Murder Mystery Team Building: A Fun Activity for Your Next Company Event

Finding a team building activity that everyone actually enjoys isn't always easy.

Some people love competitive activities. Others prefer something more relaxed. Some colleagues know each other well, while others may have barely spoken outside meetings. And if you're organising a company kick-off or corporate event for a larger group, the activity also needs to be easy to organise.

A murder mystery team building activity offers something a little different.

Instead of awkward icebreakers or another office quiz, colleagues become investigators working together to solve a fictional crime. They examine police reports, suspect interviews, photographs, messages and other evidence before deciding what they think really happened.

And because a printable murder mystery can be played by several teams simultaneously, the same investigation can easily become a competition between colleagues.

Here's how it works – and how to turn a murder mystery into a memorable activity for your next company event.

Why Murder Mysteries Work So Well for Team Building

Good team building activities encourage people to communicate and work together without making the activity itself feel like a corporate exercise.

A murder mystery does this naturally.

Players need to:

• Share information
• Listen to different theories
• Notice small details
• Organise evidence
• Solve problems
• Challenge assumptions
• Make decisions together

One person might notice something suspicious in an interview.

Someone else might spot that two timestamps don't match.

Another colleague may remember a detail from a police report that suddenly becomes important.

The team needs to combine those observations to solve the case.

That's teamwork – but it doesn't feel like a lesson about teamwork.

You're simply trying to catch a murderer.

How Does Murder Mystery Team Building Work?

The basic setup is simple.

Divide everyone into small investigation teams, usually around 3–4 people per team.

Each team receives the same murder case and investigates independently.

Depending on the game, the evidence might include:

• Police reports
• Suspect interviews
• Witness statements
• Crime scene photographs
• Maps
• Emails and messages
• Receipts
• Medical information
• Newspaper articles
• Other documents and physical clues

The teams work through the material, discuss suspects and gradually develop their theories.

At the end, every team submits its final answers.

Who committed the crime?

What was the motive?

Which evidence proves it?

Then everyone comes back together for the reveal.

Turn the Murder Mystery Into a Team Competition

This is where the format becomes particularly suitable for a company kick-off or corporate event.

Instead of everyone solving the mystery together, let the teams compete.

For example, imagine you have 24 colleagues.

You could divide them into six teams of four.

Every team receives an identical copy of the case and starts investigating at the same time.

Set a deadline and let them work independently.

When time runs out, each team submits its solution before the real answer is revealed.

You can then compare the results and crown the company's best investigation team.

Add a small prize if you want to make things more competitive.

How to Score the Teams

The simplest option is to award points for correct answers.

For example:

Correct murderer: 5 points
Correct motive: 3 points
Correct explanation of how the crime happened: 3 points
Important supporting evidence identified: 1 point each

You could also award a bonus point to the first team that submits a completely correct solution.

The exact scoring isn't particularly important.

The goal is simply to make teams commit to their theory before they discover what really happened.

That usually makes the final reveal much more entertaining.

What Group Size Works Best?

One advantage of printable murder mystery games is that the format can work for both small teams and considerably larger company events.

For example:

Groups of around 3–4 investigators per team tend to work particularly well.

They're small enough that everyone can participate but large enough for people to discuss different theories and divide the evidence between them.

For very large groups, you can simply create more investigation teams.

One Digital Game, Multiple Investigation Teams

This is one of the biggest advantages of using a printable murder mystery for a company event.

With Ink & Clues, you can purchase the digital game and prepare multiple copies of the case material for your internal company event.

That means you can give each investigation team the same evidence and let everyone solve the same case simultaneously.

You might print:

6 sets for 24 participants.

10 sets for 40 participants.

15 sets for 60 participants.

Every team investigates exactly the same crime, which makes comparing their conclusions afterwards much more interesting.

It also means you don't need a completely different activity for every group.

Important: Make sure the licensing terms of the particular game you choose allow the number of copies and type of company use you are planning.

Easy to Organise for a Company Kick-Off

Team building activities can quickly become complicated.

Venues need to be booked.

Equipment needs to be transported.

External hosts need to be available.

Participants may need special clothing or equipment.

A printable murder mystery requires very little preparation by comparison.

You primarily need:

The game
Download the case beforehand.

