Take your friends on a thrilling journey they’ll never forget – an evening filled with mystery, intrigue and a little problem-solving. A murder mystery party is the perfect way to make fun memories together, and hosting one isn’t as daunting as you think. I’m going to show you how to host a murder mystery party step by step to make your big event fun and stress-free.
How to Host a Murder Mystery Party
Hosting a murder mystery party doesn’t have to be complicated. There are three main aspects you need to focus on:
- The theme. You need a good story that’s full of mystery and really keeps your guests engaged. I’ll share a few themes you can try later on.
- Setting roles. Your guests aren’t just spectators. They’re a part of the story. Everyone will need to have a role to play, and you’ll need to provide each character with their own brief.
- Gameplay. Throughout the evening, you’ll want your guests to uncover clues, spill secrets and form their own theories to find the true culprit. It will be up to you to keep the gameplay going.
Now, let’s break things down step by step to help you host the most unforgettable party.
Related: RIP to My 20s: How to Throw the Ultimate ‘Funeral for Your Youth’ Party
Choose a Theme and Murder Mystery Story
Remember: the theme and story are some of the most important elements of your party. Take the time to choose a story that will keep everyone engaged and will build on the intrigue and mystery.
First, consider your party’s size. Then, focus on the theme. There are so many options:
- 80s disco gone wrong
- Great Gatsby murder themes
- Wild West mysteries
- Pirate themed
You can find tons of games online and in shops like Etsy. I’ll share some theme ideas and games you can buy later on.
Choose a Place, Date and Time
Where do you want to host your party? At your home, a venue or somewhere else? Select a place, and then choose a time and date with your guests’ schedules in mind.
Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to plan and prepare. You want to create the perfect setting for your party, and you should give your guests enough time to prepare their costumes.
Also, make sure you allot enough time for the story to unfold. Aim for at least 2-3 hours of play time. You may need more time if you’re hosting a sit-down dinner. The last thing you want to do is rush things, so give yourself ample time.
Create a Guest List and Send Out Invites
Now that you have a theme and date, it’s time to create your guest list and start sending out invitations.
Choose invites that will get everyone excited about the party. Select a themed design and ask everyone to dress in character.
Assign Roles
Once your guests have RSVP’d, you can start assigning characters and sending out their descriptions.
These character briefs will give your guests some background info on their roles, along with costume recommendations and information on other characters.
I recommend sending out your briefs well in advance, so everyone has time to prepare.
Plan the Menu
In all the planning madness, don’t forget about the food. Plan your menu around your theme to keep everyone immersed in the experience.
Buffet-style setups work best for murder mystery parties because everyone can mingle and conspire more easily.
Choose the Decor and Set the Scene
Next, plan out your decor. Really set the scene, so your guests are completely immersed in the experience.
Choose decor that matches your theme. For example, you can transform your venue or home into a speakeasy or a casino. Get creative!
Plan everything out, from the table settings to wall decor and everything in between. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to decorate the space before everyone arrives.
Also, don’t forget the ambience. Make sure your lighting fits the mood and plan out a music playlist that supports the story as it’s unfolding.
Explain the Rules
Once everyone arrives, give them some time to mingle a little, and then explain the rules. Everyone should know how the evening will progress and what they should be doing.
Let the Games Begin
After you’ve explained the rules, you can start the game. Make sure that you’re guiding things along and keeping everyone on track to solve the mystery.
Don’t forget to encourage your guests to discuss the clues and their theories. Keep the food and drinks flowing to ensure everyone is fueled.
Solve the Mystery and Reward the Winners
The moment has arrived. It’s time for everyone to submit their guesses on who the culprit is. Once everyone has submitted their guesses, you can announce the villain and reward the winners.
Murder Mystery Printables – Themes and Complete Kits
Now that you know how to host a murder mystery party, let’s look at some themes and complete kits you can buy to make your story and theme planning a little easier.
