Virtual Murder Mystery Party

Choose a video conferencing software app that you and your guests feel comfortable with.

Possible software choices include:

• Zoom - paid accounts avoid the 40-minute meeting limit
• Skype - group video calling is free for small groups on PCs, tablets and mobiles
• House Party - social networking app that allows up to 8 people to chat *
• Google Duo - preinstalled on Android smartphones; can be used with tablets and computers; up to 12 people
• Google Hangouts - allows up to 10 people to video call *
• Microsoft Teams
• Facebook Messenger - placing calls may use your existing data plan.
• WhatsApp - up to 8 people on a video call *
• Discord - up to 10 people in a direct messaging group *
• Webex - unlimited numbers of people

* The limit on the number of people is not an issue for instances where more than one person is in the same house (and therefore sharing the same call).

The Pre-party Fun and Sleuthing is the virtual version of the optional Initial Mingling round that you can have at the start of one of our face-to-face murder mysteries. In face-to-face parties, this tends to be held as guests arrive and get their drinks. For virtual parties, it can be run the day before the party or an hour or so beforehand.    

This is the one part of our games where all players are not part of the same call.

Players contact each other for short video chats or messages using software of your choice.  For example, if the host sets up multiple Zoom breakout rooms and makes each player a co-host of each room, then players can join and leave rooms as they choose. In Google Hangouts, the host could create multiple Google Hangouts for guests. Some hosts get guests to contact each other via WhatsApp.

Players interact as per the Initial Mingling instructions in their pre-party booklets.  As other characters - naturally - have conflicting instructions, expect backstabbing and hilarity!

This is completely up to you.

One of the beauties of video parties is that the host does not need to provide food.

The game will easily work as a standalone event after a meal. Games can be paused at the end of any round to top-up those all-important drinks or to get snacks.

Alternatively, break mid-party and continue the video chat as you eat. In which case, some themes have an (optional) themed recipe booklet that you could send to guests in advance. We also provide (optional) awards for the best food to encourage your guests to get creative. It is up to you whether you make this award for the best-themed food - or for the most appetising!

Yes, this is definitely recommended. The host needs to send out information and coordinate times beforehand. During the game, however, each guest's party booklet contains clear indications as to what should happen next and so the host can relax and enjoy the time with their guests. See During Tab of the What You As Host Need to Do section above.

This is totally your choice. Your game will run just fine if no-one dresses up or decorates.

That said, if players wish to raid their wardrobes (even order a costume), then this makes it so much more fun. We supply (optional) award certificates for the best costume and best decoration (as well as for the best solution, acting and food).

Each guest's pre-party booklet has a range of costume suggestions tailored to their character.

Likewise, each player can if they wish decorate the space behind them where the camera will focus. We supply a tip sheet of easy decoration ideas for lockdown that you can send to your guests. We also supply a decoration pack containing some theme-appropriate images that you can, if you wish, send out. Apps such as Zoom enable you to sit in front of a blank wall and then to superimpose a themed image on the screen. Free software libraries such as Pixabay, Pexels and Unsplash are a great source of free themed images.

One of the advantages of video parties is that the host is not solely responsible for decorations and everyone can get creative!

You may if you wish print the pre-party and party booklets (1 for each guest) and post them - or you may email them to your guests for them to print. As the game will be played digitally, some guests may choose to view booklets on iPads or other devices. (They should then have a different device for the video chat!)

Note that some guests find it easier to print the clues so that they are not hopping between different tabs during the game.

If Not Viewing Booklets Electronically, Someone (Host or Guest) Must Print:

• Pre-party booklets - 1 sheet A4 (double-sided) or 2 sheets of A4 (single-sided) per player
• Party Booklets - 4 sheets A4 (double-sided) or 8 sheets A4 (sigle-sided) per player
• Clues - 6-10 clues in total

Our murder mystery parties are for 6-14 guests. All guests, even the two minor-optional characters, are fully integrated.

Occasionally, some hosts have chosen to let two guests from the SAME location share a character (and the character's dialogue). We have had positive reviews from customers who have done this but the games are not designed with this in mind.

After agreeing the date with your guests, you:

1 Email or post the pre-party information to your guests (pre-party booklets, invites, optional decoration pack).
2 Email or post the party information to your guests (party booklets, clues, optional duplicate map & accusation sheet).

In addition, you will need to use your virtual app of choice (eg Zoom) to send out an invitation to join the call. On the night, you will have to accept guests into the call.

For the main party, the host just needs to send one invitation per household. Couples, friends or families can sit close together and join the call as a household.

• Note 1: obviously they need to ensure that the camera can see all of them.
• Note 2: in order to read their party booklets and clues, guests will either have to have a printed version or else will have to have one device each. That is, they cannot all read their own booklets from the same device or this will slow the game down too much.

For the - optional - Pre-Party Fun and Sleuthing, the host needs to set up a mechanism so that guests can interact for short video chats/text conversations. (Possible mechanisms are Zoom Breakout rooms, parallel Google Hangouts, WhatsApp chats.) For this, it is better if each character is able to interact individually.

Not everyone is familiar with online conferencing technology software although - sadly, with lockdowns - many of us now are.

If playing with guests who might otherwise struggle, you may wish to save stress at the start of your party, and to help the game itself run smoother, by having a trial "test technology" session in advance. If so, consider using our optional pre-party sleuthing - the Initial "Mingling" sessions - as a fun way of helping guests get used to technology and to learn the themes of the party. Organise a 20-30+ minute call and let everyone join in character and interact as per Initial "Mingling" instructions in their pre-party booklets.

Note: if guests are already familiar with Zoom etc, then it is more fun to use Zoom breakout rooms, parallel Google Hangouts (or equivalent on the software of your choice) so people can "mingle" virtually - and backstab and blackmail in twos and threes!

Simple answer is: that depends. It depends on how many characters you have,  how many ad-libs players make, how quickly players speak, pauses between speakers, the amount of optional dialogue spoken, pauses at the end of rounds etc. 

Excluding food and chatting breaks, and excluding the optional Pre-party Fun and Sleuthing, the main party could take between 1.75 - 2.5 hours (6 - 8 player mystery) or 2.5 - 3.25 hours (12-14 player mystery).

If you are short of time, then you can omit the optional Whodunnit section at the end.

This is no problem. The situation with Covid can change so quickly that we have decided to offer a free At Home mystery to anyone who has already bought the Virtual mystery; and vice-versa. This offer applies if you wish to buy the same game AND have the same number of players. Otherwise see "What Happens if the Number of Guests Change After Purchase?" question above. 

To get a 100% discount voucher for changing to the At Home mystery, please contact us via our contact form.

No. We have redesigned our Party Booklets so that all characters, including the two optional characters, have a set order to speak. Optional characters are now shown in light, grey italics on everyone's booklets. If they are present, everyone can see when they speak; if they are absent, it is easy to skip over them. This makes it easier to follow in larger, online parties. For more details, see our detailed guide on how the murder mystery scripts work.