How to play a murder mystery
Never played one? Walk through a whole night in five minutes, using Murder at the Speakeasy. No spoilers.
One of you did it. Only they know.
Everyone plays a suspect at the same party. Over three rounds the evidence comes out, secrets spill and alibis crack. Then you all accuse someone, and the murderer confesses.
Nobody needs to learn lines or know how it ends, not even the host. Your character's booklet tells you what to say and when.
How many of you are playing?
How are you running it?
The printed kit: sealed envelopes, name tags and evidence cards. This guide now follows that version.
Everyone uses their own phone and there is nothing to print. This guide now follows that version. Play online is on selected kits, under Format on the product page.
Cast your party
A kit has eight suspects, but it stretches from 6 guests to 12. Slide to your guest list.
Tap any suspect to open a sample of their private booklet.
Get ready
Two weeks is plenty of time. One week works too. Tick things off as you go: this page remembers on this device.
Try it. These two phones work the way the real game does. Tap the gold button on whichever phone is lit up.
Set the scene
The night, stage by stage
About three hours from first drink to final confession. Set your start time and tap through the running order.
Four rules. That's the lot.
- Stay in character all night.
- If someone asks you a direct question, tell the truth. Only the murderer may lie.
- You don't have to share a secret until your booklet tells you to. You may refuse to answer or change the subject, but never say anything untrue.
- Never show your booklet to anyone.
Now solve one
Rosa's cheesecake has vanished from the Blue Canary's kitchen. Open each round, question the suspects, catch the lie and make your accusation. We wrote this warm-up for this page. It isn't in the kit, and it tells you nothing about who killed Leo.
How the real night is scored
The highest score wins Super Sleuth. Scoring is optional on paper. On phones the app adds it up, you tick off your own method and motive honestly, and the murderer scores a point for every player they fooled, up to 5.
The other awards are for everything else that makes the night. These six come with the Speakeasy kit.
Just the two of you?
Crack the Case is the same kind of mystery for one or two detectives. No party, no costumes, about an hour. Two people can play from different homes on a video call.
- Read the file. The victim, the scene and what each of the eight suspects told the police.
- Play three rounds. Read the new evidence, then question the suspects. Once you open a new round, you can't go back and ask the earlier round's questions.
- Get your answers. On paper each question sends you to a numbered answer at the back of the file: read only that one. Online the answer goes to the other player's phone and they act it out.
- Accuse, then score. Points for the murderer, the method, the motive, the lie and your best clue. The best possible score is 28.
You get 15 questions for the whole case
Tap to spend them. Each one you don't need is worth a point, up to 5, if you name the murderer and prove the lie.
Stuck? There are three hints, and each one costs 2 points.
Questions hosts ask
Does the host need to know who did it?
No, and it's better if you don't. Only the murderer knows, and only because their booklet tells them. On paper the solution stays sealed until everyone has accused someone.
Can the host play too?
Yes. On paper, just don't read anyone else's booklet, the evidence or the solution first. On phones, let the app host and you can play a character like everyone else.
Someone cancels on the night. Now what?
Down to 7 or 6 guests? Leave out Dutch and/or Rosa, and read their stand-in statements aloud at the start of Round 1 and their Round 3 parts at the start of Round 3. The other six characters are needed, so give those parts to whoever is there.
Do guests have to dress up?
No, but it's half the fun. Each character comes with a costume tip, and there is an award for the best one.
Can we play if we're not in the same room?
Yes, on phones. Start a group video call and choose “On a video call”, so the narrator plays on every phone.
Do my guests need an app or a code?
No. They open your link, type a name and they're in. If a phone locks or someone closes the page, they open the link again and carry on where they were. Your room stays open for 7 days after the last activity.
Is every kit available to play online?
Not every kit. Every kit comes as a PDF or printed, and Play online is on selected kits and every Crack the Case. Look under Format on the product page.
Is it suitable for teenagers?
Murder at the Speakeasy is 14+, with lemonade in the teacups for anyone under 18. Murder at the Burlesque and Murder at the Final Whistle are 18+. Each product page shows the age.
Can we play the same mystery twice?
Not with the same people, because once you know who did it the case is closed. You can run it again for a different group, or pick another mystery.
Something isn't working. Who do I ask?
Email hello@theoccasionalstore.co.za and we'll help.
Pick your murder
A 1926 gin joint is only one way to go. There's a braai, a séance, a roller disco and more.