Fun Team Building Scavenger Hunts & Murder Mystery Games
How Our Mystery Games Are Played, Themes & Other Details
Click here to learn how our murder
mystery games are played. Important
to read before you place your order. There are many different mystery game formats out there; you want to be sure our games are right for you. - Click here for our murder mystery themes, prime suspect descriptions and free script samples to download. Note: All our mysteries can be edited and adapted to suit your needs. Just be sure to maintain motives for the prime suspects.
- What’s included with our games
- Watch one of our murder mysteries in action
- Number of players/participants, length of the mystery game, pre-event prep time
- Example timeline for your murder mystery
- Don't see what you need? Please contact us. We're here to answer your questions.
HOW OUR MURDER MYSTERY GAMES WORK
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ
- ALL our murder mystery games are for large groups (20 to about 125 or so). They will NOT work for just 6-8 people like the boxed games.
- Depending on which mystery game you select, you'll need to provide 6-8 people to play the prime suspects. The rest of your participants will be divided into teams (usually each table represents a team) & will receive instructions for solving the case as a team. They’ll be assigned team roles and, to incorporate multi-tasking, they’ll be asked to complete a project (included with kit) while working together to solve the case. The other teams will judge that presentation. Each team’s speaker will present their findings at the conclusion of the mystery.
- Our kits provide you with 2 versions of the mystery:
- The Know It All Version: The prime suspects get the script/sequence of actions ahead of time and will know whodunit. Your suspects won't have to memorize a lot of dialogue but they will have to be familiar with a sequence of events/actions. They'll have to carry out suspicious activities to set themselves up as suspects and make sure their guests know some key facts. This format will allow them to better play off the participants and get them actively participating in the mystery.
- The Narrator Version: You'll add a narrator to narrate the mystery (tell the story) while the prime suspects act out what the narrator is saying. The suspects will not need to know whodunit in this version. They'll only get their character descriptions and some set up information ahead of time.
Here are our current themes. Click on any link to get more information.
We strongly encourage you to read a script sample (see below) before purchasing to make sure it will suit your needs. And please do read how our games are played - it's important because there are many different ways to play a murder mystery game.
Seamus O'Malley hires a public relations firm to help him put his cherished yet failing pub back in the black.
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- You can put this in any era you choose.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Flirtation between a married man and single woman. Drunkenness.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: None. Flirtation goes to motive to commit a murder. Drunken woman reveals bad behavior and a secret.
- Corporate adaptation: Instead of a pub make it your company.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95.
Y’all are invited to Miss Iggy’s, the best little whorehouse in Deadwood - or shall we say the deadliest?
- Requires 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Circa 1880 -The Old West at its best! (OPTION: You can put this in any era you choose.)
- You can change the name of this mystery to Dead in Deadwood AND you can have it be a dance hall & saloon instead of a bordello. The girls then become can-can girls and nickel a dance girls.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Bordello/prostitutes. Former religious zealot now turned madam. Gambling theme (lost bet). Married woman sleeping with another man.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: You can make it the best dance hall and saloon in Deadwood. The girls become can-can girls and nickel-a-dance girls. The religious zealot is completely optional. The married woman sleeping with another man is also optional but the woman still needs to be infatuated with the man.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Ebenezer Pennypincher is visited by a ghost who has a story to tell and a mystery to solve.
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- You can put this in any era you choose. We like the turn of the century.
- For your holiday party it becomes The Ghost Of Christmas Past but this script is adaptable to anytime of the year.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Affair.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: The affair can be eliminated but the 2 people must be very, very close friends to cause jealousy with the wife.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Director Eddie Cheek is looking for backers for his new movie so he’s throwing a gala shindig for interested parties.
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Includes auditions for your guests!
- You can put this in any era you choose.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Man dresses in women’s clothes. Gay man. Casting couch. Cheating and sleeping around.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: It’s hard to have Hollywood without all those things but you don’t have to have the man dress in women’s clothes. The other issues can be toned down but are important to the plot.
- Corporate adaptation: Eddie’s new movie can be about your company or your CEO and Eddie is using your employees as extras to give his movie “realism”.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get murdered, uh, sorry, married...Hippies and wealthy snobs just don’t mix!
