Every guest gets a secret character. The evidence unlocks round by round, and the group votes on who did it. One lunchbox plays every case.
Setting up
- Open Games → Murder Mystery and choose a case from the Case library, or create a new one under Create with AI.
- Check the age guide on each case. The Midnight Museum Mystery is a family case with no murder.
- Under Host the game, type who is playing each character badge (1 to 6).
- Give each guest their numbered agent ID card. Each guest taps it privately to read their secret, alibi and goal. One of them learns they’re the culprit.
- Before Round 1, hide the two tokens your host screen names.
Playing
- Round 1, Arrival: read the introduction aloud. Guests introduce their characters and look for the first evidence.
- Round 2, Investigation: hide the next two tokens. The motive comes out, along with a red herring.
- Round 3, Final clues: hide the last two tokens, including the one that cracks the case.
- Accusation: everyone votes, then press Reveal the answer.
- A token tapped too early says it’s sealed until a later round. Press Refresh evidence finds to see what’s been found.
Questions
We have fewer than six players
Leave the extra ID cards unused and read those characters’ public descriptions aloud yourself.
We have more than six players
Extra guests play as detectives in pairs. They have no secrets and can question everyone.
How does Create with AI work?
Choose a setting, era, tone and age group, or press Randomise. Google AI writes a complete case for your six ID cards and six tokens, and it’s added to your library. If the button isn’t there, copy the prompt into Gemini and paste its answer back.
Do new cases cost anything?
The four built-in cases are always free. Cases you create with AI or by hand are saved to your lunchbox, which includes 3 of them. Extra slots cost R100 each. Saved cases stay with the lunchbox if you sell it.
Can the same group play again?
Yes. Pick a case they haven’t played, or create a new one. The tokens mean something different in every case.
Can guests see each other’s secrets?
Only by tapping someone else’s ID card, so keep the cards with their owners. A briefing stays hidden until its player taps “Show my secret briefing”.
Still stuck? Email support@lunchboxgames.co.za or use the contact form. Include your kit ID (on the activation card, such as S-AB3CD) or your order number, and we’ll get back to you within two working days.