What to Expect at your Mystery Party

The most frequently-asked question I get is:

“So, what can I expect? How will the night unfold?”

While it’s hard to say exactly how your party will unfold, here is an overview of how you can expect it to go.

Before your party, you may decide to send your “suspects” their character information, “pre-game” clues (certain mystery games) or “suspect guides” (mini-mysteries). This gives your guests time to prepare ahead of the party. Although, sending them information before the date of the party is entirely optional. We strongly advise you send the character information ahead of time though, so they can come in costume (if applicable to the murder mystery game).

Your guests will arrive at the pre-determined time. Based on their involvement in the mystery, they could receive pre-game clues/suspect guides (if your mystery game includes them and you haven’t sent the information ahead of time). Once everyone has arrived and had time to mingle, get a drink, have a bite to eat and catch up/meet the other guests, it’s time to start they mystery game!

All mysteries begin with an introduction. Shot In The Dark Mysteries‘ new format games come with audio files that you can use if you desire. All you have to do is play them off your computer, or you can read them with the transcript included in your game materials. (Why might you opt not to use the audio files? If you have extra guests who aren’t suspects but you want to include, you can have them deliver the introductions and conclusion. Or maybe your computer speakers are on the fritz after your teenager blasted Beyonce one too many times). To determine whether your game comes with audio files, read the description of the game bonuses on the game purchase page – but really it’s just the older games that are currently being switched over or mini-mysteries that don’t come with an audio introduction.

Depending on the type of game you have chosen, turn-based or interactive will determine what happens next. With a turn-based game, each character will receive instructions in their clue about what to share and when to share it. In the case of an interactive game, your introduction will offer sample questions to get your guests started in their interrogations – they just have to locate a suspect and begin gathering clues.

Again, the type of game you choose will determine what happens throughout your game. The good news is that every single game has comprehensive instructions that even children can follow, so you’ll be just fine. For regular mystery games, the evening is separated into ‘Chapters’, each of which has an introduction that reveals new information (all except the mini-mysteries, which are designed to be played in about an hour, so there is only one ‘chapter’). There are two ways to determine when it’s time to move onto the next ‘chapter’ or begin to end the game:

1. Set a time limit on each “chapter”, giving your sleuths a pre-determined amount of time for their investigations or

2. (applicable for interrogation-based games only) Listen as your guests interrogate. When the questioning begins to taper off, it’s time to give a warning to start the next chapter.

Once all of the chapters are complete, you move onto the ‘confession’ or, the time when the mystery game solution is revealed. Some people like to have each person cast their ‘accusation’ (a la Survivor), explaining who, why and how, and writing down their accusations so they can’t change their mind as they hear others’ accusations. We recommend this – it’s way more fun than just revealing the confession without any accusations cast.

Once all of the accusations have been cast and you’re ready to hear the identity of the killer or thief, play the confession audio file or read the transcript. Everyone groans or shouts “I KNEW IT!” and then tells you how much fun they had.

If this seems a bit complicated, it’s because I’m trying to explain general expections when there are 4 different types of games you can get from Shot In The Dark Mysteries. Remember, your game comes with complete instructions to walk you through step-by-step exactly what to do to make your night of mystery a roaring success.

To view a sample of the instructions you’ll receive with your mystery game, click below!

SHOW ME A SAMPLE OF THE MYSTERY GAME MATERIALS!

SHOW ME A SAMPLE OF THE MINI-MYSTERY GAME MATERIALS!