Games with alternative or multiple solutions

by Nicole
(Delaware, USA)

Do any of the current mystery murder games on the market contain multiple solutions to the murder or alternative victims and murders depending how the game progresses?

My response:

What an interesting question!

No, I can't think of any games that are exactly what you are talking about - where there are multiple solutions depending on how the murder mystery party goes.

I can't even think how I would go about writing something like that!

However, there are a few games that do vary depending on how the game progresses.

In Happy Birthday RJ, the murder could be any one of four or five characters - and the host decides who did it depending on how the game has played out. (So in that sense there are several potential murderers - but only one victim.)

Murder at Sea starts with a murder, but the game contains a simple combat system that allows the despicable characters to try and kill each other during the party. As a result, there may be several murders during the game (although there is still only one murder solution, as apart from the original murder victim, there's no telling who will die during the game).

Death on the Gambia, meanwhile, doesn't even have a predetermined murder! The game uses the same combat rules as Murder at Sea and as a result there's no telling which of the characters will make it through to the end of the murder mystery party!

I hope that helps answer your question!