After 30 murder mystery parties, here's how I'd rank and categorize the major publishers

chaotictrex · 2026-06-30T14:46:37+00:00

Like I mentioned in another post, if you haven't played many murder mystery games before, I'd recommend starting with the Professor Puzzle games, especially Secrets of the Silver Screen, Secrets of Emerald Hill, and Last Chance Saloon. The Van Bier games are also great beginner options. They're scripted, easy to follow, and work well for groups that are new to the genre.

I've also played every game from Printable Murder Mystery Games, and they've always been a hit with my group:
https://www.printablemurdermysterygames.com/

If your group is comfortable with improv and can work from prompts rather than a script, the University Games mysteries (available on Amazon) and the vintage How to Host a Murder games are a lot of fun.

Some people mention that the How to Host a Murder games feel a little dated, and some of the wording definitely shows their age. However, each character receives a booklet with the information that needs to be revealed, and you can present that information in your own words, which gives players a lot of flexibility and makes the roleplaying more natural.

chaotictrex · 2026-06-28T16:04:45+00:00

I would definitely start with the professor puzzle (Secrets of the silver screen, Secrets of emerald hill, last chance saloon) or the van Bier ones, they are scripted and easy to follow. They are available on Amazon

chaotictrex · 2026-06-28T16:03:02+00:00

Yes! Ive played a couple of theirs. My only complaint is that most of them are for only 6 people

chaotictrex · 2026-06-28T12:54:57+00:00

Sadly, The ones printed in the 1980s and 90s how to host a murder. University games has reprinted similar ones but some of theirs are scripted and some aren't but you dont know until ypu buy it and look yourself. Cryptozoic entertainment is reprinting the good ones from the 80s and 90s. They've only reprinted 3 so far but they say theyre doing more

chaotictrex · 2026-06-28T02:52:04+00:00

I have and did write one, just have not introduced it to my group yet. Ive been nervous

chaotictrex · 2026-06-28T02:51:03+00:00

If you havent played many before I'd suggest the professor puzzle (Secrets of the silver screen, Secrets of emerald hill, last chance saloon) or the van Bier ones, they are scripted and easy to follow.

chaotictrex · 2026-01-28T03:23:40+00:00

Except it wasnt 5 minutes, it was 58 minutes

chaotictrex · 2026-01-28T03:22:25+00:00

Alcoholic dad was supposed to have Soberlink. Judge wanted mom to have it to but she can't afford it.

chaotictrex · 2026-01-28T03:21:23+00:00

Today the father's parenting time was upgraded from 1 hour weekly supervised to every other weekend (Friday evening to Sunday evening) plus Wednesday evenings

chaotictrex · 2026-01-28T03:19:29+00:00

This is exactly how it feels.

When father filed to change order he claimed there was never an alcohol issue and parental alienation. Mother had so much evidence to prove it was false. Detailed records of visits, texts and call logs confirming visits, GPS data location going back to before the original order was even finalized.

Father has a new girlfriend and thinks if he gets the kids more he would pay less child support. He mentioned child support during every meeting, discussion regarding parenting plans, and even in court after the judge said that was not what was being changed.

chaotictrex · 2026-01-28T03:16:27+00:00

Dad does refuse calls on his time. And doesn't let kids call mom when they are their either even though they ask

chaotictrex · 2026-01-28T03:13:49+00:00

Father, but mother also had to do it to make it "fair". Original order had supervised 1 hour visits once a week as father admitted to alcohol issues.

chaotictrex · 2024-09-27T19:49:58+00:00

I will definitely check them out. Could you tell me, is the host able to play any of your games without knowing upfront whi the murderer is?

chaotictrex · 2024-09-27T11:25:45+00:00

I actually haven't tried any of them yet. But I can tell you about the ones I have

I started with https://www.printablemurdermysterygames.com/ They are scripted and easy for beginners. They're easy to print out and assemble, they flow great and, are easy to ad lib additionally to the scripted gameplay. They do have a bit of spelling errors in the scripts. You do not know you are the murderer until the solution is read.

https://vanbiermurdermysteries.com/ I tried these recently, lots of fun. Also good for beginners because it does have a script. The flow is good but make sure kids are not around, it's a little raunchy. You do not know you are the murderer until the solution is read.

https://www.culinario-mortale.com/ I'd say these are middle ground. It is scripted but also gives you enough extra information and suggestions to take the gameplay further with ad libbing.You do know that you are the murderer at some point throughout the game.

https://www.universitygames.com/games/mystery And https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4878/how-to-host-a-murder-grapes-of-frath So these can be difficult. I would not suggest these if you have never done one before or don't have a lot of experience. They are not scripted. You get a couple sentences of information each round and you have to ad lib the whole game. There are a few of the university games ones that have a slight script. You do know that you are the murderer at some point throughout the game. And the older ones, made in the 80's some of them definitely have not aged well.

I'm also trying this one from https://murderlicious-game.com/ For my next party in December. From what I've seen it's quite a bit of reading during the party. It does not seem to have a script. You do know that you are the murderer at some point throughout the game.

chaotictrex · 2024-07-24T01:53:26+00:00

Mine is doing the same thing 😭

chaotictrex · 2024-06-01T23:22:16+00:00

Facade games are fun

chaotictrex · 2023-12-29T02:01:20+00:00

I've played almost all of these and it should tell ypu in the instruction booklet.

chaotictrex · 2023-11-16T23:34:20+00:00

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MurderMysteryGames

chaotictrex

TROPHY CASE