How long does a murder mystery party take?
A murder mystery party usually takes 2 to 3 hours. With Gather & Gasp you choose the length: Quick runs 1 to 2 hours (2 rounds), Classic runs 2 to 3 hours (3 rounds) and Epic runs 3 to 4 hours (4 rounds). The kit itself is usually ready 15 to 25 minutes after you order, and you print it at home.
Quick, Classic or Epic
The length depends on how many rounds the game has. Each round is a block of mingling, clue sharing and discussion, and more rounds mean a longer, deeper mystery.
You pick the length when you build the kit, and the story is written to fit it. A Quick game is not a trimmed-down Epic game. It is a shorter mystery.
- Quick: 1 to 2 hours, 2 rounds. Good for a weeknight or a tight window.
- Classic: 2 to 3 hours, 3 rounds. The most popular choice, and it works well with dinner.
- Epic: 3 to 4 hours, 4 rounds. For a full evening with a group that wants to dig in.
Which length should you choose?
Choose Classic if you are not sure. It leaves time to eat, mingle and reveal without anyone checking the clock. Choose Quick if guests have to leave at a set time, or if you want a mystery as part of a bigger event. Choose Epic when the mystery is the event.
Bigger groups take a little longer, because there are more people to talk to in each round. If you have 16 or more players, lean toward the longer end of your chosen range.
Guests who know each other well tend to chat more, and that stretches the evening too. Build in a small buffer rather than planning to the minute.
How long does prep take?
Plan on three small jobs. First, the kit is written from scratch for your group, and it is usually ready in 15 to 25 minutes after you order. We email you when it is ready, and bigger groups and long guest lists can take a bit longer.
Second, printing. Everything prints at home on letter or A4 paper. Color looks best, but black and white works. Third, reading the host guide through once and setting up any props. Most hosts find this takes less time than shopping for the snacks.
If you want costumes, send the booklets out one to two weeks ahead. That is the only step that needs a head start, and it is optional.
Fitting the party into your evening
Add time for arrivals and the reveal. Guests trickle in, so start the first round when most people have arrived rather than on the dot. The reveal and the vote add a short stretch at the end, and guests usually want to talk about what they got wrong.
A simple plan for a Classic game: guests arrive at 6:30, the game starts at 7:00, dinner is woven in between rounds and the reveal wraps up around 9:30. Adjust the times to your own evening.
Last-minute hosting
Because the kit is usually ready in 15 to 25 minutes, you can order it the same day as the party if you leave time to print and read the host guide. It works better with a day or two of margin, so you are not printing while guests arrive.
Themes that fit
- Haunted Gothic Mansion: Works at any length, from a Quick hour or two to an Epic evening. Create this one
- 1920s Speakeasy: A Classic 3-round game fits a dressed-up dinner party in this setting. Create this one
Questions hosts ask
Can I play a short version?
Yes. Quick is 1 to 2 hours with 2 rounds, and the story is written to that length.
Which length works best with dinner?
Classic, at 2 to 3 hours and 3 rounds. It leaves room to eat between rounds without rushing the mystery.
How long until I get the kit?
Usually 15 to 25 minutes after you order. We email you when it is ready, and bigger groups and long guest lists can take a bit longer.
How much time should I leave for setup?
Leave time to print everything, read the host guide through once and set up any props. Order a day or two ahead if you can.
Do the number of players change the length?
Slightly. More players means more people to talk to in each round, so larger groups tend to use more of the time range.
Choose my length and build
Written for your exact group, ready in about 20 minutes. Standard kit $19.99. Or see your own friends cast as suspects in the free sample first.