A Killer Disco Party Theme
A groovy murder mystery theme designed for 8-20 people. This kit features multiple murders and includes detailed character guides. You’ll enjoy the freeplay, script-free nature of this game, which will keep everyone engaged and guessing.
Related: Turning 30? Try These 16 Epic Themes for a 30th Birthday Bash
Murder on the Mammoth Theme
A train-travel themed murder mystery game that includes everything you need to solve the mystery: who is the dead body found in the baggage cart?
The kit includes customizable invitations, name tags, character backstories, special item cards, decoration ideas and so much more.
The Blade of Fate Theme
Finally, you know how to host a murder mystery party, but none of the themes we’ve covered have been spot on just yet. This Blade of Fate theme is perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons or World of Warcraft.
A sword goes missing, one of the party members is dead and everyone needs to follow the clues to know who the culprit is in this adventurous murder mystery.
Murder Mystery Party Decor Ideas
Decorations are half the fun during a murder mystery party. You can let your imagination run wild with party decor, and it’s the perfect time to pull out your dusty Halloween items. A few ideas to get your creative juices flowing are:
Possible Suspects Boards
Who did it? It has to be one of you, right? This decoration is timeless. Find a black chalkboard and then tape each person who RSVP’d’s photo to the board with their name underneath it. You can ask everyone who plans to attend for their picture beforehand so that you can have them printed.
It’s easy to follow the Pin above to recreate this concept.
But I do have another neat one below that you may appreciate more:
If you want a quirkier idea, you can use this stand with the list of suspects.
Table Settings
Red and white formal dinner spreads like this scream “murder mystery.” You’ll put a white tablecloth down on the table. Add a red tablecloth runner and then white dining plates. Sprinkle in as much red as you can with flowers, napkins and other decorative items.
Not a fan of the red and white? How about a red-dominant theme like the one above? You’ll use a red tablecloth, flowers and napkins. The only thing that’s white are the plates that add a much-needed contrast to the table.
Character Gear
Everyone is a character at a murder mystery party. You can help set the night or day up for success with special invitations to each person and a list of “gear.” By gear, this will be:
- Clues that people can follow
- Rules
- Name tags
You will also want everyone to follow a specific costume requirement for the night. A little thoughtfulness will go a long way with your character gear.
If you want to take it a step further, you can give each person a prop to wear. One may have a bloody stopwatch, while the other may have a broken eyepiece.
Murder Mystery Party Food Ideas
A murder mystery without food is no fun. Guests want to eat, and who knows, there may be clues in one of the cupcakes that you serve.
I couldn’t complete this guide on how to host a murder mystery party without at least giving you a few recipes to follow:
Murderous Cupcakes
Spooky, “murderous” cupcakes are always a fun choice. You can choose to follow any recipe, such as this bloody broken glass one. But you can also have fun with the decorative elements of the cupcakes.
Add caution tape to the cupcakes with yellow frosting or the words, “Who is guilty?”
Dessert Bar
A full dessert bar is in order, and you can make it stand out with a cute dessert table. Cover one of the tables with a tablecloth and then put your food on these cute dessert trays. You can also opt for this 10-piece set that has cake stands, cupcake stands and other pieces.
Add anything you like as food, such as cake, cupcakes or candy.
Charcuterie Spread
At this point, everyone’s sweet tooth has been satiated. You can now add the appetizers and non-sweets to your charcuterie spread. A few good options that work for every party are:
- Meats and cheeses
- Pretzel sticks
- Strawberries and blueberries
- Breads with butter or spread
- Crackers
- Grapes
You can also add chips, dips and anything you like. Finger foods like these are always a major hit at a party.
Related: 17+ Easy Finger Food Ideas for a Pool Party That Will Impress Your Guests
Buffet Style Dinner
Finally, top off an amazing murder mystery party with a buffet-style dinner. You can make macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, chicken, pasta and anything else your guests might like. If there is a good catering company nearby, consider having them cater your party.
