How to Plan the Perfect Christmas Murder Mystery Party: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you're thinking of planning a murder mystery party for the Christmas season, you've come to the right place! Murder mystery parties are an exciting, engaging, and fun way to entertain your friends, family, or colleagues during this festive time of year. However, planning a mystery party can be overwhelming if you're not sure where to start. Fortunately, we're here to help!
In this post, we'll provide a step-by-step strategy guide on how to plan the perfect Christmas murder mystery party.
Choose a Game:
Select one of our Christmas-themed murder mystery games that excites your guests and fits in with your number of players. Our games have a character range with a minimum number of players and a maximum number of players. Once you have your guest count, take a look at possible themes! Would your friends be interested in a Hollywood Christmas mystery or a festive 1920s Jazz party?
Pick a Venue:
Once you have your theme picked out, it's time to choose a venue. For in-person parties, do you have space in your home or will you need to rent a venue? As long as you have space for guests to have private conversations, you are good! We used to host murder mystery parties in 500 sqft apartments back in the day so you likely have enough space in your house and apartment.
You can also choose to play your murder mystery game online on Zoom, Discord, Gather, or another virtual platform.
Send Invitations:
Send festive and engaging invitations that match the theme of your party. Be sure to include all the important details like the date, time, location, and instructions on dress code if needed. We have Pinterest boards for all of our games here that you can send to your guests for costume inspiration. You can use Canva to create a design, an Evite platform, or create a Facebook party event. Feel free to use a simpler platform as well such as email or text.
Assign Your Characters:
When it comes to planning a Christmas murder mystery party, assigning your guests to their suspects is key. All of our murder mystery games come with a character assigning guide which outlines major and minor characters, how to assign the victim to another character so they can keep playing after the murder, and how to assign characters without knowing whodunnit. We have tips and tricks on how to assign under special circumstances, for example if you have shyer guests, kids who want to play, and more! After you assign your guests, you will send them their character profiles before they arrive at the party.
Prepare the Game:
Now that you have your characters assigned and sent out, it's time to prepare the game. Depending on if you are hosting online or in-person will determine how you set up.
If you are hosting in-person, you will print out all of your party materials and set them aside. The run of show in your host guide will let you know when and who to hand the materials to throughout the game. Remember to print the solution and set it aside, and no peeking if you don't want to know whodunnit!
If you are hosting online, you will keep your files in an easy-to-access place on your computer to send out during the party. An easy way to do this is to have the files prepared ahead of time and then ready to send through Google, chat, or email. If you are hosting in-person, you will print out your party materials and set them aside. The run of show in your host guide will let you know when and who to hand the materials to throughout the game. Remember to print the solution and set it aside, and no peeking if you don't want to know whodunnit!
Add the extra special touches:
Once your game is prepped, now is the time for any fun, extra special touches! Use our Christmas Pinterest board for decoration inspiration and costume ideas, grab holiday-themed snacks and appetizers, and choose a themed Christmas playlist. The possibilities are endless!
Conclusion:
And there you have it, a step-by-step guide on how to plan the perfect Christmas murder mystery party. Remember to have fun with it and be creative. Your guests will appreciate the effort you put in, and they're sure to have a great time. With these steps, you can plan a Christmas murder mystery party that your guests will continue talking about for years to come. Merry mystery solving!
Murder Mystery Party Holiday Best Sellers!
Behind the Curtain: A Christmas/Holiday Hollywood Murder Mystery Game
🕒 Game Time: 2-3 hours
🧑🤝🧑 Number of players: 6-10 players, 9 Gender-Neutral Characters, 1 Character using she/her pronouns
🖥️ Play Online or In-Person with you and 9 friends!
🎥 Theme: 1950s Holiday Vintage Hollywood
🎞️ Inspired By: Tinseltown, Hollywood, and a love of movies!
✨ The Host can play without knowing whodunnit!
Please note this game is a digital party game kit with files that can be used for print and play in-person or used to play online on Zoom, Discord, or other virtual platforms. No physical game will be shipped.
Perfect for theater and Broadway lovers and first-time murder mystery players!!
Your Story Starts Here!
Well-known actress and former darling of the silent film era, Frances Beck, has spent most of her career hosting colorful parties and secret soirees throughout the years. It is an honor to be invited and even harder to stay on the guest list. Now aging and retired, Frances has announced her intentions to release a tell-all book, Behind the Curtain, detailing the sordid lives of Hollywood’s elite. She’s invited the cream of the crop to her estate for a holiday celebration and the first glimpse at her new story. But would anyone kill to keep these secrets under wraps?
