Best Murder Mystery Dinner Party Games Kits: Reviews, Buying Guide and FAQs 2023
by Mike Jones
If you are looking for a good idea for a fun night at home with some friends, then why not through a murder mystery dinner party? It has all the essential elements of a fun time - good friends, good food, cool costumes and a murder for every guest to solve!
These types of things usually tend to work best in groups of 6 to 8 dinner guests, but they can really be of any size. It helps if you have friends who do not mind doing a little acting all in the sake of a good time. So, do not invite that one friend everyone has who can't keep a secret, cause if she is the villain of the game, then EVERYONE will know, right?
To help you get started with a successful night of fun with your friends, I have take out the time and selected my favorite murder mystery party game kits. Take a look at them below to get some great ideas for the night.
Top Murder Mystery Games Kits by Editors' Picks
- #PreviewProductRating
- Bestseller No. 1
Rating:
- Bestseller No. 2
Rating: - Bestseller No. 3
Rating:
- Bestseller No. 4
Rating: - Bestseller No. 5
Rating: - Bestseller No. 6
Rating:
- Bestseller No. 7
Rating: - Bestseller No. 8
Rating: - Bestseller No. 9
Rating: - Bestseller No. 10
Rating: - Bestseller No. 11
Rating: - Bestseller No. 12
Rating: - Bestseller No. 13
Rating: - Bestseller No. 14
Rating: - Bestseller No. 15
Rating: - Bestseller No. 16
Rating: - Bestseller No. 17
Rating: - Bestseller No. 18
Rating: - Bestseller No. 19
Rating: - Bestseller No. 20
Rating:
Contents
- Top Murder Mystery Games Kits by Editors' Picks
- Top 6 Best Murder Mystery Dinner Kit & Game Reviews 2023
- Fun Decorations For Your Dinner Guests
- Buying Guide for the Best Murder Mystery Games Kits 2023
- Types of Murder Mystery Games
- Benefits of Owning a Murder Mystery Dinner Party Games Kit
- FAQs for Murder Mystery Games Kits
- Conclusion for Murder Mystery Games Kit buyers
Top 6 Best Murder Mystery Dinner Kit & Game Reviews 2023
If you do not mind a bit of a spoiler, you can get an 'at a glance' view of the best games for a get together of this type right above here. And the five that are featured below are that ones that are not only the best selling but also the highest rated by other party goers and planners. So, you can keep reading below for more information or just click on the game that is of interest to you to be taken directly to its product info page. There you will find detailed info on the game including real reviews from people who have purchased or played the game. Enjoy!
Murder Mystery Party: Murder on Misty Island - Link
Murder mystery party games are one of the most effective ways to spice up your parties or nights out with your friends.
Murder on Misty Island is an edition of the Murder Mystery Party Game by Universal Games. It is a cardboard mystery game that you roleplay with your friends.
In this edition of the franchise, the story follows eight (8) college friends who finally decide to catch up after being separated for ten (10) years. Except, only seven of those friends will make it back home alive.
Players are tasked with solving the murder between themselves. This boxed set comes with all the items and tools to set up your party in the right tone. It comes with invitations and recipes as well as the story arc of clues and whatnot with which players have to solve the murder mystery.
Players will have access to both audio and video instruction as well as a summary of all the events that transpired. Then, they have to come up with the most likely theory on how and why the murder happened.
Due to the gruesome murder involved, this game is only recommended for teens aged 18 and above. Only a minimum of 8 players can play the game. Fortunately, it does not require many skills in terms of detective or mystery solving ones. Players have to race against time while also roleplaying the characters well!
Important tips for people new to murder mystery party games:
- Although preparing the recipes is important so that everyone can get into the right role-playing environment, some of the recipes are bad. So, if you notice a recipe seems bad and would probably not taste too well you are probably right. You should check out other online recipes to prepare the same meal in a way you are comfortable with.
- The foods prepared won't necessarily be served while following the roleplay; although you and your friends can decide to eat them anyways.
- All the food prepared from the recipe included in this edition of the game is not mentioned in the storyline. So, preparing meals you are comfortable with and knowing your friends would love isn't totally out of the question.
- You need 8 players to play as all the eight characters. You can create more characters provide their story arcs isn't too complicated.
- There are invitations and name tags to hand out to every guest.
- The audio CD included in this boxed set has four tracks that must be played after each round and then at the end of the game. The final track reveals the murderer to see if the players got the answer right.
As fun as the game might sound, there are some drawbacks to it. There is next to no replay value with this game. This is because as soon as the whole team knows the real murderer, the next time they play the game, either at your house or otherwise, they won't feel any pressure. This defeats the purpose of playing a murder mystery party game.
