Hosting a murder mystery game is a surefire way to create unforgettable memories. But there’s one step that can make or break your evening: assigning characters. Get it right, and your guests will be fully immersed, laughing, scheming, and sleuthing all night. Get it wrong, and your event might not be nearly as fun as it could be. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to assign characters for a murder mystery party so that everyone has fun, feels included, and gets into the spirit of the game.

Why Character Assignments Matter

In a murder mystery game, characters aren’t just names—they’re identities that drive the story.  Gender, age, occupation, and relationship to other characters are all factors in assigning characters.  For example, a married couple in real life might be a perfect fit to play two characters who are married or dating.

Assigning the right character to the right person can maximize engagement and help the group better remember the characters in the story. Whether you’re playing with close friends, coworkers, or new acquaintances, a well-matched cast makes the whole experience smoother and more immersive.

Read the host instructions carefully. Most good murder mystery games (like those on MysteryEnterprises.com) include character descriptions, recommended cast sizes, and some gender-neutral options.

Match Players to Characters

Now comes the fun part! Here’s how to assign characters thoughtfully:

Method 1: Assign Manually

  • Create a spreadsheet or list of players and character roles
  • Match based on age, occupation, personality, interests, or relationship to other characters
  • Send out character info in advance (preferably 2–3 days before the event)

Method 2: Let Guests Choose

  • Email or message a list of character descriptions (without revealing plot points)
  • Let guests pick their top 2–3 preferences
  • Assign based on those preferences and best fit, based on factors listed in Method 1

Communicate Character Assignments to Players

Once the final assignments for character roles have been made, players should receive an email or text with their character packet or summary. Be sure to include any costume suggestions and background character information.

On the day of the event, it would be helpful to hand out character name tags so players can begin to learn who is playing the other characters.  If the murder mystery game is being played over a web conference platform, player should change their screen name to their character name.

Final Thoughts

If you’re using one of our games at MysteryEnterprises.com, rest assured: we make character assignments easy. Each game comes with clear character descriptions, flexible gender options, and hosting guides to make your job as smooth as possible.  Characters are strategically named so it is easy to remember their role.  For example, Doc Carter, Detective Davis, or Aaron Agent. The purchaser of the game assigns characters online and our automated system will email the character assignments to guests before the night of the game. This allows guests the option to dress like the character on the day of the murder mystery event.

Remember, assigning characters for a murder mystery game isn’t just logistics—it’s matchmaking for maximum fun. When done right, your guests will have a more immersive experience that they will be talking about long after the game ends.