Murder at Sea

Murder at Sea is a murder mystery game for 17 to 33 guests and one or two hosts. It is set on an ocean liner in the Atlantic in 1914, and characters include diplomats, dignitaries, and the crew. Download the free introductory pdf file.

Murder at Sea is a thrilling evening of plotting, mystery, and treachery. Your guests will be in the middle of the action, and it will be up to them to wheel and deal to get what they want. Will they achieve their goals, keep their secrets hidden, and survive Murder at Sea?

"We really enjoyed Murder at Sea, and in fact we extended the play to give more performing time!"
Katherine Clarke, United Kingdom

See stories and pictures from Murder at Sea

It is 1914 and the First World War has just broken out. On an American cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, diplomats, dignitaries and the crew must grapple with not only the outbreak of war but also the murder of Captain Bayard.

Who killed Captain Bayard – and why? Find out in Murder at Sea.

Murder at Sea lasts for about four hours and is suited to an evening. It is often played over a meal – a finger buffet if possible, to allow guests to circulate and talk in private.

"I really enjoyed Murder at Sea and thought that your materials were extremely well done."
Beverley Neyenhouse, United States

 

Includes rules for combat.

One character will die during the game, and will be replaced with a new character for that guest.

The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game and a cast list of all the characters.

Cast of characters

Crew

• First Officer Daniel Warren, 35. American. Competent First Officer, well liked by the crew and expected to be given command of a ship as soon as possible. Reports to the Captain.
• Second Officer David Whitworth, 47. English. Reliable and competent officer, previously sailed with the Royal Merchant Navy. Reports to the First Officer.
• Third Officer Christina Younger, 36. American. The highest placed woman in the Cruise Line and has sacrificed her personal life for her career. Reports to the Second Officer.
• Chief Engineer Brynneth Cawdra, 54. Welsh. An absolute genius with the mechanical and engineering operation of the ship. Reports to the First Officer.
• Engineer Reiner Tannhauser, 34. German. A fine engineer who speaks perfect English and thus may be suitable for promotion to another ship. Reports to the Chief Engineer.
• Entertainments Officer Vic Hammerstein, 49. American. Always provides lavish entertainment spectaculars for passengers. Reports to the First Officer.
• Master Chef Blaise de Richelieu, 50. French. Temperamental culinary genius, signed on by Hammerstein at great expense. This is de Richelieu's first voyage aboard the Libertania, and so far the cuisine is not up to expectations. Reports to the Third Officer.
• Chief Purser Chris Gamble, 33. American. Keeps a tight rein on the stewards and stewardesses, always impeccably neat and tidy. Reports to the Second Officer.
• Cocktail Stewardess Julia Morteblanca, 25. Italian. Previously worked in the Waldorf Astoria as America's first professional female cocktail mixer. Reports to the Chief Purser.
• Cabin Stewardess Catherine New, 18. English. Only recently joined the Libertania, but already knows everything about anything on board the ship. Reports to the Chief Purser.
• Cabin Stewardess Cynthia Petal, 32. Has been working aboard liners for half of her life, and is competent and well liked by crew and passengers. Reports to the Chief Purser.
• Trainee Steward Eric Lassiter, 20. Scottish. Training to be a steward. Reports to the Chief Purser.
• Cabaret Singer Jennifer Floreste, 41. American. Previously starred at the London Palladium, a famous singer on her last voyage. Reports to the Entertainments Officer.
• Ship's Padre Patrick Malloy, 55. Irish. Although a Catholic, administers to the spiritual needs of all passengers, regardless of their religion. Reports to the First Officer.

