7-Step Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Murder Mystery Party at Home

Hosting a murder mystery party at home is one of the quickest ways to turn an ordinary night into a lively, story-driven experience. With the right theme, characters, décor, and pacing, your living room becomes the setting of a thrilling whodunit, one your guests help unravel. Broadway Murder Mysteries makes hosting even easier with professionally written stories, Broadway-performed detective videos, pre-made evidence, character scripts, and online host tools. Whether you want a 1920s speakeasy, a haunted house mystery, a colourful 80s mall setup, or something family-friendly, their kits simplify planning so you can focus on the fun.

This guide walks you step by step through how to host a murder mystery party at home, whether you are a first-time host or already obsessed with whodunits. You will learn how to:

1. Pick a theme that fits your group
2. Build your guest list and assign roles
3. Turn your home into a theatrical set
4. Plan a murder mystery dinner menu that suits the story
5. Run the game smoothly
6. Keep everyone immersed, even shy guests
7. Deliver a grand finale that people talk about for week

Quick Overview: What’s In A Murder Mystery Kit?

If this is your first time planning a murder mystery party at home, it helps to know what a kit actually gives you.

A typical Broadway Murder Mysteries game includes:

• A detailed Host Guide for in-person play
• A Virtual Host Guide for Zoom or video chat
• 20-character scripts and booklets
• Evidence files and an evidence booklet
• Audio and video clues narrated by Broadway actors
• A curated Spotify playlist
• Zoom backgrounds and digital assets
• “Who Did It” slips and instructions for assigning the murderer at random

Every game runs in three acts. The murderer is chosen secretly at the start of the game, so you can replay the same murder mystery game for adults, teens, or families and get a different outcome every time.

You can choose between physical game kits (perfect if you love a tactile, giftable box) or digital downloads (great for last-minute planning and reprinting). Most games work for 3–20 players, and you can add extra “detectives” if your group is larger.

 Ready to see what a full kit looks like? Explore the physical murder mystery game kits here.

1. Pick the Perfect Theme & Setting

The theme is the backbone of your night. It shapes the costumes, décor, food, and even how people talk to each other.

Ask yourself:

• Are you hosting families, adults, or a mix?
• Does your group love silly chaos or elegant drama?
• Do they prefer spooky, glamorous, or nostalgic settings?

Broadway Murder Mysteries has a wide range of themes, from family-friendly games like Operation Save Santa and The Mystery of the Missing Golden Egg to more grown-up stories like Bullets on Broadway or Masquerade & Murder. Each game lists age suggestions and light content notes so you can pick the right fit for your crowd.

Which title matches your group size and vibe? Use our guide “Best Murder Mystery Game for Your Group: Ages, Themes & Group Size.”

Matching a Theme to Your Group

Think about what your guests would genuinely enjoy:

• Families and younger players: whimsical worlds, camp settings, or holiday capers
• Teens: 80s rollerskating rinks, 90s prom, or mall dramas
• Adults: 1920s speakeasies, old Hollywood, haunted manors, Broadway backstages

The good news is that you do not need a group of trained actors. Because the murderer is assigned at random in each game and every character script includes prompts, people can lean as much or as little into roleplay as they like.

Home-Layout Ideas: Living Room, Dining Room & Zones

Once you choose your theme, look at your space:

• Small apartment – One main room works fine. Arrange chairs in a circle for questioning and keep evidence on a coffee table.
• House with separate rooms – Make each room a “zone.” For example:
  • Entryway: check-in or police briefing area
  • Dining room: a formal gathering spot and murder mystery dinner party setting
  • Living room: the main stage for evidence reveals and accusations

You can mark “evidence zones” with printed clues, envelopes, or QR codes that link to the digital evidence videos from your kit.

Lighting is an easy way to transform your home. Soft lamps and candles fit a 1920s mood. Coloured string lights suit an 80s theme. A single spotlight on a “crime scene” corner instantly makes it feel dramatic.

2. Build Your Guest List, Assign Roles & Send Invitations

Kits come with 20 scripted characters, but you can easily host with 6–12 players, perfect for beginners learning how to host a murder mystery party at home.

How Many Guests Should You Invite?

• 6–12 players: ideal energy
• Under 6: still fun but less chaotic
• 12–20: great for outgoing groups, but keep pacing in mind

If someone cancels, simply reassign roles or turn a guest into a “detective.”

Invitations & Role Assignments

Broadway Murder Mysteries’ built-in Evite tool lets you:

• Assign roles automatically
• Send costume suggestions
• Share event details
• Track RSVPs

Prefer DIY? Use any invitation template and include:

• Theme
• Character name
• Dress code
• Arrival time
• Reminder to keep their role secret

3. Design the Atmosphere: Décor, Music & Lighting

This is where your house transforms.