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Circa 1969
- CONTAINS: Murders. May/December affair. A woman who drinks too much.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: The older woman having the affair with a younger man can be toned down to her have a mid-life crisis unrequited crush on the young man. The woman who drinks too much doesn’t necessarily have to although she does need to remain pretty mean and vindictive.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Our luau murder mystery. You’re invited to
one of Harold Logan’s
(in)famous luaus and a fundraiser for HAAL, The
Hawaiian Association of Authentic Leis.
- Requires 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- You can put this in any era you choose.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Psychic character. Use of a voodoo type doll. An ex-con stripper character. Gambling (minor references). Affair between stepfather and stepdaughter.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: The ex-con stripper can be toned down to being a waitress in a dive bar. Change the affair to an “unrequited love/crush for an older man” syndrome or the stepdaughter can be furious at her stepfather because she hoped he would actually stay married to her monster mom so she could have a dad. The gambling (card game) references are important but can be referred to then not mentioned again. The lucrative card games are why one of the characters wants to maintain ownership of a hotel. Psychic character is important. The voodoo-type doll is important.
- Corporate adaptation: This can be adapted as a corporate incentive trip.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Celebrate if you dare with Opossum State College’s Class of 1938 (or whatever year you choose). This reunion won’t be boring but you know it will be deadly. Do you dare attend?
- Requires 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- CONTAINS: Murders. A male character is somewhat abusive and mean to his wife. Flirtation (not affair) between an unhappily married woman and single man. Psychic character.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: All of these issues are important to the mystery. We don’t recommend deleting them.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
"Big Daddy" Sugarbaker, wealthy Southern
patriarch, must decide
which of his worthless, underhanded, crazy kin will inherit his
vast estate.
- Requires 7 to 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- EASY FOR FIRST TIMERS. EVERYONE HAS THE SAME MOTIVE: THEY ALL WANT DADDY’S MONEY.
- You can put this in any era you choose.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Reference to an affair. Gay man (still in the closet).
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: You can easily remove any reference to the man being gay and any reference to the alleged affair. Neither are motives for the murders.
- Corporate adaptation: This can be adapted to have Big Daddy become a partner in your company or be best friends with your CEO.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
A social for the 1979 graduating class of Rushmore’s Beauty Academy for Women.
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- All female cast.
- We love to make the women English or Southern.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Reference to a woman trying to kiss another woman.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: Remove the reference.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Our tribute to science fiction. Dr. Ernest Terrence
Mars (but you can call him E.T.) is a renowned scientist and an
expert in the field of alien research. His "flu eradication drug" (if that's what it truly is)
will be the talk of the medical world after he completes Phase
2 of the testing. You and your guests are alleged "Phase 2 test subjects".
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Modern day
- CONTAINS: Murders. There are lover relationships in this script.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: If you’re uncomfortable with these relationships, just tone them down and tone down any dialogue you think is too suggestive.
- Corporate adaptation: Your company has provided funding or has worked with E.T. Mars to help create this drug.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
1857, New Orleans. This Mardi Gras Ball will become a swashbuckling pirate adventure to search for a dead man's treasure chest.
- Requires 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Mardi Gras Ball is optional but please note the year is 1857 so costumes will probably need to be rented. You can move it to modern day but the whole pirate theme will lose some of it's fun.
- CONTAINS: Murders
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: None
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
The
Demise Of The Downhome Dealers
Major Country and Western stars Dixie Diver and the Downhome Dealers have come home to Mossy Bottom, Texas to announce the signing of their new contract with Good Ole Boys Records.
- Requires 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- No singing required (unless you want to).
- You can put this in any era you choose. Keep it in modern day or have it take place in the early 1940’s (Depression era) - think “O Brother, Where Art Thou”, the movie starring George Clooney.
- CONTAINS: Murders. A character gets drunk. There are references to a woman turning tricks. There is a single woman who thinks she's pregnant (she's not).
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: You can eliminate any reference to the woman turning tricks. The drunk character needs to be able to drink in his misery. The allegedly pregnant woman must stay in the script as is. She is actually quite innocent of any sexual act.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Circa 1920’s. Someone in the family is
out to destroy the Godfather. So much for loyalty to "da boss".
- Requires 7 to 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Great choice for your holiday party - make it A Very Mafia Christmas.
- CONTAINS: Murders and killings. Gangsters.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: None.
- Corporate adaptation: Our Godfather is taking over your company or forming an alliance with your company - you’ll all be one big “family”.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Devil's Gulch is cursed which makes its annual Halloween costume party doomed.
