Choose from proven mystery settings and be surprised.
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Create Your Own Setting
Describe the setting of your mystery story.
The template sets the location and time period. In the next step, you define the direction of the plot and the characters – the AI writes the complete story.
English Manor – Shadows Behind Velvet Curtains
Crackling fireplaces, muted conversations, and secrets whispering in ancient walls.
Luxury Yacht – Champagne & Betrayal on Open Seas
Gleaming moonlight on waves, sparkling glasses – and intrigues among high society.
Italian Villa – Tuscan Shadows
Vineyards in evening light, sweet scent of olives – and a secret maturing in the walls.
1920s America – Jazz, Gin & Dangerous Games
Smoky speakeasies, hot rhythms, and deals that can end deadly.
English Manor – Shadows Behind Velvet Curtains
Crackling fireplaces, muted conversations, and secrets whispering in ancient walls.
Luxury Yacht – Champagne & Betrayal on Open Seas
Gleaming moonlight on waves, sparkling glasses – and intrigues among high society.
Italian Villa – Tuscan Shadows
Vineyards in evening light, sweet scent of olives – and a secret maturing in the walls.
1920s America – Jazz, Gin & Dangerous Games
Smoky speakeasies, hot rhythms, and deals that can end deadly.
Vintage Hotel – Secrets in the Grand Hotel
50s glamour, neon lights, and shadowy corridors full of unspoken truths.
French Château – Intrigues Under Lilies
Vast gardens, flickering candles in ornate halls – and voices speaking of betrayal.
Orient Express – Murder Between Velvet & Silver
Elegant compartments, rattling rails – and a secret that mustn't travel along.
Scottish Castle – Mist Over the Highlands
Stormy winds, flickering torches, and ancient legends coming alive.
Victorian London – Fog & Gaslight
Enchanted alleys, flickering lanterns, and shadows knowing more than they should.
Tropical Private Island – Paradise with Depths
Golden beaches, rustling palms – and danger lurking beneath the surface.
Viennese Ballroom – Waltz of Intrigues
Glittering chandeliers, rustling gowns – and secrets hidden in the rhythm of music.
Secret Laboratory – Shadows of Science
Flickering monitors, humming machines – and an experiment that should never have happened.
College – Academic Intrigues
Venerable walls, whispering students – and a circle concealing more than knowledge.
Wild West – Dust, Blood & Vengeance
Creaking saloon doors, clinking glasses – and an oath granting no one peace.
Haunted Castle – Curses by Candlelight
Creaking floorboards, rattling windows – and a legend that perhaps doesn't sleep.
Mafia Bar in Naples – Blood & Honor
Smoky back rooms, flickering bulbs – and a power play in the shadow of old families.
Abandoned Forest Cabin – Snowed-in Secrets
Dark forest, crackling fire, and a past that won't stay silent.
Hamburg Reeperbahn – Lights & Shadows
Neon, sailors' songs, and a deal better left hidden.
Polar Expedition – Frost & Darkness
Icy silence, crunching snow – and a crew at the mercy of frost and their own secrets.
Venetian Masquerade – Masks of Deception
Gondolas at night, mysterious masks – and an intrigue lurking behind Venetian facades.
20 Themes verfügbar • Wische zum Durchstöbern
Verwende die Pfeil-Tasten oder die Navigationstasten, um zwischen den Theme-Seiten zu wechseln. Das aktuell ausgewählte Theme wird hervorgehoben.
How to create your murder mystery dinner in 4 steps
The configurator walks you through every important decision — from atmosphere to menu. Within a few minutes, you receive a complete murder mystery dinner as a PDF download plus web access for all your guests.
1. Choose your setting
Define the era, location and general mood of your mystery — from a classic 1920s murder case to a futuristic space thriller.
2. Configure the story
First choose the game mode — Guided or Free Investigation — then set atmosphere, complexity, plot-twist intensity and violence level. After that you describe the characters of the story. You can also draw on traits of your guests to tailor the mystery dinner even more closely to them. This is where your evening gets its character.
3. Plan the menu
Pick a themed 3-course menu that matches your setting. The AI considers allergies, diets and your preferred cooking time.
4. Generate & play
After checkout you receive PDFs for host and players, recipes, shopping list and web access — all generated automatically and available immediately.
Your game options explained in detail
Unsure which setting fits your group? Here we explain the most important configurator fields — so you know exactly what to expect before you start.
Guided or Free Investigation: which game mode fits?
The game mode is the first decision in the configurator — it determines how you investigate at the table:
Guided Investigation — The classic murder mystery structure with 3 fixed rounds, guided clue distribution and a clear flow. Scripted dialogues open each round, and everyone has concrete prompts for accusing and defending on their sheet: you always have lines at hand.
Free Investigation (new) — No scripted dialogues. Every character carries their own memories of the evening, you recount them freely and crack the case through the contradictions between them. It comes with a map of the location so everyone can follow the routes. This is as close to a real interrogation as it gets.
Both modes are fully developed and designed for the same 2.5 to 3 hour evening — you trade structure for freedom. Which one suits you is a matter of taste, not experience: even first-time hosts get along with either.
Atmosphere: Dramatic, Spooky or Humorous?
The atmosphere shapes the language, imagery and narrative tone of the entire story:
Dramatic — Intense and emotional, classic whodunit tone. Fits adult groups who want a serious mystery experience.
