Under the category "Murder Mystery Party", there are three sub-typess:
- Interactive
- Turn-Based
- Dinner Theater
Each of these types hold the spirit of a murder mystery, however the game mechanics are what set them apart. The game mechanics are how the game is carried out and played, and often reflects the size and nature of the event that the game is being held at.
Interactive murder mysteries are parties in which each guest takes on the role of a character and interact with each other based upon their character's information and background to discover which one is actually the murderer. The characters played in this sub-topic are complex, involving a personal history, personality, and relationships with other characters. The highlight of these characters is that each comes with their own set of personal goals to complete by the end of the event. Because of these character features, guests are able to interact with each other and create a more complex and personal reality than that immediately presented by the story. This sub-topic is more suited for smaller groups of people, ranging from somewhere around 10 to 30 people, and are often the type chosen for birthday parties.
Turn-Based murder mysteries are parties in which the guests go around in a circle reciting pre-written lines that are part of the game package, and from these dialogues, determine which character was the murderer. Each guest is given a character, and the party is divided into a number of rounds. Each round has the characters receiving packets with questions and answers that the guests go around in a circle vocalizing. From these planted clues, the guests must discover which character was the murderer. The ideal setting for this type of game would be at the dinner table with a small group of friends somewhere around 8-20 people.
Dinner Theater murder mysteries are parties in which a cast of actors play the story's characters and carry out the plot with the guests as observers attempting to solve the mystery. The name 'dinner theater' comes from this type's background of being hosted as a dinner event by an acting troupe at a restaurant. That is the most common setting for this type of party, as they are hardly ever used for personal parties unless booked through the group or venue. These are the larger capacity parties, as there are no characters to limit attendance. Additionally, these are commonly used for company parties or events.
If you are looking at purchasing a game online or in the store, the website or box should say on it what type the game is. (Note that there are no official names for the types, however these are frequently used descriptive words for them. You should easily be able to tell just by reading the how-to or description.)
Personally, I write interactive games and have found them to be a bigger hit for my guests than the other options because my target audience is generally birthday parties and people who have an interest in role playing. Otherwise, each type of game provides an immensely entertaining and exciting form of entertainment for everyone and any situation!
This post's vocabulary:
Interactive: Each guest is assigned an involved character and can freely interact with other guests to solve the mystery.
Turn-Based: The guests are assigned limited characters and take turns stating pre-written questions and answers with hidden clues to solve the mystery.
Dinner Theater: Guests watch the interactions of a cast of characters played by actors and must solve the mystery from what was presented.
♥Princessofherworld
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