Most Likely to Be Guilty

A twenty-year reunion, a time capsule full of secrets, and one very quiet class president.

Grown-ups, PG-13About 65 minutesAny time of year4 to 10 suspects

Allow about 75 minutes with a full table.

The story

It is the Pinecrest High twenty-year reunion. Tonight the class president was going to open the time capsule and read out every secret sealed inside it. He never got the lid off. A funny murder mystery for any night of the year.

Funny and a little wicked, no gore. Fine for teens. Nothing graphic, plenty of bad behavior.

The suspects

With four guests you play four of these. With ten you play them all. Each guest gets a secret, an alibi and a costume idea. One of them gets a lot more than that.

Brooke SullivanProm Queen, now sells leggings onlineWear: A purple sash, a plastic tiara, a lot of bangles, far too much hairspray.
Coach Ray DelgadoGym teacher and football coach, still hereWear: Polo shirt, sneakers, a whistle on a white cord, a stopwatch on your wrist, clipboard, shorts in any weather.
Dana OkaforClass clown, now a funeral directorWear: A black suit, a flower in the buttonhole, a stack of business cards.
Debbie "Raven" PlunkettClass goth, now a kindergarten teacherWear: All black clothes, dark lipstick, a sheet of gold star stickers.
GaryNobody is quite sureWear: A name tag that says GARY in marker, a full plate of food.
Heather VossClass vice president, now a dentistWear: A neat sweater, a big ring binder, a name tag that says VICE PRESIDENT.
Jen CastilloYearbook editor, now a true-crime podcasterWear: A big microphone or a phone held like one, a notebook, headphones around your neck.
Marcus BellDrama club star, now an actorWear: A scarf indoors, sunglasses, a photo of yourself to hand out.
Priya NairValedictorian, now a tech bossWear: A blazer, white sneakers, a purple conference lanyard, a smartwatch you keep checking.
Tyler "Tank" KowalskiStar quarterback, now sells used carsWear: A purple and gold letterman jacket that no longer zips, a class ring.

Witnesses, for parties of 11 to 16

A witness saw something and cannot be the guilty one. Each gets a costume idea and a secret, and votes at the end.

DJ Kev MahoneyTonight's DJWear: Big headphones, a cap on backwards, the loudest shirt you own.
Dolores KruppLunch lady, then and nowWear: A hairnet, an apron, a ladle.
Kayleigh DunnPinecrest senior, running the coat checkWear: A hoodie, a phone you never put down, a roll of raffle tickets.
Lenny TuttleReunion photographerWear: A camera round your neck, a vest with a lot of pockets, a hat.
Mrs. Agnes WhitlockMath teacher, retiredWear: Glasses on a chain, a red pen, a very large handbag.
Otis GrubbSchool janitorWear: A work shirt, a big ring of keys, a mop or a broom.
$24.99

for the whole party, not per guest

  • 4 to 10 suspects, plus witnesses and detectives
  • Played on phones. Nothing to print, no app
  • Still works if a guest cancels
  • About an hour. You play too
  • Refund if your party has not started

Or give a mystery party as a gift

See a sample character

Dolores KruppLunch lady, then and now
Say this to introduce yourself

“Dolores Krupp. I served every one of you lunch for four years. I know who went back for seconds. I know who cried.”

Costume idea

A hairnet, an apron, a ladle.

About you

You have run the Pinecrest cafeteria since before these people could drive. Tonight you came in to make your famous meatballs for the buffet. You remember what everybody ate, and you still judge them for it.

Your secret. Keep it quiet unless someone asks you straight out.

Your famous meatballs come frozen, in a ten-pound bag, from a warehouse store. So did the ones you served for thirty years. You have never told a soul.

Your part

You are a witness. You did not do it, and nobody can accuse you. Each round you get something you saw or heard. Share it when it matters, and tell the truth when someone asks you. You vote at the end like everyone else.

Round 1

You know this

At 7:15 Chip came into your cafeteria and took a whole tray of meatballs "for the head table." There is no head table. You watched him eat them alone in the hallway, practicing his speech on the drinking fountain.

This is one of the six witnesses, exactly as that guest sees it on their phone. Suspects get the same, plus an alibi and questions to ask in every round. One of them gets a cover story instead. Rounds two and three stay sealed until the party.

How a party works

  1. Pick a mystery

    Choose a ready-made one or have one written for your guests. One price covers the whole party.

  2. Share the link

    Guests scan a code or tap a link. No app and no account. Deal the characters early so people can plan costumes.

  3. Play it on your phones

    Three rounds of short clues, a lot of questions, one big accusation. The app runs the game, so you get to play too.

Questions

How many people can play?

Four to ten guests play suspects. At a bigger party the next six play witnesses: named characters with a costume and a secret, who saw something and cannot be the guilty one. Anyone beyond sixteen, and anyone who would rather not act, plays a detective: they question the suspects and vote at the end. Up to 40 phones can join one party.

Can I buy one for someone else to host?

Yes. After you pay, choose "Buying this for someone else?" and send them the host link. Whoever opens it first becomes the host. You can still join their party as a guest.

What if someone cancels, or turns up late?

The story still works. Every mystery is written so the important clues never depend on a guest who might not come. If a guest with a key character leaves, another player takes that character over with one tap. Late arrivals join as detectives.

Do guests need to download anything?

No. They open a link or scan a QR code and type their first name. It runs in the phone's web browser.

Do I have to print anything?

No. Characters, clues and voting are all on the phones. If you have a TV, you can put the evidence on it for the whole room.

Does the host know who did it?

No. The app deals the characters and keeps the answer hidden until the reveal, so the host plays like everyone else. The host might even be the culprit.

Are the mysteries written by AI?

Yes. They are written with AI. Software then checks each one: for every possible guest list, every innocent suspect can be cleared and the clues point to one culprit. The ready-made mysteries are also given to AI test readers one round at a time, without the answer, to see whether they can be solved. The About page has the details.

How long does it take?

About an hour with up to eight suspects: three rounds of 12 to 15 minutes, then the vote and the reveal. With a full table of ten suspects and six witnesses, allow about 75 minutes. The host moves things along, so you can stretch it over dinner or keep it quick.

Is there a free one I can try?

Yes. The Case of the Missing Marrow is free for 4 to 6 players and takes about 34 minutes. No payment and no account: start it from the Free mystery page and share the link. It is shorter and simpler than the full mysteries, which play with up to 16 characters.

Do I get to choose the mystery?

Yes. Every mystery has its own page and its own buy button, and you get the one you pick. Nothing is random. If you change your mind before your party starts, the host screen lets you swap to another ready-made mystery at no cost.

Is it suitable for kids?

The family mysteries have no murder, nothing scary and short, simple clues. They work well from about age 7, with a grown-up nearby to help younger readers. The grown-up mysteries are PG-13: a comic murder, no gore.

What do I get for $24.99?

One party: a private party code, every character and clue for up to 40 guests, the host controls and the reveal. It is one payment for the whole group, not per person. You can swap to a different ready-made mystery free of charge any time before your first game starts.

I lost my host link. What now?

Use Find my party with your party code, which is on your receipt, and the email address you paid with.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, if your party has not started yet. Write to us within 14 days of buying and we will refund you.