Passengers

• Sir Rory Canter, Baronet, 54. Rumoured to be the richest man in Great Britain. Lady Isabelle Canter, 33. Young and pretty wife of Sir Rory, was previously an actress and ballet dancer.
• Jeremiah Finkelstein, Industrial Businessman, 61. Owner of several large American manufacturing concerns, as well as the first aircraft factory outside of Europe.
• Rachel Finkelstein, Jeremiah's wife and business partner, 58. Rachel is renowned for her financial acumen.
• PJ Nichols, Singer, 27. Although predominantly a Music Hall singer and entertainer, PJ has recently returned from Hollywood, after 'trying out' for several of the main studios.
• Clark Ridgeway, PJ's Manager, 35. Has arranged several stupendously successful shows and tours for PJ in the past.
• Gilbert Ryce, American Secretary of State, 68. Ageing friend of the American President.
• Wilma Drew, Ryce's assistant, 32. Gilbert Ryce's assistant in the American State Department, always smooth and unruffled.
• Sir Ranulph Royston, British Minister of War, 63. A widower, Sir Ranulph's wife recently died in a riding accident.
• Elizabeth James, Sir Ranulph's Daughter, 19. Elizabeth is divorcing her husband after he had an affair.
• Maximilian von Grafenberg, German Procurement Minister, 47. Has been in America for the last year, and is now returning to Germany.
• Armin Oberhausen, Maximilian's assistant, 39. Armin is ambitious and some say fancies the Maximilian's job.
• Sasha Alexandrovich Ilyatkin, Russian Minister, 45. Sasha was in New York to sign trade agreements with the American Government.
• Eldon Dumlop II, American socialite, 47. Rich American heir to the Dumlop rubber fortune.
• Candice Dumlop, American socialite and Eldon's wife, 21. Very glamorous and flirtatious rich American.
• Marie Hati, French journalist, 40. Writes passionate columns for Le Monde, demanding equal rights for women, and increased spending on hospitals.
• Albert Wiggins, Sir Ranulph's assistant, 20. Often seen making notes about things during the journey.
• Aggie Marbles, American, 26. Aggie is travelling with the Finkelsteins. She has made a name for herself as an amateur sleuth.
• Lou Noble, American journalist, 41. Lou writes a bitchy society gossip column.

Murder at Sea is for 17 to 33 guests:

• 17 guests (7 male, 7 female, 3 any)
• 18 guests (7 male, 7 female, 4 any)
• 19 guests (7 male, 8 female, 4 any)
• 20 guests (8 male, 8 female, 4 any)
• 21 guests (8 male, 9 female, 4 any)
• 22 guests (8 male, 10 female, 4 any)
• 23 guests (9 male, 10 female, 4 any)
• 24 guests (9 male, 11 female, 4 any)
• 25 guests (9 male, 11 female, 5 any)
• 26 guests (10 male, 11 female, 5 any)
• 27 guests (10 male, 12 female, 5 any)
• 28 guests (10 male, 12 female, 6 any)
• 29 guests (11 male, 12 female, 6 any)
• 30 guests (11 male, 12 female, 7 any)
• 31 guests (12 male, 12 female, 7 any)
• 32 guests (13 male, 12 female, 7 any)
• 33 guests (14 male, 12 female, 7 any)

You also need one or two hosts, to organize the party and ensure everything runs smoothly. (We recommend two hosts, particularly if this is your first Freeform Games murder mystery party.)

How Freeform Games murder mystery games work

Murder at Sea is unlike other murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a murder, each character has several goals they must try to accomplish. While they may want to solve the murder, Murder at Sea contains plenty of other plots and secrets to keep everyone busy. Murder at Sea isn't scripted, and lets the players decide how to achieve their goals and thwart their enemies.

"Many of the people who came to play Murder at Sea were new to freeform games. We had a great time! Thanks!"
Melanie Westbrook, United States

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer.

They then receive their detailed backgrounds – including dark secrets, objectives, and money. When everyone has arrived Captain Bayard makes his introduction – then the lights go out and when they come back up Captain Bayard is dead! The fun then begins as everyone questions, bribes, and blackmails each other. As the evening progresses they may even try to murder one another!

Finally, the Libertania arrives at its destination and everyone finds out how they did, and what secrets everyone else was concealing.

Recommended for ages 15+

We recommend Murder at Sea for those aged 15+, as it contains the following themes: minor references to infidelity, and one character is the illegitimate child of two of the others.

Extra characters

Sometimes you have too many guests and need more characters. So most games have free extra characters (written by us or previous hosts) included in the download when you purchase the game.

• 'Ginger' Roberts – freelance reporter in search of the Big Story. (Any)
  (by Freeform Games)
• Seven extra characters – a group of seven extra characters (Any)
  (by Pauline Wilson)

Please note that we haven't always tested these – and they may not tie in exactly with our games.

"Thank you for a great site, fantastic games, good service and very quick reply. Keep up the good work." Ole Martin Brodwall, Norway

Cast Iron Guarantee

We offer a Cast Iron Guarantee on all our murder mystery games. If you're not completely satisfied with Murder at Sea then please let us know within 30 days and we will refund you. See our full terms and conditions, and our refund policy.

Trouble downloading? If you have trouble downloading the game files, please first check your spam folder. If you still can't find the download email, contact us with the name of the game and the email address you used to purchase it, and we'll resend it.