The highly successful dinner-and-crime evenings have also made murder mystery dinners at home extremely popular. The professionally organized crime dinners are often held in magnificent historical settings with a great deal of effort. Star chefs are usually hired to create a multi-course menu. Prices from € 70 upwards are common.
Crime dinners at home are much cheaper and usually much more fun, as only friends, acquaintances and family members are part of the game. You can find out all about murder mystery dinners – and murder mystery dinners at home – here!
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What is a murder mystery dinner at home?
A murder mystery dinner is an interactive theater play as part of a multi-course dinner, during which a crime has to be solved. The audience are usually part of the plot themselves and help to solve the case. Sometimes some people from the audience also take on a role within the play.
At a murder mystery dinner at home, each player takes on a role in the murder mystery.
How does a murder mystery dinner work?
At a professionally organized murder mystery dinner, the participants are first welcomed by the actors and the audience may be assigned small roles in the play.
They now receive their instructions and the dinner begins with the starter. Either the mysterious crime to be solved is explained or a “murder” takes place at the table right at the beginning. The participants are now required to look out for clues given to them by the actors over the course of the evening and solve the case.
During dinner, questions can be asked and possible solutions discussed. The finale takes place during dessert, where every member of the audience is asked to give a tip as to who they think committed the crime. And last but not least, the murder mystery is solved.
At a murder mystery dinner at home, all participants are always actively involved in the plot and have to embody a specific character in the story. In order to fully immerse themselves in the respective character, the participants in a murder mystery dinner at home receive a script a few days before the game, which instructs them on how to act. Sometimes they are also given a costume suggestion, as players in costume make the story seem even more realistic.
Most of these murder mystery dinner parties, which take place at home, are suitable for people aged 16 and over and usually last between 3 and 4 hours.
Which murder mystery dinner at home is the best?
We have tested some of the most popular murder mystery dinners for at home and present our 5 favorites and a special for the Christmas season here.
Murderous dinner party: Death on the London Express
In addition to a party planner for the game, the game box for this variant also contains suggestions for the menu and music selection as well as role books for 6 to 8 guests with dialogs, strategy suggestions and hints for solving the case. Also included is a radio play CD with tips for solving the murder (also available via MP3 download link). There are also invitations, place cards and character descriptions with matching costume suggestions.
The case itself is set in Scotland at the beginning of 1936, shortly before Edward VIII’s planned accession to the throne. The overnight express from Edinburgh to London is suddenly forced to stop due to a tree blocking the tracks and the conductor is found murdered. It soon becomes clear that only a first-class passenger can be the murderer. But who? Because each of the suspects is harboring a dark secret.
6-8 players
approx. 180 minutes
From 18 years
31,90 €
You absolutely must have played this murder mystery dinner!
Perfect for all puzzle fans and NOW on offer at OPOLUM.
Murder Mystery Party: Deadly Wine
Five years ago, the well-known winemaker Barry Underwood from California’s Nappa Valley disappeared without a trace during the annual wine festival. But then this previously unsolved case takes a surprising turn.
Barry’s family and friends meet up again, as they do every year, on the evening of the wine festival in the manor house of the Underwood vineyard to taste the latest vintage and dine in style. Then an earthquake shakes the west coast of the USA and the old floorboards lift. Underneath, the shocked guests discover the remains of the missing man. It soon becomes clear that his death was a murder.
During the following dinner, the guests gradually uncover the murderer. In addition to an audio app, the game contains all the necessary utensils and instructions for a twist-filled and exciting murder mystery dinner at home and is suitable for 6 to 8 people.
Murderous dinner party: The red angel
This case is set in the legendary Berlin film studios in Babelsberg in the Roaring Twenties, in 1928 to be precise. The actress Zarah Leandros was hired for the role of “The Red Angel“, which was to be her big breakthrough. But then the screen goddess dies under dubious circumstances in the no less dubious establishment “Kakadu”. Did someone from her entourage murder her?
Professor Magnussen, a highly respected spiritualist in Berlin at the time, hopes to make contact with the deceased diva at a séance and thus solve the mysterious circumstances of her death.
This murder mystery dinner for at home is suitable for 6 to 8 participants and contains menu and music suggestions, 8 role books with dialogs, clues and strategy suggestions. The plot is also accompanied by an audio CD or MP3.
6-10 players
180-240 minutes
From 16 years
34,90 €
Our team couldn’t get enough of this game – an absolute top recommendation.
You can also order this murder mystery dinner for at home directly from our online store.
Culinario Mortale: permanent campers, canned beer and a corpse
This murder mystery dinner for at home combines the ideal world of an idyllic campsite in the Eifel with a mysterious murder. What begins as a relaxed closing party for the permanent campers turns into a deadly mystery when the chain-smoking owner Gisela Nickel is found murdered in the reception area.
The long-time permanent campers have ended the summer together in harmony over canned beer and bratwurst, but now they suddenly have to find out which of them murdered Mrs. Nickel. Did someone have a motive to get the grumpy landlady out of the way? Or was it one of the new guests who found it difficult to integrate into the tight-knit community?
6-8 players
180-240 minutes
From 16 years
22,90 €
The game captivates with its quirky characters and rustic camping flair. Es ist ideal für alle, die eine lockere, humorvolle Atmosphäre lieben, aber trotzdem nicht auf Spannung und Intrigen verzichten wollen.
Crime dinner Christmas special: Culinario Mortale: Advent, Advent a grave light burns
A murder mystery dinner that combines the festive atmosphere of a classic Christmas evening with a deadly secret. Dorothea Krone, strict matriarch and boss of a successful Christmas bakery, invites her family to the annual Christmas party.
But this year, the contemplative mood is abruptly shattered when Dorothea is found lifeless in her bedroom. The already fragile harmony within the family is shattered for good. Everyone in the house has a secret, and the question of which of those present would be capable of such a terrible act lies like a shadow over the family.
“Advent, Advent a grave light is burning” is perfect for the winter season and can be combined particularly well with a festive menu and Christmas decorations.
4-6 players
120-240 minutes
From 16 years
22,90 €
Dark suspense paired with family dynamics make for an evening full of surprises and unexpected twists – ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to settle for just cookies and presents during the Christmas season.
Deadly Dinner: Red carpet to disaster
This home murder mystery is also set in the acting world, but in Hollywood in 1959. At the end of a day of filming for the movie “The Legionnaire Who Loved Me”, audience favourite Henry Steward is found beaten to death in his caravan. His Oscar statue, which has obviously been misappropriated as a murder weapon, lies next to him. The film crew now try to find out which of them could be responsible for the brutal murder.
This game box also contains all the necessary utensils for a successful murder mystery evening in a private setting and is designed for 6 to 8 participants.
Also interesting for a game night
Crime games for adults
If you are also interested in crime games in addition to crime thrillers for at home – we have tested the best ones for you and recorded them in a blog.
Best exit games for at home
Are you looking for the best exit games? We have tested the best ones for you and listed our top 9 exit games for at home in this blog.
Conclusion: Crime dinners at home are a hit
A murder mystery dinner at home is an exciting and extremely entertaining way to spend an unforgettable evening in private. In most cases, the story continues to provide amusing reflections and discussions even after the case has been solved.
But it’s best to try out this game variant yourself to form your own opinion. However, we can reveal this much about each of the cases listed above – they are all worth the money!
Are you in the mood for adventure and puzzle solving? At OPOLUM you won’t just find tricky puzzles and an exciting story – we’ve taken our Escape Room Hamburg to a whole new level. By using live actors who actively intervene in the stories, you’ll completely forget that it’s just a game. Sounds good? Then book one of our exciting adventures now!
