From true crime podcasts to detective novels to police procedurals, murder mysteries have captured the imaginations of people across all walks of life. After all, a good murder mystery story has everything: intriguing characters, unexpected twists and turns, a puzzle to solve, and an air of tension and danger.

Murder mystery parties capture the excitement and drama of a murder investigation in the safety of a fun and festive atmosphere. Here’s what to expect at your first murder mystery party!

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What is a Murder Mystery Party?

If a friend has invited you to a murder mystery party and you’ve never experienced one before, you likely have a lot of questions. First: What is a murder mystery party?

A murder mystery party is a theme party (sometimes a dinner party) centered around a role playing game where the guests act as participants in a murder investigation. At a murder mystery party, you can expect an evening filled with immersive storytelling, character interactions, and a suspenseful atmosphere as you work together to solve the mystery.

Depending on the game, guests typically step into the roles of characters such as suspects, victims, and even the murderer! The story and immersive experience become central to the event, drawing everyone into the narrative and making the evening truly memorable. Given a scenario, evidence, and the chance to engage with one another to uncover motives and clues, guests will attempt to unravel the mystery and catch the killer among them.

These parties often take place in the evening, creating the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable experience. Many hosts opt for a murder mystery dinner party, a classic scenario from detective novels that also gives guests a chance to sit down for a nice meal.

These parties have a lot to offer longtime murder mystery enthusiasts and newbies alike. While uncovering evidence and solving the case is thrilling, it’s also a great chance to get to know your fellow guests and grow your friendships in a fun role playing environment. Whether you’re meeting the other guests for the first time or finding a new way to enjoy game night with old friends, murder mystery party games make it easy to connect!

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Attending a Murder Mystery Party as a Guest

So what happens at a murder mystery party? As a guest, you should receive helpful instructions and information from your host about what is expected of you, including dress code/costumes, any props needed for your character, and possibly a brief overview of the scenario you will be role playing. You may also be told how many guests will be attending the party. In addition, you will likely receive character information, such as motives and background stories, to help you prepare for your role. The host will assign roles to each guest, either based on personalities or by allowing guests to choose their own roles.

If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask the host beforehand! Murder mystery parties should be fun, relaxed, and enjoyable for everyone, so be sure to voice any questions you might have. You never know – the other guests might be wondering the same thing.

While your host is usually the best source of information, here are some tips to get you started.

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What to Wear to a Murder Mystery Party

Check your invitation for a dress code or costume requirement. Many murder mystery parties have a theme or are set in a specific place and time period (think 1920s speakeasy or modern masquerade ball), which can help you decide what to wear. If you’ve been given information about your character’s background, appearance, or personality, that may provide inspiration for your costume choices. Understanding your character's background is important for staying in role, and dressing the part can enhance the immersive experience for everyone.

Dress to impress with a themed outfit created from thrift store finds, costume shop sales, or crafty DIY elements. You and your fellow guests can discuss where to find on-theme costume pieces in a party group chat, or try co-creating a Pinterest board with inspo for the evening.

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What to Bring to a Murder Mystery Party

Unless your host specifically asks you to bring props, a dish to share, or other party paraphernalia, you likely only need to bring yourself! Some parties may offer light refreshments, while murder mystery dinner parties may feature a sit-down dinner, so it's a good idea to check with the host in advance about what to expect regarding food and drinks. Depending on the type of murder mystery game, you should be sure to have a fully charged phone (particularly for app-based games like StoryPop).

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How to Role Play at a Murder Mystery Party

If you have never participated in a social role playing game before, it’s natural to be nervous. You may worry about getting into character or knowing what to say in conversations. But don’t fret! Not only is it easier than you think, the point isn’t to win an Oscar — it’s to have fun. That said, don't be afraid to ham it up a little. When guests immerse themselves in the experience by staying in character as they interact with others, it makes the event more exciting and authentic. You and your fellow party guests will likely share some laughs as you portray quirky and intriguing characters. So relax, enjoy, and get ready to make some memories!

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How to Solve the Murder Mystery

While different murder mystery games have different structures and rules, a few core principles remain the same. If you’ve ever watched a crime show on TV, you probably already know what to do! Detective work is a key part of the experience, involving investigation, problem-solving, and collaboration (or competition) among guests. Here are some objectives you’ll likely want to pursue:

• Talk to all the suspects (and possibly the detective or investigator). Listen for any inconsistencies between statements, evasive answers, or possible motives. You may also learn secrets or important information by eavesdropping on other conversations!
• Examine the crime scene. You may encounter a prop murder weapon, a “body,” or other clues that will help you determine what happened.
• Pay attention to the game. Whether you’re using an app like StoryPop, a boxed party kit, or some other game format, you will likely be given hints, objectives, or guiding questions by the game itself.
• Piece together the clues. Take notes, think through the possibilities, discuss your theories with allies, and get ready to accuse the culprit. Use everything you’ve gathered to solve the mystery!

Red herrings and unexpected twists are often included to keep the investigation challenging and exciting, making it harder to distinguish real clues from distractions. There’s a special satisfaction in being able to correctly guess the murderer's identity at the end of the night!

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After the Murder is Solved

Once you and your fellow guests have solved the mystery and completed the game, it’s time to celebrate your success! The big reveal, when the true culprit is unmasked and the mystery is finally solved, is always a dramatic and exciting highlight of the evening. Now that you can set aside your character role and be yourself, take some time to discuss the game with your fellow guests, sharing your favorite moments and revealing any interesting clues or motives that weren’t uncovered. Have some refreshments and enjoy the party atmosphere!

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Hosting a Murder Mystery Party

We hope you enjoyed your first murder mystery game! Murder mystery parties are memorable events that guests will talk about long after the night is over.

Keep the fun going by hosting a murder mystery party of your own. Maybe you have some great ideas about how to make the atmosphere even more fun and exciting for participants, or you want to take the classic murder mystery dinner party to the next level with themed food and drinks. As the host, you’ll get to choose the game, set the guest list, assign characters, decide the menu, decorate the venue, and more!

For tips on having your own murder mystery party, check out our Ultimate Guide on How to Host a Murder Mystery Game.

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Murder Mystery Party Games from StoryPop

You and your friends can jump into murder mystery games easily with the StoryPop app! Most people, even those new to murder mystery parties, can easily participate and have fun with StoryPop games.

With StoryPop, you can choose from a variety of game scenarios that your guests will love, from a murder mystery dinner party in 1960s Manhattan to a deadly evening on a futuristic cyberpunk zeppelin! You also have everything you need for an immersive experience, right at your fingertips: costume ideas, décor inspo, food and drink recipes, and more.

The perfect murder mystery party game awaits — browse online here or download the StoryPop app to get started.