There's something about whodunits that thrill everyone. It goes beyond mystery and puzzles to an innate curiosity about murder. Games are a way for fans to put their sleuthing hats on and unravel cases of their own.
Now, websites exist that offer virtual murder mystery games for friends and family to play together. All you need is an internet connection, compatible video conferencing software, and the tools each site provides. Here are some great options for your next online sleuthing party.
Why Are Murder Mystery Games Popular?
Murder mystery games are trending because of a real-life interest in investigations. That's what makes true crime a genre of its own in literature, documentaries, and podcasts.
The digital age also lets people learn a lot more about cases and engage with them. In fact, social media users often help solve crimes by gathering information and even sharing insights with police.
While amateur sleuthing does have its pitfalls, virtual and live murder mystery games are far less dangerous. They're a fun way to play detective with friends without the weight of a real investigation on your shoulders.
1. Teambuilding
Planning an exciting murder mystery over Zoom isn't easy, but Teambuilding does quite a good job with it. Depending on the size of your group, you'll be competing as individuals or teams. Your goal: solve a historical murder.
You have three murders to choose from, involving ancient Egypt, the Queen's court, and a famous Speakeasy. Over an hour and a half, you get the story, suspects, clues, and puzzles, some of which are tough enough to satisfy the brainiacs in your group.
Once you work out the likeliest scenario, your facilitator reveals the winner—if there is one—and what actually happened all those years ago. The educational part is as satisfying as the teamwork and brainteasers.
2. The Murder Mystery Co.
If you want your sleuthing experience to be more interactive, you can’t go wrong with The Murder Mystery Co. It organizes two-hour Zoom events with actors in full costume and carefully planned crimes that incorporate the participants in different roles.
Each event can host eight to 12 people. You don't have to dress up, but it is encouraged if you want a really memorable party. Costume suggestions come with the information each participant receives about their role before the event.
You arrange the time for The Murder Mystery Co. team to commit the "crime" and start the party. The event has three acts, during which participants can move around breakout rooms to discuss clues, solve puzzles, and so on. Expect lots of fun, twists, and extra treats.
3. Outback Virtual Team Building & Training
For a game that's just as immersive but less demanding, try out the Virtual Clue Murder Mystery event by the Outback Virtual Team Building & Training. Aimed at corporate groups, its layout is very straightforward and designed to boost various skills.
Easy access from any device and conferencing software makes it easy for everyone to join in on the fun. Teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail, all come into play as participants dig deeper into the case.
Whether you lead the event yourself or ask for a host, you get a series of 40 to 80 challenges, involving interview videos, case files, tricky clues, and more. This is a virtual murder mystery game that puts you right in the shoes of modern detectives.
4. Night of Mystery
Hosting your own sleuthing party gives you more control and flexibility over the whole event. Websites like Night of Mystery can plan the crime story, clues, and characters. From there, the online platform, dress code, timing, and so on are up to you.
Night of Mystery starts at $45 for six to eight players. There are eight themes to pick from, such as Murder at the Juice Joint, Murder at the Deadwood Saloon, and Ho Ho Homicide.
Once you buy your package, you can download all the materials you need. These will include instructions for you and character information for your guests. The Night of Mystery team offers loads of tips and tries to make each event unique.
5. Ghost Ship Murder Mysteries
This site provides a representative that works with the host to carry out the process, from assigning roles to emailing clues as the story unfolds. Unlike other services, Ghost Ship Murder Mysteries sets its virtual events on a specific social platform: Gather.
Participants are free to move around a virtual map of different rooms, where they can socialize while playing as either a bystander or murderer. The crime and investigation take place over two hours, ending with a vote and a big reveal.
Depending on how many people you're hosting, it can be expensive, typically costing $40 per guest for a private event and $50 for a corporate one. However, it's a reliable service with challenging mysteries well worth the price.
6. Broadway Murder Mysteries
Another service to keep your eye on is Broadway Murder Mysteries. Even though it offers a professional host to take care of everything, you can stick with a DIY setup. Just use a strong app for group conference calls, dress up if you want, and follow the service's simple steps.
You get all the information and materials you need for a whole session, including up to 20 characters. Before the event, a special emailing tool can randomly assign roles and distribute instructions to guests. You decide how much effort should go into playing each character.
The murder mystery game itself involves three rounds of evidence and questioning. What's different about this website is that it's run by Broadway playwrights and actors, so you can expect high-quality plots to keep you happy for hours.
7. Red Herring Games
If you like the idea of just downloading a murder mystery and playing with online friends, Red Herring Games is yet another site worth exploring. There are dozens of stories to fit any group size and taste, from dinner parties and medieval themes to pirates and pop culture.
As usual, the service provides the materials, like character details, tailored invitations, and helpful tips. Beyond that, you're in charge of hosting, which Red Herring Games can advise you on too.
For example, plan breakout rooms on your video software and figure out how to present evidence or narrate different stages in the mystery. Even remotely, you can have a lot of fun playing detective with like-minded people.
8. My Mystery Party
A final favorite among online crime-solvers is My Mystery Party. The DIY layout is the same: you buy a well-rounded themed package, download the files, and use them to organize your murder mystery game on Zoom, Google Hangout, or any other platform.
The difference here is the range of immersive stories available. You’ll find Christmas and Halloween-themed stories alongside fairytale, steampunk, and espionage-related themes. The website's contents are also updated monthly, so you can always look forward to something new and exciting.
Take Your Murder Mystery Games to the Next Level
These websites are a great source of gripping stories to play through. But if you run out of readymade packages or want to try a new approach, you could always create your own virtual murder mystery games. Just combine your passion with smart tools.
Explore what digital technology has to offer, as well as how to make your Zoom parties unique. Between TV, movies, video games, and podcasts, there's no shortage of sleuthing entertainment to give you ideas.
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