A printer
Prepare one set of evidence for each team.

Tables
Give each investigation team somewhere to spread out its evidence.

Pens and paper
Teams will probably want to make notes and create timelines.

A timer
Set a clear deadline for the investigation.

Optional prizes
Something small for the winning investigators can make the competition even more fun.

Then hand out the case files and let the investigation begin.

No Acting or Role-Playing Required

This is an important distinction.

When people hear "murder mystery", they sometimes imagine traditional murder mystery parties where every participant receives a character, dresses up and spends the evening pretending to be a suspect.

That can be great fun.

But it's not everyone's idea of a comfortable work event.

Investigation-based murder mystery games work differently.

Your colleagues don't need to play the suspects. They become the investigators.

Nobody needs to perform.

Nobody needs a costume.

Nobody needs to improvise a character in front of their colleagues.

Instead, teams receive an already-created criminal investigation and try to solve it.

For a mixed workplace group, that can make the activity considerably more accessible.

A Team Building Activity for Introverts and Extroverts

Some corporate activities naturally favour the loudest people in the room.

A mystery investigation doesn't necessarily work that way.

The colleague who isn't interested in performing in front of everyone might be excellent at spotting inconsistencies.

Someone analytical may start building a timeline.

Someone who enjoys reading people may focus on suspect interviews.

Another person might organise all the evidence.

Someone else may develop increasingly elaborate theories about the murderer.

Different ways of thinking become useful.

That gives team members opportunities to contribute without everyone needing to approach the activity in exactly the same way.

Murder Mystery Games Encourage Real Communication

A good investigation constantly creates reasons for people to talk.

"Wait, what time did he say he left?"

"Didn't the witness say something different?"

"Look at this photograph."

"What if we've misunderstood the motive?"

"Go back to the interview – I think we missed something."

Those conversations happen naturally because everyone is working towards the same goal.

Rather than being told to practise communication, participants communicate because they need each other's observations to solve the crime.

They Also Encourage Healthy Disagreement

Mystery games rarely produce one theory immediately.

One person becomes convinced that Suspect A did it.

Someone else thinks Suspect B is obviously lying.

A third person notices evidence that contradicts both theories.

Teams have to explain their reasoning, challenge each other's assumptions and eventually agree on a final answer.

That's one of the most interesting parts of the experience.

Being able to disagree, evaluate evidence and reach a decision together is valuable in almost any workplace.

In a murder mystery, it happens naturally.

Perfect for an Indoor Team Building Activity

Weather can make company events difficult to plan.

Outdoor activities are great until the forecast changes.

A murder mystery can be played entirely indoors, making it particularly useful for:

• Winter kick-offs
• Autumn company events
• Office parties
• Conference activities
• Rainy-day team building
• Evening activities after meetings
• Christmas parties
• Company retreats

You simply need enough tables for the investigation teams.

Use It as a Break During a Company Conference

A murder mystery doesn't necessarily need to be the entire event.

It can also work as an activity between more traditional parts of a conference or kick-off.

For example:

09:00 – Welcome and company presentation

10:30 – Coffee break

11:00 – Workshops

12:00 – Lunch

13:00 – Murder mystery investigation begins

15:00 – Teams submit their solutions

15:15 – Reveal and winning team announced

The investigation provides a clear change of pace after presentations and meetings.

Instead of listening, participants suddenly need to discuss, analyse and solve something together.

Combine the Murder Mystery With Dinner or Drinks

For a more relaxed corporate event, the mystery can become the entertainment for the evening.

Start with drinks and introduce the case.

Let teams begin investigating.

Take a break for dinner.

Then continue the investigation afterwards before collecting everyone's final theories.

This works particularly well if the goal is less formal team building and more of a company social event.

The mystery gives everyone something to talk about – including colleagues who might not normally spend much time together.

Mix Departments to Create New Teams

If the company is large enough, don't necessarily let everyone play with the colleagues they work with every day.

Mix the groups.

Put someone from marketing with someone from finance.

Combine developers with salespeople.

Mix managers and employees.

The murder mystery gives the newly formed team an immediate shared objective, which can make introductions feel much more natural than traditional networking exercises.

Instead of trying to think of something to talk about, everyone has a crime to solve.