Budget-Friendly Décor Ideas

• Print “Wanted” signs or vintage posters
• Use cheap tablecloths in the theme colours
• Make a DIY chalk outline on craft paper
• Use candles, lamps, and fairy lights for the mood
• Set up a photo corner with props

Music & Ambience

Use the playlists included with your kit or create your own:

• 1920s: jazz, swing
• 80s: synth-pop, rock
• Spooky: ambient horror, wind, thunderstorms

Hide speakers to make the sound feel environmental.

Peek inside the themed kits here 

4. Create the Menu: Food & Drinks to Match the Mystery

Food is part of the storytelling, especially if you're hosting a murder mystery dinner party.

Buffet vs Sit-Down Dinner

Buffet

• Casual, flexible
• Great for mingling and questioning between acts

Sit-Down

• Perfect for formal themes
• Let's you reveal clues between courses

Easy Themed Menu Ideas

• 1920s Speakeasy
• Shrimp cocktail, devilled eggs, sliders, martinis
• 1980s Mall
• Pizza bagels, nachos, soda floats, bright cupcakes
• Haunted Manor
• Red velvet cupcakes, stuffed mushrooms, smoky cocktails
• Mediterranean Mystery
• Falafel, hummus, olives, pomegranate spritzers

You can also plan your menu around this related guide: 5 Murder Mystery Dinner Menu Ideas 

5. Game Mechanics: How to Run It Smoothly

This is the heart of hosting a murder mystery party at home. Every Broadway Murder Mysteries game runs in three acts.

Before Guests Arrive

Prepare:

• Character booklets
• Evidence packets
• Question menus
• “Who Did It” slips
• Pens and ballots
• Audio/video clues queued up

During the Game

Each act follows a simple rhythm:

• Read or play evidence
• Characters ask one another questions
• Everyone tries to uncover motives
• Move to the next act when the energy drops

Timing Tips

Plan for 10 minutes per player:

• 6 people → 60–80 minutes
• 10–12 people → 90–120 minutes

Smooth pacing keeps guests immersed and prevents long gaps.

6. Encourage Immersion & Handle Common Challenges

Helping Shy or Outgoing Guests

For shy players:

• Assign quieter roles
• Pair them with a confident partner
• Encourage script-reading (it’s allowed!)

For outgoing guests:

• Remind them to give others space
• Ask them to help include the quieter players

Name tags help everyone stay “in character.”

Last-Minute Cancellations

If someone drops out, you can:

• Turn their character into an “off-stage” persona
• Give clues to someone else
• Add them as a detective instead

The scripts are flexible enough to handle sudden shifts.

7. The Grand Reveal, Awards & Wrap-Up

Accusations and theories are often the funniest part of the night.

How to Run the Finale

• Ask each guest to accuse someone
• Collect votes or let them share verbally
• Read the final statement
• The murderer reveals themselves last

If there's a tie, reveal both suspects before the truth comes out—it builds suspense.

Award Ideas

Hand out fun certificates such as:

• Best Costume
• Best Actor
• Most Dramatic Death
• Best Detective
• Most Unexpected Theory

Afterward, step out of character, enjoy dessert, take photos, and let guests unwind with a themed playlist or movie.

Bonus: Advanced Tips & Variations

DIY vs Kit-Based Games

DIY mysteries take a lot of time. Kits give you polished scripts, structured clues, professional narration, printable materials, and online hosting tools.

You can still customize:

• Menus
• Décor
• Character nicknames
• Added mini-games
• Side clues or inside jokes

Virtual or Hybrid Hosting

You can host a murder mystery game completely online. Use:

• Zoom backgrounds
• The virtual host guide
• Digital clues and videos

For hybrid nights, place a laptop where remote guests can see and participate in questioning.

Cost-Saving Hacks

• Borrow costumes
• Thrift décor
• DIY printed props
• Host a potluck tied to character backstories

Want family-friendly games instead? Explore our Family Collection

Summary Checklist

• Pick a theme that matches your group
• Build a manageable guest list
• Assign roles and send invites
• Design simple décor, music, and lighting
• Plan a themed menu
• Prepare game materials
• Follow the three-act structure
• Manage guest comfort levels
• Run accusations and award fun prizes

You’re now fully ready to host a murder mystery party at home that feels polished, immersive, and unforgettable.

Browse all themes and kits here

Explore physical gift-ready kits here

And if you're sharing the fun: Read: Why Physical Murder Mystery Party Kits Make the Best Gifts