a Dead Man's Chest

A Dead Man's Chest is a pirate-themed murder mystery party for 12-16 guests (plus one host) published by Freeform Games.

(Note that if you click on the link below and then buy A Dead Man's Chest I will earn a small amount of commission.)

the story

Set in 18th century Caribbean, A Dead Man's Chest takes place on the sleepy island of Santa Oloroso as rival pirate crews race to discover the location of Captain Flint's treasure - and uncover his murderer.

how a dead man's chest works

Cover for A Dead Man's Chest murder mystery game.

A Dead Man's Chest is an interactive murder mystery game. In an interactive game each guest has a full character with backstory, objectives and a list of people that they know.

They also have item cards (to represent all sorts of things - from pearls, to pirate cutlasses and of course Captain Flint's treasure) and Ability cards (that let them detect secrets find out information about other people).

A Dead Man's Chest has lots of different plots to keep everyone busy. For example, there is the Governor's daughter to rescue, negotiations with the locals, placating the volcano god - and of course a murder to solve and Captain Flint's treasure to find.

In my opinion, once you've played an interactive murder mystery game you won't want to try any other!

stories

But don't just take my word for it!

Here are some customer stories about A Dead Man's Chest.

Playing A Dead Man's Chest murder mystery game.

"We ran A Dead Man's Chest game on New Years Eve in Hull for a group of my former uni (Newcastle) mates, partners, family and friends. It went really well and was enjoyed by all. Among those taking part were three complete newbies and a good number of people who were just used to 'conventional' murder mystery games. The latter even said that they preferred this type of game." Nick Davison, Rochester, UK

And here's more great feedback.

the cast

The cast of A Dead Man's Chest includes:

  • Pirates (lots of pirates!)
  • The crew of the Fury (who are pirates)
  • The crew of the Scurvy Knave (who are also pirates)
  • The Governor of Jamaica and his glamorous daughter
  • A steadfast Royal Navy captain
  • The local Indian chief, his daughter and the shaman
  • An Spanish nobleman and his valet
  • And a marooned former pirate - now as mad as a brush.

the details

Instead of a formal dinner party, A Dead Man's Chest is better suited to a buffet meal or finger food.

Everyone needs to be able to talk quietly with each other - to plot and scheme and achieve their goals.

A Dead Man's Chest needs a dedicated host, someone to organise the game.

I really enjoy 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 a dead man's chest

Click here to purchase A Dead Man's Chest  from Freeform Games.

You will be taken to the Freeform Games LLP website - follow the instructions to purchase A Dead Man's Chest.

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 A Dead Man's Chest.)

Cover for A Dead Man's Chest pirate murder mystery game.

Does A Dead Man's Chest have 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 A Dead Man's Chest then let them know within 30 days and they will refund you.

What age is A Dead Man's Chest suitable for?

Freeform Games recommends A Dead Man's Chest is suitable for anyone over the age of 12. There's some reading involved, so it may not be appropriate for younger kids.

How long does A Dead Man's Chest take to play?

I would allow 3-4 hours to play A Dead Man's Chest. 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 A Dead Man's Chest 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 12 guests and no more than 16.

If you have fewer than 12 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 16 guests you will need to create your own, or use one of the free extra characters provided by Freeform Games when you download A Dead Man's Chest.

Can I host A Dead Man's Chest and also play a character?

The host has an important role in A Dead Man's Chest. 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 A Dead Man's Chest  from Freeform Games.

New game

Cover for The Show Must Go On

The Show Must Go On! - an English amateur dramatics themed themed murder mystery for 9-13 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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