Go behind the scenes of Murder at Menlo Park, Foulplay Games’ 1915 steampunk murder mystery coming to PAX West 2026. See the name tags, postcards, newspaper, sticker sheets, trailer and other details we created to bring our PAX West murder mystery game to life.

Hosting your first murder mystery party is easier than you might think! Learn what comes with your game, how to organize your materials, and when to prepare everything for the perfect murder mystery game night.

What started as a conversation after an escape room turned into an unforgettable sci-fi space western murder mystery and an unexpected farewell party for a friend moving across the country. Featured host Victoria shares how custom props, themed decorations, and a few hilarious surprises helped bring Wanderstar to life!

Eight friends turn their Seattle night into an immersive mystery filled with dramatic reveals, vintage flair, and unforgettable moments. Take a peek inside featured host Courtney’s unforgettable old Hollywood birthday celebration and learn how this first-time host rolled out the red carpet on a night to die for.

Sofia’s lifelong love of mystery and role-playing brought her latest birthday celebration to life with Foulplay’s Die 4 U, creating an unforgettable night of 90s intrigue and fun. Taking blast from the past to a whole new level, Sofia’s party featured special touches like a playlist on old school burned CDs, coordinated band accents, and other special set pieces that really set that 90s mood.

Go beyond a typical game night by bringing all the murder mystery fun to Twitch. Blend roleplay, storytelling, and real-time audience engagement into one immersive stream with our guide covering everything from choosing the right streaming tools to ideas for engaging your chat.

They met while pretending to be married in a murder mystery game. Years later, that ironic first meeting became their real love story, and a reminder that you never know who you might meet at your next murder mystery party.

Bobbie brought the drama (and the fun) to Seattle’s gray winter with Murder at Menlo Park, her first time hosting a murder mystery party. With character assignments, dramatic accusations, and friends fully in costume, here’s how she pulled it off—and her tips for new hosts.

Claire transformed her living room into a full-blown 90s pop band drama with Die 4 U, our epic 90s murder mystery game. From character costumes and slushie machines to award-show chaos and secret-keeping strategy, here’s how she hosted her first murder mystery party and absolutely nailed it.

This Curious Carnival murder mystery fundraiser combined big costumes, intentional mischief, and community connection in support of Melanated Pole Fest, the world’s first BIPOC pole festival. Hosted at a BIPOC-owned Seattle venue, the night proved just how powerful and flexible murder mystery parties can be for creative, community-centered fundraising.

Who writes our murder mystery games?
It’s a question we hear all the time at conventions, in emails, and from curious fellow creatives. And lately, it often comes with an unspoken follow-up: Was this written by AI?

At Foulplay Games, the answer is simple. Every one of our murder mystery games is written by real people, by us, with intention, creativity, and care. As a women-owned small business rooted in storytelling and community, we believe transparency matters. In a world where AI is reshaping the creative landscape, we want to be clear about where we stand, why human-written stories matter to us, and why you won’t find AI-written games in our catalog.

Sometimes hosting a murder mystery party means juggling surprises—extra guests, late arrivals, shy players, or people who decide at the last minute that they want to join in on the fun. Or someone is interested in playing but is hesitant to opt for a full character. Whatever the situation, this is why we created Investigator roles! These are flexible, no-pressure characters you can add to your Foulplay game without disrupting the story.

We’ve updated all of our Host Guides to make your murder mystery parties smoother, clearer, and more flexible. Explore new investigator roles, tips for including kids and teens, improved money/item instructions, curated playlists, and updated virtual hosting tools—plus a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2026!

Discover creative ways real Foulplay hosts have transformed their living rooms into immersive murder mystery parties. Cozy décor, clever setups, and easy ideas you can steal!

Step back into the Roaring Twenties with Carmen’s glamorous 1920s murder mystery party! Inspired by Murder on the High Note, she brought Foulplay’s speakeasy whodunnit to life with flapper fashion, custom characters, and a night of intrigue, laughter, and jazz-age style.

Julia turned her February birthday into a full-blown night at the circus with The Curious Carnival! From handmade décor and themed snacks to a surprise beard shave, her murder mystery party captured all the chaos and charm of a traveling big top.

Meet Mia, who recently hosted Murder on the High Note to celebrate her summer birthday–in the dead of winter! Mia lives in New Zealand, so the season looks a bit different down under this time of year. But of course Mia was able to break through the chill and host an unforgettable murder mystery party!

Foulplay Games is turning six! To celebrate our sixth birthday, we’re sharing six lessons from six years of running a small creative business together.

Looking for a unique way to celebrate the sunnier weather? Whether you’re planning a backyard bash, a lakeside gathering, or just want to bring your friends together for something different, a summer murder mystery party is the ultimate warm-weather event. With a self-hosted murder mystery party kit, it’s easy to plan a party to bring together, friends, family, and neighbors. Here’s your step-by-step guide to hosting a summer murder mystery party that’s hot in all the right ways.

Ready to rewind to the raddest decade ever? Whether you lived through it or just love the fashion, music, and drama, a 90s-themed murder mystery party is the perfect way to throw it back and throw a party your friends won’t forget. Our game Die 4 U brings together pop stars, grunge rockers, and industry drama in a night of twists, secrets, and killer beats. Here’s your step-by-step guide to hosting a 90s murder mystery party that totally slaps.