Lights Out at the Dinosaur Museum

A sleepover under a T. rex, a tooth as big as a banana, and somebody who was not asleep.

Families, ages 7 and upAbout 56 minutesAny time of year4 to 10 suspects

Allow about 65 minutes with a full table.

The story

It is sleepover night at the Brightwater Museum. At nine it was lights out. At half past, Big Rosie the T. rex was missing her biggest tooth. A no-scares mystery for kids and grown-ups together, for any night of the year.

No murder, no scares. Kids from about 7 can play, with a grown-up nearby to help younger readers. Grown-ups enjoy it too.

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.

Dr. DigbyDinosaur scientistWear: A white coat or a big white shirt, a small paintbrush, glasses, fluffy socks.
Flora FlutterbyKeeper of the Bug RoomWear: A sun hat, a butterfly net or a sieve on a stick, a jar with a paper bug in it.
Gil the Night GuardKeeps the museum safe after darkWear: A cap, a flashlight, a big ring of keys, a sandwich.
LuluTeen helper, far too cool for thisWear: Headphones, a hoodie, a phone you never look up from.
Max the Junior ExplorerJunior Explorers Club, badge number 12Wear: An explorer hat or a cap, a backpack, a magnifying glass or binoculars.
Ms. MarigoldTeacher in charge of the sleepoverWear: A cardigan, a clipboard, a ruler, a whistle.
Pat PennyRuns the gift shopWear: An apron or a name badge, a pencil behind your ear, price stickers.
Sir ClankGuide in the Hall of KnightsWear: Anything silver or grey, a cardboard shield, a broom handle for a lance.
Stella NovaRuns the planetariumWear: Something dark blue or sparkly, star stickers, a little flashlight.
StompyThe museum mascot, in a dinosaur suitWear: Anything green, a tail made from a stuffed sock, oven mitts for claws.

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.

BitsyThe smallest Junior Explorer, badge number 31Wear: Pajamas, a small blanket, a badge made of paper.
Grandpa NodGrown-up helper for the sleepoverWear: Pajamas or a robe, slippers, a sleep mask or a teddy.
Marsha MallowRuns the cocoa cartWear: An apron, a mug, a bag of marshmallows.
OggGuide in the Stone Age RoomWear: A furry blanket or a towel over one shoulder, messy hair, a cardboard club.
RivetThe museum's robot guideWear: A cardboard box with arm holes, kitchen foil, bottle tops for buttons.
SudsNight cleanerWear: Rubber gloves, a mop or a broom, a bucket.
$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

RivetThe museum's robot guide
Say this to introduce yourself

“BEEP. I am Rivet, the robot guide. I know 4,000 facts. Please ask me one. Please do not ask about the bathroom.”

Costume idea

A cardboard box with arm holes, kitchen foil, bottle tops for buttons.

About you

You are the museum's robot guide. You roll around the halls all day telling people facts. You count everything, and you never forget a number. At night you plug in to charge in the back corridor.

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

You are not a robot. You are Robin from the ticket desk, in a cardboard box. The real robot broke in March and nobody has noticed. "Charging" means you sit down and eat a cookie.

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

Big Rosie is forty feet long and has 58 teeth. You tell every visitor. Today 211 people asked you a question. For 190 of them the question was, "Where is the bathroom?"

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.