Another drawback is that you need a minimum of 8 players to play it. While this isn't necessarily a drawback, it can ruin the whole experience if one of your friends fails to show up.
NOTE: It has a playing time of about 3 hours. This can be considerably less depending on how fast the team is.
Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder Game - Link
If you and your friends enjoy good wine and good food, then this murder mystery dinner party game kit is the perfect choice for you.
The kit comes with a complete character breakdown so that every one can get into their character. You also get a CD that serves as an introduction and offers the solution to the murder mystery. It even comes with a menu and recipes to really set the mood for your dinner party.
A total of 8 party invitations are included with this game. Designed for a total of 6 to 8 party guests.
Murder Mystery Party Games: Pasta, Passion and Pistols Game - Link
If you are having a dinner get together with friends that is centered around pasta and great Italian food, then this murder mystery dinner guest game is for you.
When you buy this murder mystery game kit, you get a sample menu with recipes as well as invitations for up to 8 guests. The game is designed to work best with between 6 to 8 dinner guests.
Also included is a CD that gives you the introduction and clues before wrapping up the mystery. And a character booklet gives you and your guests everything that you need to know for preparing for your role in the murder mystery.
Murder Mystery Party Games: Murder at Mardi Gras - Link
If you can't make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, then this murder mystery dinner game is the next best way to celebrate.
Designed for 6 to 8 dinner guests, this murder mystery game is a great way to spend a few hours with your friends. You get a menu for a Mardi Gras style meal, including recipes.
Also in the murder mystery kit is a character booklet so that everyone can get background info on their character, and a CD that gives everyone the introductory clues as well as the conclusion of who among you is the murderer.
Murder Mystery Party Games: A Murder on the Grill - Link
Want to have a memorable dinner with friends while firing up the grill? If so, you need to check out this cool murder mystery dinner game that let's you make the cookout part of the fun.
Get together 6 to 8 dinner guests and get ready to solve a good old fashioned murder.
The dinner game kit comes with a menu, recipes, invitations, character background booklet and game instruction CD.
Murder Mystery Party: Lethal Luau Game - Link
Another great dinner game theme for the warm months is right here with this luau murder mystery dinner game kit.
With this game kit, you get a menu, recipes for delicious luau dishes, an instructional CD that also holds the key to who is the murderer, invitations, and a character booklet.
The game is designed for dinner guests of 6 to 8 people. So call up your friends and get ready for a fun time!
Fun Decorations For Your Dinner Guests
If you want to have a little fun with your murder mystery dinner guests, you can use some crime scene tape to decorate for the occasion.
- #PreviewProductRating
- Bestseller No. 1
Rating: - Bestseller No. 2
Rating: - Bestseller No. 3
Rating: - Bestseller No. 4
Rating: - Bestseller No. 5
Rating: - Bestseller No. 6
Rating: - Bestseller No. 7
Rating: - Bestseller No. 8
Rating: - Bestseller No. 9
Rating: - Bestseller No. 10
Rating:
This can not only be a really cheap way to decorate the exterior of the house, but also a really fun way. You can put the tape on the front door, on the mailbox, on the porch or anywhere else that you desire. Of course, if you have neighbors then you might want to give them an explanation before you do it. Otherwise, you will have everyone thinking that a crime happened at your house. And you may even get some gawkers who come up to the house to see what exactly is going on. Of course, that could lead to some pretty funny conversations with the neighborhood!
Buying Guide for the Best Murder Mystery Games Kits 2023
Murder mystery games are both exciting and also daunting. They can turn out to be very great or a huge disaster if the planning or situation isn't right for it. And if we are being honest with ourselves, nobody wants to throw a bad party; even though it is a games party.
So how do you choose the right murder mystery party game to play with your guests? The answer is very simple, you have to understand what you want in a party themed as such.
Number of Guests
This is the first and perhaps most important thing you need to consider before buying just any type of murder mystery party game.
Murder mystery games are very rigid in terms of gameplay. You cannot play a game of 20 people if you only have 15 friends. Hence, you have to consider the minimum number of players.
You should be able to find this information on the product description on the box or a label on the box.
NOTE: A good rule to keep in mind when playing the game is that it is often better to choose small games. It is best to have your friends fill up the slots and get the rest to spectate. The only alternative would be for all your friends not to play at all.
Choose a game that caters to approximately the same number of friends you are sure will turn up for the party.
Type of Characters
Since murder mystery party games are roleplaying games, you want to note the gender ratio of the guests you want to invite to play the game.
All mystery murder party games come with detailed instructions on the type of characters available. The instruction also specifies which characters are important to the story as well as the optional ones.
A good way to know the types of characters in a game is by checking online information about the game. Most of the games in this genre have communities that are willing to explain anything you do not understand to you.
