Host a virtual murder mystery party and have heaps of fun with family and friends. Video chat is ideal for the Corona lockdown - or just for connecting with those who live some distance away.
Our video murder mystery parties are easy to host, lots of fun and suitable for 6-14 players.
Host your virtual murder mystery party via video chat using Zoom, Skype or your software of choice.
Our parties work well in a virtual format. All guests join together on a single call; no break-out rooms are required for the main party.
Games have been designed to be super-easy to run so that the host can play a character and relax and enjoy the mystery alongside their guests.
Before purchase, we strongly suggest that you check the availability of friends and family.
After Purchase
Allocate guests to characters. (Guidance is given in the Host Instructions booklet.)
Agree whether you will all eat (in your own homes) before the party or during one of the game breaks.
Agree whether or not you will play the Initial “Mingling” remote-style. If so, agree time for “Mingling” and time when party-proper will begin.
Coordinate login details and time for video chat (including Initial “Mingling” if relevant) using software of choice. If the software permits, it is helpful if each guest logs in with their character name rather than their personal name so character names are displayed.
A few days or weeks before the party, email or post the pre-party information to guests. We supply editable invitations (in Microsoft Word) and short pre-party booklets tailored for each character. We also supply an - optional - decoration pack, recipe booklet, menu cards and place cards.
Decide on your own costume, decorations and food (if any).
A few days before, or the day of, the party - email or post the party booklets and clues (if any) to guests. Each character has their own folder with the booklets and clues (if any) in it so it is obvious who receives what.
Test the audio Introduction.
Your main task is to ensure everyone is added to the video chat and that guests all have their party booklets and clues (if any) ready. Also, keep a little eye on your watch - if you chat for 30 minutes at the end of every round, time can soon add up.
After that, relax and enjoy yourself as this is one murder mystery game that is so easy to run that the host can play alongside the guests as you - and your guests - just follow the instructions in the party booklets. There's no need to keep referring to separate instruction sheets.
Host Duties (As Indicated in Everybody's Party Booklet)
Play audio or read printed Introduction
Ask 2 Volunteers to read the Instructions
The 6 rounds now follow - break as you wish
Ask Guests to Complete Accusation Sheet
The Optional Whodunnit Round
Play Solution Summary audio - or read printed Solution
Ask for a show of hands as to best solution, acting, decorations, costume and/or food
Post or email award certificates to guests.
These tips are pretty light as the host has very little to do during the course of the party!
1 When playing the audio Introduction and Solution, mute microphones (or ask guests to mute their microphones). This cuts out background noise and enables the quality of the audio to be heard.
Tip: before the game, check that you know how to enable your device to share an audio across the virtual call software of your choice.
2 Optionally, share clues as and when needed. This is completely optional as players read the clues as part of the game. Some parties, however, like to study the information on the clues afterwards - if so, share the appropriate page of the Duplicate Clues document as requested.
Tip: it might be a good idea to check how to share a document in advance.
Display Name (the name that appears on the screen) set to the character name not their personal name. This makes it a lot easier to work out which character is speaking.
Fully-charged devices - or a charger to-hand!
A microphone (if available) helps to guests move their device slightly away from themselves whilst still maintaining sound quality.
A rest for phones / iPad / Tablets saves sore arms - and also makes it easier to read their party booklets and clues.
Audio and camera turned on and display options (eg gallery and thumbnail) the way they wish.
Party booklets and clues (if any) to hand.
Virtual backgrounds - if guests don't use some of the decorations printouts and ideas supplied by Maple Mystery Games, then software such as Zoom enables them to use fun virtual backgrounds. Great for setting the scene!
