A murder mystery game does not necessarily require everyone to be sitting around the same table. If your friends or family live in different citiesāor even different countriesāyou can still investigate a case together over Zoom or another video call.
Case-file-style murder mystery games are particularly well suited to remote play because the experience revolves around examining information, discussing theories and connecting evidence. Instead of acting out characters in the same room, everyone can work through police reports, interviews, photographs and clues from their own screen while discussing the investigation over video.
Remote play does require a little preparation, however. You need to decide how everyone will access the case files, how evidence will be shared and how you will keep the investigation organised. With the right setup, a virtual murder mystery can feel surprisingly similar to solving a case together around a table.
How does a murder mystery over Zoom work?
The basic idea is simple: everyone joins the same video call and gets access to the investigation material. The group then works through the case together, discussing suspects, examining evidence and developing theories just as they would if everyone were in the same room.
This works particularly well with murder mystery games based on investigation rather than roleplay. If the game gives you case files to examine instead of assigning each participant a character to perform, players do not need to be physically together for the core experience to work.
Zoom is one option, but the same approach can be used with other video-calling platforms. What matters is that everyone can communicate easily while accessing the documents needed for the investigation.
Make sure everyone can access the case material
Before the game begins, decide how the investigation material will be viewed. Depending on the game and its instructions, players may be able to access digital case files on their own devices. If the material is designed to be shared between players, everyone can then examine documents while remaining on the video call.
Another option is for one person to control the main case material and use screen sharing when the group needs to examine a particular document. This can work for a smaller group, although it gives one person more responsibility for navigating the investigation.
If possible, having each player able to view relevant evidence themselves is usually more convenient. Someone can study an interview while another person checks a photograph or timeline, and the group can then compare what they have found.
Using screen sharing for important evidence
Screen sharing is particularly useful when everyone needs to focus on the same clue. If the group discovers a suspicious photograph, map, timeline or document, one player can put it on screen while everyone discusses what it might mean.
This also helps prevent conversations from becoming confusing. Instead of someone saying ālook at the document from earlier,ā the relevant evidence can be placed directly in front of everyone.
However, avoid relying on screen sharing for every single page if the case contains a large amount of material. Waiting for one person to scroll through documents can slow down the investigation. A combination of individual access and occasional screen sharing usually creates a smoother experience.
Use two devices if possible
If you have the option, using one device for the video call and another for the investigation material can make remote play much easier. For example, you could keep Zoom open on a laptop while viewing case documents on a tablet.
This means you can continue seeing and talking to the other players while reading evidence at the same time. If everything is on one small screen, repeatedly switching between the video call and case files can interrupt the flow of the investigation.
You do not need an elaborate setup, though. A single laptop can still work perfectly well, particularly if you are comfortable arranging the video call and documents in separate windows.
Should everyone investigate the same evidence together?
Not necessarily. One of the advantages of playing remotely is that you can divide parts of the investigation between players. One person might concentrate on witness interviews while another examines photographs or builds a timeline of events.
The important part is to keep communicating. If everyone silently investigates different documents for too long, the experience can start to feel like several people solving the same mystery independently rather than a group investigation.
A good approach is to examine material individually for short periods and then return to the discussion. Share anything suspicious, explain why you think it matters and let the other players challenge your interpretation. Often, one person notices a detail that only becomes important when another player connects it to something else.
Keep a shared timeline and suspect list
Murder mysteries can quickly become complicated when several suspects, locations and times are involved. When playing around a physical table, groups often organise documents into piles or write notes on paper. Over Zoom, it helps to recreate some of that structure digitally.
You can nominate one player to keep track of important times, alibis and contradictions, or maintain a simple shared document that everyone can refer to. You do not need anything sophisticated. Even a basic list of suspects with notes about motive, opportunity and alibi can prevent useful information from disappearing into the conversation.
Try not to turn the game into administrative work, though. The notes should help the investigation rather than record every detail in the case.
Can you print the game when playing remotely?
Yes. Remote play does not mean the entire game has to remain digital. If the murder mystery is printable, each location can choose to print some or all of the case material where appropriate.
For example, a couple playing from one home might print the investigation while another player joining from elsewhere prefers to read the material on a tablet. As long as everyone has access to the information they need and the game's sharing conditions allow it, the group does not necessarily have to use identical setups.
A mixture of printed and digital material can actually work very well. Players who enjoy spreading evidence across a table can still do so while participating in the same video call as everyone else.
How many people work well for a virtual murder mystery?
Remote murder mysteries can work with both small and larger groups, but conversation becomes more important as the number of players increases. With two or three people, everyone can usually discuss evidence naturally. With a larger group, several people may try to speak at once or some participants may become less involved.
If you have a bigger group, divide the investigation informally. Different players can take responsibility for examining particular parts of the evidence before bringing their observations back to everyone else. This gives each person something meaningful to contribute without turning the game into a rigid set of roles.
Do virtual murder mysteries need a host?
Not necessarily. Some murder mystery formats require a host to organise characters, reveal information or guide the evening. Case-file investigation games can work differently because the mystery itself provides the structure.
If the game is designed as a cooperative investigation, everyone can begin with the available evidence and work through the case together. One person may still take responsibility for starting the video call, helping with screen sharing and making sure nobody accidentally opens the solution, but they can usually participate in solving the mystery as well.
This is useful for remote groups because nobody has to sacrifice their own experience by knowing the answer in advance.
Avoid accidentally revealing the solution
When everyone is opening files on different devices, make sure the solution remains separate from the investigation material. Before the call begins, players should understand which files belong to the case and which should remain unopened until the group is ready to check its conclusion.
Be equally careful when screen sharing. Check which window or screen is visible before opening folders or switching between documents. Accidentally displaying a file named āsolutionā may not reveal the culprit directly, but it can still spoil the atmosphere at exactly the wrong moment.
Make the video call feel like a real game night
Just because everyone is in a different location does not mean the evening has to feel like another online meeting. Agree on a starting time, get drinks and snacks ready and remove the distractions you would normally avoid during an in-person game night.
You can also give the investigation a proper beginning rather than immediately opening every document. Start by reading the case introduction together, establish what you know about the crime and then begin examining the evidence.
Most importantly, talk through your theories. The fun of a murder mystery is not simply reaching the correct answer. It is the process of accusing the wrong person, discovering that an apparently insignificant detail matters and gradually watching a plausible explanation emerge from the evidence.
Playing an Ink & Clues murder mystery remotely
Ink & Clues creates digital murder mystery games built around case files rather than traditional character roleplay. Players investigate using materials such as police reports, interviews, photographs, documents and clues, looking for contradictions and connections that can reveal what happened.
Because the games are delivered digitally, they can be convenient when players are not all in the same location. Depending on the individual case and its requirements, you can work with digital material, printed documents or a combination of both. Some Ink & Clues games also use online elements, so it is worth checking the requirements for the particular case before your remote game night.
If your group enjoys solving cases together, the complete Ink & Clues game bundle gives you multiple investigations to work through. That can be particularly useful for a group that meets online regularly and wants a new case for future virtual game nights.
So, can you play a murder mystery over Zoom?
Yes. A murder mystery based on examining evidence and solving a case can translate very naturally to a video call. Everyone needs access to the relevant information, a reliable way to communicate and a simple system for keeping track of suspects and important discoveries.
For the smoothest experience, use separate devices for the video call and evidence when possible, share important documents on screen when everyone needs to examine them and keep the solution safely out of sight. Once the practical setup is taken care of, distance matters surprisingly little. You can still debate alibis, challenge each other's theories and experience that satisfying moment when the pieces of the case finally begin to fit together.
