- Guests start migling and verbally sleuthing as they enjoy the party.

4) MURDER OCCURS!!!

5) Investigator reads a short synopsis of how to proceed-- Guests get more info and objectives and continue sleuthing as party continues.

6) Investigator presents evidence-- Guests review evidence before making final accusations.

7) Host hands out accusation sheets-- Guests guess the murderer and vote for best dressed, best acting, etc.

8) Murderer is revealed!-- Investigator reads expanation and host hands out awards.

That's it! No pencils. No scripts. No complicated process. And a "real live murder" at the party! The murder is solved by mingling and sleuthing, allowing everyone to participate fully to the extent that they feel comfortable doing so. This sets the stage for much spontaniety and insures every party is kept lively!

All of our parties come in the form of a professionally designed 50-125 page pdf. Upon processing of your credit card, you will be redirected to a secure part of our site where you will have 2 weeks to download your party file and email invitations for your guests. By having our games online as instant downloads, we are able to satisfy even the most urgent need for a party.

A first time murder mystery host need not worry!
Night of Mystery parties provide you with everything you need to host the party, including a concise host's guide with complete instructions on hosting the party.

A format to increase participation and creativity!
You will find that Night of Mystery parties are very easy to host and although the party format gives clear objectives for the guests to complete, without a pre-scripted party there is a great deal of room for your imagination to take over and expand on the storyline in any way that you or your guests see fit. You will be surprised how much creativity and ingenuity your friends and colleagues will exhibit when you attend a party. From the most elaborate costumes to the conniving schemes they create, you can never overestimate the amount of fun you will have when hosting or attending one of these parties.

Examples of Objectives:
* Assure anyone who asks that  you will make sure that a cheater does not win.

* When anyone asks for you to pay your debt to them, tell them that you are without funds and that you will need to borrow money from one of your colleagues before you can repay them.

* Ask XXXXX when you should expect a marriage proposal.

* Tell XXXXX that it would be best for him to stay away from XXXXX --he doesn't need a gold-digging woman like her in his life.

* Admit to anyone who asks that your life has been made easier now that XXXXX is dead.