How to Host a Murder

Last updated
How to Host a Murder
Publishers Decipher, Inc.
Publication1983
Genres Murder mystery game

How to Host a Murder is a long-running series of boxed murder mystery games published by Decipher, Inc. Players take on the roles of suspects after a murder has occurred, [1] all attempting to expose which one of them is the murderer. The setting is supposed to be humorous, with players dressing in costumes and overacting their parts. [1]

Contents

The first game in the series, The Watersdown Affair, was published in 1985. Sixteen other How to Host a Murder games have been published since, [2] and the line has also spun off into lines like How to Host a Teen Mystery, a single adult How to Host a Mystery, the kids games How to Host a Kids Party & How to Host a Scavenger Hunt, and the more romantically inclined How to Host a Romantic Evening. The last release was in 2003, but Decipher announced in 2012 new material relating to the series would be appearing on their website, suggesting new releases may occur soon. [3] Decipher's website was updated to announce that these new games would be coming in 2017. [4]

Games

How To Host a Murder Editions

Episode numberName of episodeYear created
1 The Watersdown Affair 1985
2Grapes of Frath1985
3The Last Train From Paris1985
4Archaeologically Speaking, it's The Pits (AKA Matter of Faxe)1986
5The Chicago Caper1985
6Hoo Hung Woo1986
7The Class of '541987
8Power and Greede (AKA The Hollywood Premier)1985
9The Duke's Descent1990
10The Wall Street Scandal1991
11Roman Ruins1996
12The Good, The Bad, and The Guilty1996
13The Tragical Mystery Tour1998
14Maiming of the Shrew2000
15Saturday Night Cleaver2001
16An Affair to Dismember2003
Special All My Children 1991
Special Star Trek: The Next Generation [lower-alpha 1] 1992

How To Host A Teen Mystery Editions

Episode numberName of episode
1Hot Times at Hollywood High
2Barbeque With a Vampire
3Roswell That Ends Well

Reception

Creede Lambard reviewed The Watersdown Affair in Space Gamer No. 76, and commented that "And the verdict? I cannot recommend this game highly enough. If your dinner parties are becoming a bit dull, or if you and seven or more of your friends want to have a great time one evening, buy The Watersdown Affair." [5]

Notes

  1. The Star Trek: The Next Generation edition was released under the title "How To Host a Mystery".

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References

  1. 1 2 Tinsman, Brian (2003). The Game Inventor's Guidebook. Krause Publications. p. 85. ISBN   9780873495523.
  2. Appelcline, Shannon (2014). Designers & Dragons: The 90s. Evil Hat Productions. p. 238.
  3. RobinGoodfellow (2012-01-27). "Fight Klūb - Community". Decipher.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  4. Decipher announces howtohostamurder.com< Retrieved 10 January 2018
  5. Lambard, Creede (Sep–Oct 1985). "Capsule Reviews". Space Gamer . Steve Jackson Games (76): 35.