Spooky — Dark, eerie, with mystery elements. Perfect for Halloween, autumn evenings or horror fans.
Humorous — Silly and over-the-top, packed with situational comedy. Perfect for relaxed friend gatherings, birthdays and company parties where nobody should take things too seriously.
Complexity: how challenging should the case be?
Simple means a clear storyline with few suspects and obvious clues — ideal for beginners, families or evenings where guests should also relax and eat between courses. Medium adds multiple trails and twists but stays comprehensible. Complex is layered, with several parallel storylines and red herrings — built for experienced mystery fans who want real brainwork.
Plot Twist: how surprising should the finale be?
No twist means a straightforward resolution — the culprit follows logically from the clues. Light twist adds unexpected details without flipping the whole picture. Major twist reveals something at the end that casts everything in new light. Crazy turns the entire premise on its head — for groups who enjoy being left speechless.
Violence level: Family-friendly, Moderate or Brutal?
This slider controls how explicitly crime scenes are described:
Family-friendly — No blood, gentle crime (theft, intrigue, mysterious disappearance). Suitable from age 12, fits family evenings and mixed-age groups.
Moderate — Standard mystery atmosphere with appropriate crime details. The safe default for most adult groups.
Brutal (18+) — Intense, detailed crime scenes for adult groups that don't want kid gloves.
Host tips: make your murder mystery dinner unforgettable
The AI generates a complete game — but how you present the evening decides whether it's just good or truly unforgettable. Three levers are in your hands:
Describing the perfect setting
The more concrete your setting, the better the result. Instead of just "1920s", try "New Year's Eve 1925 in a secluded English manor during a snowstorm". Three dimensions help: the place (concrete, atmospheric, ideally enclosed), the time (era plus specific occasion), and the starting situation (why is everyone gathered — wedding, will reading, company anniversary). The AI processes these details during generation and uses them to anchor dialogue, motives and clues.
Working out and describing characters
If you enter real names of your guests, it pays off to add 1–2 short character traits, hobbies or running jokes. The AI weaves them subtly into the roles — a passionate home cook might become an ambitious restaurant owner, a frequent traveler a travel writer with a dark secret. Important: don't pre-assign roles — the AI decides who the culprit is. But the more vivid your character descriptions, the more they come alive in the game.
Creating atmosphere on game night
Lighting, music and a few props lift the evening from board-game night to a real experience. Our recommendation: ceiling lights off, candles or warm indirect light instead. Themed soundtrack in the background — included in the package. Three or four matching props are enough: an old clock, a mysterious letter, a glass of whiskey. Optionally a loose dress code: "dress elegantly" is often enough to put the group in the mood. And match the menu to the setting — a 1920s dinner gets gin fizz, not cola.
What's included in the generated package?
With your purchase you receive: a complete host PDF with the full flow and resolution, personalized character booklets for every player, a themed 3-course menu with recipes and shopping list, audio intros for atmosphere and 90-day web access so every player can comfortably read their role on a smartphone. No subscriptions, no hidden costs.
Frequently asked questions about creating your own murder mystery dinner
How many players do I need for a murder mystery dinner?
Crime & Dine .io generates games for 4 to 12 players. 6–8 people is considered the sweet spot — enough dynamics but still manageable. The Guided Investigation works for 4 to 10 players, the Free Investigation across the whole range of 4 to 12 players.
How long does a murder mystery dinner with meal take?
A murder mystery dinner usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours — split into three rounds of 30 to 60 minutes each (appetizer, main course, dessert). The exact length depends on how talkative your group is: a lively group tends toward 3 hours, a more focused group can wrap up in 2.5.
Do I need experience as a host?
No. The host PDF walks you through the evening step by step — when to hand out clues, which scenes to read aloud, how the resolution unfolds. That applies to both game modes: which one suits you is a matter of taste, not experience. If it's your first murder mystery, we recommend complexity "Simple" or "Medium".
Can I adapt the menu to diets and allergies?
Yes. In the configurator you pick the dietary style (vegetarian, vegan, mixed) and can add allergies and intolerances. The AI builds the 3-course menu accordingly — including shopping list and recipes.
What is the difference between Guided and Free Investigation?
In the Guided Investigation each of the three rounds is opened by scripted dialogues, and everyone has concrete prompts for accusing and defending on their sheet — you always have lines at hand. In the Free Investigation (new) there are no scripted dialogues: every character carries their own memories of the evening, you recount them freely, and the case emerges from the contradictions between them. Both are equally developed and equally long — it's a matter of taste, not experience.
Does the murder mystery dinner also work for kids or teenagers?
Yes, with the right setting. Choose violence level "Family-friendly" (no blood, gentle crime) and ideally complexity "Simple". This produces a case that fits ages 12 and up — without scary content. Important: The generated characters must be at least 18 years old — the game is set in an adult world, even when the content is family-friendly.
Which languages can I generate a murder mystery dinner in?
Currently in four languages: German, English, Spanish and French. You pick the language when creating — all generated content (story, characters, clues, recipes) is then fully in that language.
How much does a murder mystery dinner from Crime & Dine .io cost?
From €2.99 per player, with a minimum order value of €11.96 (4 players). For 10 players you pay €29.90, for 12 players €35.88. No subscriptions, no hidden costs — pay once, 90 days of access for all players.