With this knowledge, you can then decide if the game is ideal for the people you want to invite.
Do You Want to Play?
Hosting a party is never easy. However, the fact that you host a party does not mean you can't join in on the action. Many murder mystery party games have specific roles for the host to play.
The good thing about games in this genre is that you can even join in on the fun if one of your friends or guests fails to show up. The only issue is you will need someone, maybe your kid or partner, to play host.
Online or Offline Party
This shouldn't cause any issues since hosting parties online only because popular as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
That said, if you are planning to host your party online, there is a chance there would be a larger turnout compared to an offline party. In which case, not only will you have to look for games that can cater to a large number of players playing at once, you will also need a game that can be played online. Not all murder mystery games can be played online.
Theme
The theme of a murder mystery party game determines the scenarios the events happened in. It could be set during Christmas, during random holidays, during Halloween, new years eve, etc.
If you are someone that loves attention to detail, then you also need to verify that the theme of the game suits you and your guests before buying it.
Costume
Do you plan to host a costume party? Will the guests be in special uniforms or attires that might make playing a particular game difficult? These are important questions you need to ask yourself before buying just any murder mystery party game.
Age Limit
Although most murder mystery party games are not recommended for kids, depending on their age range, young teens can also join in the fun. Some games even have roles especially dedicated for kids which increases the dynamics and experience of the game.
As a result, you want to consider the age range of the people that will be playing the game. You might not even invite them. It might be your kids that you decide to put into the game because one of the guests failed to show up.
NOTE: With murder mystery party games, it is always best to vet any role a kid would take beforehand. That way, you don't have to worry about them seeing or reading explicit things.
Difficulty Level
Lastly, you need to consider how difficult the game is. Most murder mystery party games have playing time between 2 to 3 hours. As a result, they tend to set different difficulty limits depending on how long it will be to realistically complete the game.
A lot of these games add important information about the difficulty or challenge level of the game on a label on the game's description.
Choosing a game that is too easy to play can quickly become boring.
Types of Murder Mystery Games
Murder mystery games are an entertainment staple. They allow the participants to act out their inner sleuth, while at the same time detective skills are sharpened in a group setting. These party games can be played for hours with minimal preparation and planning on the part of the host or organizer. There are two main types of murder mystery games: scripted and open-ended. Most of these games are intended for an adult audience, but there are a few that may appeal to the younger crowd.
The planned or scripted murder mystery game is much like a regular television or movie script. The host has control over all aspects of the story and the players themselves have little to no say in determining what happens next. These types of games typically have a beginning, middle and end. They can also be played by any number of party participants. The most important aspect in playing a scripted game is to follow the set story line and rules without deviation. An example of a scripted murder mystery would be a sleuth-themed dinner theater where all interactions take place from chair to chair around a large dining room table. The host would have a list of characters and their roles in the story, while the participants would have a script to follow.
Closed-Ended or Freeform
Another type of murder mystery game is called closed-ended or freeform. In these games, there are no scripts involved and nobody really knows what will happen next during the course of the game. These plays are known as freeforms because they give the players more freedom in how they portray their characters and react to one another. Participants take on the role of any number of characters in this freeform game, while answering to nobody but themselves.
An Open-Ended Game
An open-ended game is like a western style show where anything can happen with no set script or stage manager calling the shots. If somebody wants to try something new, they just go for it. There are no rules governing how players must act in order to successfully complete the game. However, that doesn't mean there aren't any guidelines at all. While no one person can control what another decides to do or say during open-ended games, the host does have the say over what happens in the game and to whom.
Requires a Lot of Time for Preparation and Creativity
The open-ended murder mystery game requires a lot of time for preparation and creativity on the part of the host or organizer. The play is typically divided up into acts with each act lasting an hour or less. This type of party game can go on for several hours if the participants are having a great time, but typically last no more than four hours. An open-ended game allows the host to tailor the game to fit their specific group of players. However, it is not as structured as scripted games and takes more effort on the part of the host or organizer to see that all players interact appropriately to the situation.
Similar to any type of entertainment, there are a number of ways to organize and present murder mystery games. In both scripted and open-ended games, the host or organizer is responsible for providing either a party space or a venue where all participants can gather together before going off on their own individual journeys to solve the crime. This is usually in the form of a buffet dinner, where everyone presents their character when they arrive at the party.
Benefits of Owning a Murder Mystery Dinner Party Games Kit
There are many benefits of owning a murder mystery dinner party games kit. Some of these benefits include:
- Increased enjoyment and excitement when hosting or attending a dinner party.
- More interesting and engaging conversations around the dinner table.
- The ability to create unique and memorable experiences for friends and family members.
- Opportunity to exercise problem solving and critical thinking skills.
- A fun way to learn more about history and culture.
