Murder mystery games can be a thrilling and fun experience. It can be even more rewarding if you can solve the murder mystery. Here are 10 tips to do just that, impressing your friends and family in the process.

1: Read Your Character Information Closely

Most murder mystery games will have special knowledge information unique to that character. All the information in that sheet is there for a reason. So, be sure to read it closely and take note of key information about your background, observations, actions, and relationships with other characters. Be ready to defend yourself if there is any information that is incriminating toward your character.

2. Listen Actively to other Characters

All murder mystery games allot time for characters to mingle and talk to each other. You remember the old saying: You have two ears and one mouth, so you can listen more than twice as much as you talk. After all, we never learn anything from talking. So, be sure you are listening to not only what people say, but how they say it. Watch body language. Do they appear nervous, evasive, or giving contradictory responses? Those are red flags for guilt.

3. Ask Open Ended Questions

Avoid asking questions where the response will be yes or no. You will learn a lot more information if you can get them talking. Questions like, “What did you do from the time that the victim left the room?” should elicit a detailed response that you can try to verify with other characters.

4. Consider Motives

Analyze who had a motive to murder. Almost all murder mysteries will have multiple characters who have motives. Pay particular attention to any contentious relationships with the victim. Continue to analyze this as the game progresses because evidence will arise that eliminates or mitigates some characters’ motives while introducing or enhancing others.

5. Consider Alibis

Ask other characters where they were at the time of the crime. Follow that up as to whether anyone can verify their story. Make sure you have a clear timeline in mind as a potential murderer may try to adjust the timeline so they could be at two places at the same time.

6. Take Notes

You cannot possibly remember everything that you have read or heard from other characters. Jot down key details like a factual timeline, character motives, character alibis, and suspicious behavior.

7. Collaborate with Others

Share your information with others and piece together clues and theories. When collaborating with another character, always remember the reliability of the source. If you strongly believe that character is innocent, you should trust their information more and be more willing to work together. If you fundamentally distrust a character, don’t let on that you feel this way. Instead, take that person’s information less seriously and look to verify or invalidate it.  

8. Consider the Method of Death

How was the victim killed? Would it have taken a lot of strength? Was a weapon used? If a weapon was used, who had access to that weapon of that type? Would it have taken any special knowledge or training to pull off this murder? Compare the answer to these questions to the characters’ background.

9. Utilize the Process of Elimination

The goal is clearly to identify who did it. But, if you can exonerate a character based on lack of motive or opportunity, you are one step closer to finding the murderer. Also, you gain an ally to work together to find the murderer.  

10. Have Fun

In the end, a mystery game is a game. So, be sure to enjoy it. Even if you do not solve the murder, the experience of being dropped in a different world playing a different character will be one you will remember for a long time. Participate enthusiastically and enjoy the shared experience with others. The journey is just as important as the destination. These 10 tips will definitely help you in your next mystery game experience. If you are looking to purchase a murder mystery game, please try out these tips in one of Mystery Enterprises’ collection of games at mysteryenterprises.com.