Distance doesn't have to rule out a murder mystery party. Friends and family spread across different cities — or even different countries — can still gather for a night of accusations and alibis, as long as you adapt the format slightly for video calls.
Choosing a Story That Works Online
Not every mystery translates perfectly to video, but plenty do with a bit of adjustment. Favor stories with dialogue-driven scenes over ones that rely on physical props or moving around a room, since guests will mostly be sitting at their screens the whole time. Browse Story to Die For's story library and filter by player count to find one that fits your group.
Sending Character Sheets
Since you can't hand out printed sheets in person, email or message character sheets a few days ahead so everyone can print their own or read them on a second screen during the call. Ask guests to keep their sheet private and off-screen so no one accidentally shares their secrets during a screen share.
Setting Up the Call
- Use a video platform everyone already has access to, so no one wastes the first ten minutes troubleshooting
- Ask guests to keep cameras on — reading faces is a big part of the fun
- Mute background noise where possible so accusations don't get lost in cross-talk
- Have one host manage the call and the story pacing, rather than splitting that role
Running the Night
Video calls make it harder to have side conversations naturally, so build in a round-robin structure — going character by character for questions and accusations — to keep things orderly. It won't feel exactly like being in the same room, but a clear turn order actually works better for a video call than free-for-all chaos would.
Plan Your Virtual Night
Browse the full story library to find your next virtual mystery, or read our full guide to hosting a murder mystery dinner for tips that apply whether you're in person or online.