- Increased sense of community and togetherness.
So, if you're looking for a way to make your next dinner party more exciting, then be sure to check out a murder mystery dinner party games kit! You won't regret it!
FAQs for Murder Mystery Games Kits
Why Do People Play Murder Mystery Games?
Murder Mystery party games are fun. They give everyone a chance to hone their detective and problem-solving skills even more. Asides from that, most people love mysteries and would always love the chance to solve one.
What Is the Minimum Number of Players That Can Play a Murder Mystery Party Game?
The minimum number of players that can play a game is often stated on a label on the game description. However, generally, most party games require a minimum of 6 players, excluding the host to play. The number of players can go as high as 25 and above.
Buy them at eBay, Walmart, Etsy (quality guaranteed)
Murder Mystery Party Games - Murder At Mardi Gras, Host Your Own New Orleans Murder - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Murder at The Manor 6-14 Player Murder Mystery Flexi-Party Dinner Party Game - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder at The Pizzeria 6-14 Player Murder Mystery Flexi-Party Dinner Party Game - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Underwood Cellars Unsolved Mystery Detective Case File - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
80s Mall Murder Madness: A Totally Tubular Murder Mystery Party Game for 3-20 Players | - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder Mystery Party Games, The Champagne Murder, A Murder Mystery Role Play Game for 6 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
University Games Murder Mystery Party Game - Death by Chocolate - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Unsolved Murder Mystery Game - Cold Case File Investigation - Detective Clues / Evidence - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Murder Mystery Flexi Party A Big Murder at The Manor 6-20 Player - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder in The Roaring 20s 6-14 Player Murder Mystery Flexi-Party - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Death in Antarctica Mystery Detective Case File Game for - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder Mystery Party Game - Slice of Murder - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Fire in Adlerstein Unsolved Mystery Detective Case File - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder on a Train 6-14 Player Murder Mystery Flexi-Party Dinner Party Game - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Mile High Murder Unsolved Mystery Detective Case File - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Bullets on Broadway Murder Mystery Party Game for 3-20 Players | Play In-Person or - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder at The Disco 6-14 Player Murder Mystery Flexi Party - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Talking Tables Reusable Murder Mystery on The Train Game Kit | Host Your Own Games Night - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Horror on The Haunted House Tour | Murder Mystery Party Game for 3-20 Players | Play - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Murder by Midnight | Murder Mystery Party Game for 3-20 Players | Play in-Person or - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Crime Scene Do Not Cross Barricade Tape 3 X 100 • Bright Yellow with a Bold Black Print • - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Crime Scene Tape 2 Pack, Halloween Decorations 3-inch x 1000 feet Crime Scene Do Not - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Sunnybess 3" Barricade Safety Tape "CAUTION/CRIME SCENE DO NOT ENTER" Yellow Warning Tape - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Kobe1 Crime Scene Kit:Crime Scene Barrier Tape,Do Not Enter (20Feetx1),Evidence - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
CrimeKit, 100 feet Crime Scene Do Not Cross Tape (30m). Novelty Barrier Tape. Bonus 3 x - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Crime Scene Tape, 100 ft Roll - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
amscan Crime Scene Decorating Kit | 1 Pack Party Supplies, Yellow - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Crime Scene Do Not Cross Barricade Tape 2 Pack 3 inch x 1000 feet, Bright Yellow with a - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Safety Tapes 2 Pack 3 inch x 1000 feet, Bright Yellow w/Bold Black Text, 3" Wide for - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Conclusion for Murder Mystery Games Kit buyers
We love to play murder mystery games because they are so much fun. These games take you on an adventure with others, and the best part is that there's no end in sight. They're perfect for social gatherings or large groups of people who want something exciting to do together! If you've never played a game like this before, we recommend starting out by playing one online first (like our Murder Mystery Dinner Party). You can get your feet wet without all the work it takes to organize your own party at home. Once you feel comfortable with how these types of games go, then try hosting one yourself! There are plenty of resources available online that will help make organizing your own event easier than ever before.
If you're looking for a fun, engaging game to keep your guests entertained at your next party, murder mystery games are the perfect solution. They provide hours of intrigue and suspense as your guests work together to solve the crime. And best of all, they're easy to set up and can be tailored to fit any group size or theme. So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy of one of our murder mystery games today and get ready for some serious sleuthing!
About Mike Jones
As a child of the 80's, my fondest gaming memories are playing Pitfall, Frogger, Kaboom! and Chopper Command on our old Atari 8600. These days I've been rocking the Nintendo Classic and learning some new card and board games with the family."
Thoughts on "Best Murder Mystery Dinner Party Games Kits: Reviews, Buying Guide and FAQs 2023"
 |
 |
 |
 |
Game Time Now