CONTENT WARNING: Reference to alcohol consumption, mild romance, extramarital affairs, pregnancy, mild violence, and suggestive themes
Recommended For Ages 16+
Characters:
Carey Carter - GN An up and coming star if there ever was one! Carey has dazzled audiences and Hollywood elites alike, thanks to their tragic backstory and golden stage presence.
Ronnie Tanner - GN Ronnie is one of the most successful producers in the biz.
Dana Charles - GN Dana Charles is a star on the level with Frances Beck. Their chilling, mysterious demeanor and classical acting style has put them on the map since Frances left the spotlight.
Pat Beck - GN Pat Beck is the long-time spouse of Frances Beck. It’s been said that they don’t particularly care for the spotlight the way Frances does.
Frances Beck - F One of the most famous Hollywood actresses of all time, Frances had a long career before she retired a few years ago and moved her family out to her private estate.
Hollis Shaffer - M Hollis is the long-time unassuming butler to the Becks. They have seen a lot in their years of service, but are loyal beyond a doubt.
Shelby Beck - GN The youngest child of Frances Beck, Shelby has made a small name for themselves in Hollywood.
Everett Beck - GN Everett is the eldest child of Frances Beck. They never had the talent their mother or sibling had, and have remained the elusive and somewhat bitter recluse of the Beck family.
Jules Foster - GN Jules is the diligent assistant to Ronnie Tanner. They make sure everything in Ronnie’s office is in order, handle their schedule, and take care of other matters.
Lou Hammond - GN Lou is the top agent in Hollywood, representing top stars like Carey Carter and Frances Beck before she retired.
Bailey Gibson - GN Bailey is a stunt performer and is seeing a lot of action in Hollywood, both on and off the camera!
Download Instantly and Plan Your Party Today!
Foulplay Games are immersive, interactive mystery experiences able to be played online or in person. Before the game, players receive a character profile with a backstory, personality traits, and various goals to accomplish. Once the game begins, guests "act" as their character, interacting with others, moving through scenarios, while investigating, bribing, or blackmailing other characters. Then, spoiler alert, a murder takes place! After that, players receive their Goals and Objectives for the rest of the game. The murderer knows they are the killer and is trying to cover their tracks while the other players are trying to figure out whodunnit! Many players will have secrets of their own to hide. In the end, there are awards for Best Performer, Costume, and more and players have an opportunity to share their secrets with the rest of the group. As Host, you can play a character and keep the identity of the murderer a secret, even from yourself!
Your Game Comes With:
A Host Guide walking you through all the steps you need to host your game, Character Profiles and Goals and Objectives, Name Tags, Play Money, Item Cards, and Foulplay Cards, Best Costume, Best Performer, Shadiest Player, and Wealthiest Player Award, Evidence and Solution, A Pinterest Board and Spotify Playlist and BONUS: Instructions on how to host your game online if you choose!
About Us:
Foulplay Games is a women-owned creative business based in Seattle, WA! We write murder mystery games for geeks! Learn more about us at https://foulplayco.com
🎄Murder on the High Note: A Holiday 1920s Murder Mystery Game🎄
🕒 Game Time: 2-3 hours
🧑🤝🧑 Number of players: 6-10 players, all Gender-Neutral Characters
🖥️ Play Online or In-Person with you and 9 friends!
🥂 Theme: 1920s Jazz Club Holiday Speakeasy
🎵 Inspired By: The Great Gatsby, the Roaring 20s, and more!
✨ The Host can play without knowing whodunnit!
Please note this game is a digital party game kit with files that can be used for print and play in-person or used to play online on Zoom, Discord, or other virtual platforms. No physical game will be shipped.
Perfect for lovers of mob movies, flappers and foulplay, and first-time murder mystery players!!
Your Story Starts Here!
Welcome to 1920s New York City, where swinging jazz, barely-secret speakeasies, and infamous mobsters rose to prominence with Prohibition. Broadway star Raye Reynolds knows fame is as fleeting as a saxophone riff. That’s why they opened the Velvet Note Lounge to ensure their wealth doesn’t fade with their beauty. Tonight is their annual holiday party, and Raye has gathered those closest to them for a special announcement. But the music turns sour with a shocking murder, and everyone has a motive in this cutthroat town. Will the killer be found before the final note is played?
CONTENT WARNING: Mild violence, extramarital affairs, mild references to alcohol, suggestive themes
Recommended For Ages 16+
Download Instantly and Plan Your Party Today!
