Murder mystery game publishers
There are a number of murder mystery game publishers on the Internet. Here's a quick overview of some of my favourites.
A quick note - I talk about different types of murder mystery party games below - such as "interactive" or "interviewing suspects" or "turn-based." Hopefully the terms are reasonably obvious, but if not I've written an article here explaining it all in greater depth.
Freeform Games
I've started with Freeform Games for several reasons - but probably the main one is that I'm a founding partner. (So that's the disclaimer out of the way!)
Freeform Games publish interactive murder mystery games - and by interactive I mean game where everyone has their own unique character and at the start of the party they get their background along with goals and objectives. It's then up to your guests to decide how to solve the murder (or achieve whatever other objectives they have been given).
The Freeform Games murder mysteries are always much more than a simple murder mystery. There are lots of other plots and you might need to blackmail someone or even produce a movie. Some of their games include simple rules for attacking other characters - so there's not always a guarantee that a character will last the party!
Click here to learn more about Freeform Games and their murder mystery parties.
Murder Mystery Games Ltd
When I first started marketing murder mystery parties Murder Mystery Games Ltd were the first company I got involved in. They have been selling downloadable murder mysteries for a long time, and have a good track record.
Their larger games are fully interactive (like the ones from Freeform Games) and cater for up to 200 guests! (The have a couple of smaller turn-based games as well.) As a host, if you're careful, you can also play the game (although I never do that - if I'm running a game I like to know who the murderer is).
Click here to learn more about Murder Mystery Games Ltd and their murder mystery parties.
Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games
Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games also publish interactive murder mystery games, and their games cater for 10 to 50 guests. For an additional premium you can order boxed versions of their murder mystery games.
Click here to learn more about Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games and their murder mystery games.
Mysteries
on the Net
Mysteries on the Net publish what I call "interviewing suspects" style murder mystery parties. These require 6 or more key characters with very detailed backgrounds. Everyone else plays a detective (usually in teams) and the detectives interview the suspects and try and solve the murder or mystery.
It's very easy to add more detectives and so these games are very flexible in size. Mysteries on the Net also have a lot of games suitable for children.
Click here to
learn more about Mysteries
on the Net and their murder mystery party games.
Merri Mysteries
Merri Mysteries have more than 25 turn-based murder mystery games kits, some of which cater for up to 100 guests. The call their larger kits "meet and mingle" kits - crime scene reports and the like are read out to everyone and then everyone mingles and shares their clues and tries to solve the mystery.
Click here to learn more about Merri Mysteries and their murder mystery parties.
Mystery Writers Ltd
Mystery Writers Ltd are a British writing team that have been writing murder mystery games since 1999 and have sold thousands of games. Their games are primarily "turn-based" murder mystery games for 8-14 guests.
Click here to learn more about Mystery Writers Ltd and their murder mystery games.
Host-Party.com
Host-Party.com offers "turn-based" murder mystery parties and "interviewing suspects" (they call these "scripted" parties). The have dozens of different games, and their games are uniquely customizable as you can customize guest names and pictures.
Click here to learn more about Host-party.com.
Peaky Games
Peaky Games don't really write murder mystery games (although their games do often feature someone who has died. However, if you've enjoyed the interactive games (in the style of Freeform Games) and fancy something slightly more challenging then you might want to try Peaky Games.
Peaky Games is a non-profit organisation - and I'm a member (so you can ask me questions). Their games really aren't family friendly though...
Click here to learn more about Peaky Games.