Murder at Sea

Murder at Sea is for 17 to 33 players (plus one host) and is set at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. 

(Note that if you click on the link below and then buy Murder at Sea I will earn a small amount of commission.)

A couple playing Murder at SeaFirst class passengers in Murder at Sea

The story

An American cruise liner, the Libertania, is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean when its Captain is murdered...

The guests, playing the parts of crew and passengers, must uncover the murderer before the Libertania arrives in port.

how murder at sea works

In Murder at Sea everyone has a complete character with background, friends and objectives.

Each guest decides how he or she will approach the murder - and the murderer must try to avoid detection.

At the start of Murder at Sea, the Captain of the Libertania is murdered in front of the other characters. (Don't worry - the player who acts out the role has another character to play. He isn't left for dead while everyone else has a good time!)

The passengers and crew must then try and solve the murderer - but that's not all.

In addition, most characters have other goals and objectives. In Murder at Sea, for example, the acting Captain must take charge, the stewards must carry out their duties and the passengers must decide how to react to the news of impending war.

(Personally, I think interactive murder mystery games are the most satisfying - there's simply so much going on!)

The cast

The cast of Murder at Sea includes:

  • The crew of the Libertainia - its senior officers, stewards and stewardesses.
  • Important diplomats from America, Germany, Britain and other countries on the brink of war.
  • Spies and secret agents.
  • Smugglers, thieves and murderers.
  • The rich and the famous - and the not-so-rich and not-so-famous.
  • Journalists and reporters.
  • and many more.

The details

Instead of a formal dinner party, Murder at Sea is better suited to a buffet meal or finger food.

Everyone needs to be able to talk quietly with each other - the officers may need to discuss what to do with the Libertania and diplomats may want to hold secret discussions about the war.

Murder at Sea needs a host, someone to organize the game.

They will read the entire game and will be available to answer questions.

It's a lot of fun being the host - you know what's going on and can watch your friends scheme and plot and be devious to one another.

how to get Murder at Sea

Click here to purchase Murder at Sea from Freeform Games.

You will be taken to the Freeform Games LLP website - follow the instructions to purchase Murder at Sea.

Just download the game, print it out and have a great murder mystery!

Disclosure: I am a partner at Freeform Games - feel free to ask me lots of questions! (I will also earn commission if you buy Murder at Sea.)

Cover for the Murder at Sea murder mystery game.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does Murder at Sea come with a money-back guarantee?

Yes!

Freeform Games offer a cast-iron guarantee on all their murder mystery games. If you're not completely satisfied with Murder at Sea then let them know within 30 days and they will refund you.

What age is Murder at Sea suitable for?

Freeform Games recommends Murder at Sea is suitable for those aged 15+ as it contains minor references to infidelity, and one character is the illegitimate child of two of the others.

How long does Murder at Sea take to play?

I would allow 3-4 hours to play Murder at Sea. While the game itself takes 2.5-3 hours to play, I recommend allowing time to introduce the game and wind down after.

Where's my download?

Shortly after buying Murder at Sea you should receive an email from Freeform Games explaining how to download the game files.

If you haven't received this, please first check your spam filter - sometimes the emails end up there.

If that fails, please get in touch directly with Freeform Games - with the details of which game you bought, when you bought it, and which email address you used. Or contact me (with that same information) and I'll get in touch for you.

How many guests will I need?

You need at least 17 guests and no more than 33.

If you have fewer than 17 guests you will have to drop a character (which may affect the plot), or play a character yourself (not ideal, but I talk about it here), or even ask a guest to play two characters at once.

If you have more than 33 guests you will need to create your own, or use one of the free extra characters provided by Freeform Games when you download Murder at Sea.

Can I host Murder at Sea and also play a character?

The host has an important role in Murder at Sea. The organize and coordinate the party. They also act as an impartial "referee" - so it's important that they have read the game and understand what is going on.

So I recommend not playing a character and hosting the game. 

But if you still want to host a game and play a character (or you have to because a player cannot attend), I have advice on doing that here.

Click here to purchase Murder at Sea from Freeform Games.

Comments

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A Purrfect Murder - a cat-themed murder mystery for 9-12 guests.

Don't know where to start?

Here's my suggested quick route through the site:

Step 1 - Go to Choosing a Game to choose the game that suits your party best.

Step 2 - Review the Tips for Hosts for helpful advice.

Step 3 - If you want to keep up to date with the latest murder mystery game news, click on my What's New page.

Step 4 - Once you've had your party - tell me how it went! Click here to tell me your murder mystery party story.

Got a question? Click here to go to the FAQ.

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