Top tips for a murder mystery party

Hosting a murder mystery party?

These are my top tips, the keys to hosting a successful murder mystery party.

Top Tips for a murder mystery party

Then look no further - here you'll find all sorts of tips to help your party go as smoothly as possible.

I've written these with hosting the interactive games in mind, but many of them are also relevant to the other types of murder mystery party.

If you've got some party tips of your own - or you want me to talk about something that I haven't already covered, please get in touch.

key tips

These are the most important tips. If you don't read any other tips on this site, read these!

How to host a murder mystery party: The general overview of how to plan your murder mystery party, including when to buy the game, when to invite guests and planning the food.

Online murder mystery parties: Tips for hosting a murder mystery online, using video chat such as Zoom or Discord.

Finding the perfect venue: Tips for choosing a great venue for your murder mystery party.

Creating a memorable atmosphere: ideas for creating a memorable murder mystery party atmosphere.

Casting your murder mystery: How and when to decide who gets to play which character.

Introducing your murder mystery party: How to introduce your party so that it starts with a bang instead of a fizzle.

Alcohol and murder mystery games - do they mix?: Should you serve alcohol at your murder mystery party? This is my view.

Prizes: Prizes are a great way of finishing off a murder mystery party.

When guests don't turn up: What do you do when a guests doesn't turn up for a game?

I’m Steve Hatherley, an experienced designer of interactive murder mystery games, creating and hosting them since the 1990s. I co-founded Freeform Games and Great Murder Mystery Games to bring this distinctive, character-driven style of game to a wider audience. My work—including Death on the Gambia, Hollywood Lies, and
—has been enjoyed by thousands of players worldwide. I’ve also written a book sharing my approach to creating immersive, freeform mystery experiences.