There are various plots to a murder mystery game. You can, for instance, invite some actor friends to play the suspects – then it’s up to the guests to do some sleuthing and catch the killer. Another option is for the guests to put on the cloak and dagger themselves.

Also, decide on how many murders you can take: stick to one opening murder or else have multiple guests murdered throughout the game. As for the plot, you can download or buy a murder mystery game or invent one yourself.

Costume drama

A murder mystery game is all about the details. The more you invest in props, the more thrills will be had.

Start preparing for the game from days before. Send out the invites and then, every few days, send out teasing information about the theme and the plot. You can also ask your guests to come in costume – there’s nothing more thrilling than an Agatha Christie-themed game. Set appropriate background music. Some candles always add a bit of spook.

You can also theme your food according to the murder mystery game. So if the inspiration is Scandi noir, then go for a spread of gravlax, Swedish meatballs and cinnamon buns. If you want to treat your guests to a memorable dinner, take inspiration from Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano series. The Sicilian detective is fond of his aubergine parmigiana, caponata, caciocavallo and pasta with sausage. Food to kill for.

The plot thickens

First of all, you need a plot which is believable, interesting and a bit scary. Build up the characters and give each character their own story. Each story should fit in with the clues. You can also draw inspiration from your favourite crime writers. The murder mystery game could be a period one or based on thrillers by your favourite author.

Divide the story into scenes. To add to the layers, you can assign a room to every scene. For instance, the murder can happen in the dining room and the clues will lead to one of the bedrooms, where the killer will be cornered and forced to confess.

To make the murder mystery game more interesting, ask your guests to assume a character and to send you information about the character: a dark past, a passion they cannot control, a relationship with another guest. Build this information into the plot – remember that the more twists and turns a plot has, the more fun will be had.

Clued up

Clues are an essential element in a murder mystery game. However, stick to the plot – don’t just throw clues around for the sake of it as this will only serve to confuse the guests.

The pacing of clues has to be clinical and clues should not be too vague or too obvious. Also, place the clues where guests will find them. Otherwise, you will not get away with murder.