Looking for the best online murder mystery games to play right now? These are our 15 favourite cases from the MurderMysteryTime library, ranked from easy to expert. Every one is a complete investigation you play in your browser: a police report, the crime scene, suspect interrogations, physical evidence and a single accusation at the end. No download, no app, and it works on a phone, a tablet or a laptop shared by a group. The first case is free.
How our online murder mysteries work
- Read the case file. The police report sets out the victim, the scene and the suspects.
- Investigate. Examine the crime scene, read witness statements and interrogations, and compare the evidence.
- Accuse once. You get one accusation. Name the killer and see whether your reasoning holds up against the full solution.
Most cases take 30 to 90 minutes. You can play solo, as a couple or with friends around one screen.
Easy cases: the best place to start
1. The Last Curtain Call (free)
A celebrated actress is found dead in her dressing room on the night of a sold-out West End premiere, and four people close to her had reasons to want her gone. Short, fair and completely free: the perfect first case. Play The Last Curtain Call.
2. The Clockmaker's Secret
An elderly master clockmaker is found dead in his workshop among hundreds of ticking clocks. A cosy, classic whodunit where timing is everything. See the case.
3. The Poisoned Pen
A famous mystery novelist dies at her writing desk with her last book unfinished. A treat for crime fiction fans. See the case.
4. The Botanist's Garden
A world-renowned botanist is found lifeless in her private greenhouse. A gentle introduction to reading evidence carefully. See the case.
5. Whispers in the Wine Cellar
A wine estate owner is found dead in his centuries-old cellar on the night of a private tasting, and every guest has a history with him. Ideal for a relaxed date night. See the case.
Medium cases: more suspects, sharper twists
6. Shadows Over Blackwood Manor
A lord is found dead in a study bolted from the inside. A proper locked-room mystery in a house full of secrets. See the case.
7. Murder at the Masquerade
A socialite is found dead in the garden of a Venetian palazzo during a masked ball. Every guest wore a mask, and one of them is hiding a killer. See the case.
8. The Frozen Trail
A legendary mountaineer dies in his alpine lodge on the night a blizzard cuts off the mountain. Nobody could leave, so the killer is still inside. See the case.
9. The Final Voyage
A shipping magnate is found dead in his cabin during an evening cruise off the Amalfi Coast, with six guests on board. See the case.
10. The Vanishing Violinist
A world-famous violinist is found dead in her rehearsal room, and her priceless Stradivarius has disappeared. Two mysteries in one. See the case.
Hard cases: for experienced detectives
11. Death on the Orient Line
A diamond merchant is found lifeless in his locked compartment aboard a luxury night train from Istanbul to Vienna, hours from the next stop. See the case.
12. Death at the Grand Imperial
A legendary hotelier dies in his penthouse during a New Year's Eve gala while 400 guests toast midnight downstairs. See the case.
13. Darkness at Vesper Ridge
An avalanche traps five people at a mountaintop observatory, and by morning the director lies dead beneath the great telescope. No one else could have reached the summit. See the case.
14. Ashes of the Lighthouse
A true crime podcaster investigating an old disappearance is found dead below a remote Scottish lighthouse during a storm. Accident or murder? See the case.
15. Requiem for a Ballerina
A prima ballerina is found lifeless in her dressing room after a triumphant final performance at the Palais Garnier. See the case.
Which case should you play first?
- Brand new to murder mysteries: start with The Last Curtain Call, then The Clockmaker's Secret.
- Date night: Whispers in the Wine Cellar or Murder at the Masquerade.
- You love locked rooms: Shadows Over Blackwood Manor and Death on the Orient Line.
- You want a real challenge: Darkness at Vesper Ridge or Ashes of the Lighthouse.
The free case is open to everyone; the rest of the library, more than 20 cases, is included in a premium plan. Browse them all in the case library.
Prefer to play on paper?
The same kind of investigation also comes as printable mystery games: cold case files, escape rooms, party kits and detective puzzle books you print at home.