- Requires 8 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- Alternate Title: The Mystery of Devil's Gulch
- You can put this in any era you choose - we like the turn of the century.
- You can also do this one anytime of the year by changing the party to The Annual Groundhog Day Gala or The Annual Turnip Festival Gala, etc.
- CONTAINS: Murders. Occult and paranormal theme.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: None.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
An historical winery is forced to go up for sale and 6 people - some wine lovers, some not - would kill to get their hands on it.
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- You can put this in any era you choose.
- CONTAINS: Murders. One character has a bottle of beer he drinks from.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: None
- Corporate adaptation: A corporate meeting or incentive trip to the winery.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Gotham City has a mysterious benefactor. Or they did. Now he’s gone missing and it’s up to you to find him!
- Requires 6 people to play the prime suspects. For groups of 20 or more people.
- No murders, kidnapping only. Also includes a short, 15 minute scavenger hunt to find 5 clues.
- CONTAINS: A psychic character. A gambling addiction.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: The psychic can have an imaginary friend and think she’s psychic. The gambling addiction can be changed to a shopping addiction.
- Regular version: $24.95 | Team building version: $39.95
Copyright
laws and conventions protect all Haley Production's mystery games
Can’t decide on a theme? Download script samples of any mystery game and show these choices to your cast of primary suspects. Whichever script excites them the most is the one you should do. If they’re enthusiastic about the theme and the characters, you’re half way home to a great mystery evening.
Editing/changing a mystery: All mysteries can be edited for content so long as you maintain a motive for murder for each of the suspects. If you have ANY questions please contact us.
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Number of players/participants
Due to the interactive nature of the mysteries, they are best suited for groups of 20 to about 125 guests.
We recommend up to 12 teams of detectives (a minimum 4 to a maximum of 10 per team) plus your team of 6 to 8 suspects (your cast), depending on the script you choose.
Please allow approximately 2 to 2½ hours or more . In addition to solving the mystery, each team will have a project to complete during the course of the mystery (for multi-tasking and problem solving). We also highly recommend adding time for a team assessment discussion at the conclusion of the mystery. We include our nifty team assessment form with all team building versions of the game.
Here's a sample timeline (with a dinner*) for your mystery party
- Upon arrival, the guests (your detectives) receive a program that will be a guideline for the mystery (included).
- The primary suspects start to mingle in character and begin setting up the mystery with clues, arguments, gossip, that sort of thing.
- The guests witness the (1st) murder about 30 to 40 minutes into the mystery.
- Working around your meal plans, if any, the mystery continues to unfold with more dramatic action and more clues that will lead to the mystery's next murder or attempted murder.
- Your teams will also work on their team project - which is designed to challenge their multi-tasking abilities among other things - as they find time during the mystery.
- We suggest that as the main course is being cleared, the teams should present their short team project.
- As you reach the conclusion, there is a suspect line up so your teams of detectives can ask the primary suspects any final questions they may have before they fill out their detective evidence record/solution sheet (which they receive with their programs).
- Before the killer is revealed and after all the solution sheets are collected, each team presents their findings via their team speaker.
- The solution is dramatically revealed around the time dessert is served.
- Awards are presented and the mystery concludes.
- We recommend you include a debriefing and team assessment discussion here (team assessment form included with purchase of our team mystery games.)
Anything and everything that can be downloaded is included with this game. You can prep the mystery in an hour or two. You’ll need to print programs and other such documents, shop for small items (like a fake knife or other possible murder weapon) and organize the props (clues, etc.) and supplies but it’s all very simple to do.
In the mystery games where the suspects will know whodunit, we do recommend that you give your primary suspects about 2 weeks to get familiar with the mystery and to prepare their character. It takes at least one read through to get everyone (the suspects) straight. We also recommend that you all watch our little murder mystery movie to get a "visual". (By the way, that's your game designer, Susan Haley, lifting her skirts as Savannah Sugarbaker). Set a time to get together, perhaps add some food and drink to the "rehearsal", and just TALK through the script. Don't have everyone read it word for word - it won't help anyone really understand what's happening and it's pretty boring. We've always found that if you all talk through the action/sequence as your character, it helps loosen things up, people start finding the humor in their character and they get a better understanding of the whole picture. It's informal and relaxed - two things you need to alleviate some of the actors' nervousness.