Add Awards Beyond Just the Winning Team

You don't have to award only the investigators who solve the case correctly.

For a less serious competition, create several awards.

For example:

Best Investigation Team – most correct answers

Fastest Investigators – first correct submission

Best Detective Theory – most convincing explanation

Wildest Theory – for the most creative wrong answer

Best Evidence Spotter – for noticing an especially difficult clue

This can make the final reveal entertaining even for teams that completely accused the wrong person.

What Makes a Good Murder Mystery for Team Building?

Not every murder mystery is equally suitable for a company event.

For team building, we'd recommend looking for a game with:

Plenty of evidence

Teams need enough material to divide, discuss and analyse.

A logical solution

The winning team should win because they investigated well, not because they guessed correctly.

A reasonable difficulty level

Too easy and everyone finishes immediately. Too difficult and the event becomes frustrating.

A clear objective

Participants should understand what questions they ultimately need to answer.

A manageable playing time

Choose something that fits comfortably into the schedule of your event.

A format that works with multiple teams

Every group should be able to investigate independently.

How Long Should a Murder Mystery Team Building Activity Take?

This depends on the game, but you should generally reserve enough time for participants to properly investigate rather than rush through the evidence.

For many company events, around 1.5–2.5 hours can work well.

You can also set a hard deadline even if some teams haven't completely solved the case.

In fact, that can make the competition more exciting.

With 15 minutes remaining, suddenly every team has to decide which theory they're actually willing to submit.

Murder Mystery Team Building for Remote Teams

A digital murder mystery can also work for remote or hybrid teams.

Send participants access to the case material and divide everyone into smaller video-call rooms.

Each team investigates independently before returning to the main meeting to submit its solution.

This can be particularly useful for companies with employees in different cities or countries.

Instead of another virtual quiz, everyone has a shared investigation to discuss.

Is a Murder Mystery Appropriate for a Work Event?

For many workplaces, yes – but choose the game carefully.

Some murder mysteries contain graphic descriptions, disturbing themes or adult subject matter.

Always check the recommended age and content information before selecting a case for a corporate event.

You know your colleagues and company culture better than the game creator does.

Choose an investigation that fits your group.

Murder Mystery vs Traditional Team Building Activities

Escape rooms, quizzes, scavenger hunts and physical challenges can all make excellent team building activities.

A murder mystery simply offers a different type of experience.

It's particularly useful if you want something that is:

Easy to organise.

Playable indoors.

Suitable for small teams.

Scalable to larger groups.

Focused on communication and problem-solving.

Competitive without requiring physical ability.

Possible to organise at your own office or venue.

And perhaps most importantly:

It feels more like solving a crime than doing a team building exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions About Murder Mystery Team Building

Are murder mystery games good for team building?

Yes. Investigation-based murder mystery games naturally encourage communication, problem-solving, attention to detail and collaborative decision-making. Small teams can investigate the same case independently and compare their solutions afterwards.

How many people can play a murder mystery at a company event?

The exact number depends on the game and licence, but printable murder mysteries can work particularly well for larger events because participants can be divided into smaller investigation teams. For example, 24 participants could play as six teams of four.

What is the best team size for a murder mystery?

Around 3–4 people per investigation team is a good starting point. Everyone has an opportunity to contribute while there are still enough people to discuss different theories.

Can you use a murder mystery for a company kick-off?

Absolutely. A murder mystery can work as the main kick-off activity, an afternoon team building session or evening entertainment after meetings and presentations.

Do employees have to act or role-play?

Not with an investigation-based murder mystery. Participants can simply act as investigators examining an existing case rather than playing characters or suspects.

Can a murder mystery be played at the office?

Yes. You mainly need tables, case materials and somewhere for each team to discuss the investigation. This makes printable murder mysteries particularly convenient as indoor office activities.

Can several teams solve the same murder mystery?

Yes, provided the game's licensing terms permit your intended use. Giving every team the same case is actually ideal for a competition because everyone works from identical evidence and the results can be compared afterwards.

Can a murder mystery work for remote team building?

Yes. Digital case materials can be investigated remotely, with colleagues divided into smaller video-call groups before returning for the final reveal.

Turn Your Next Company Event Into an Investigation

A company kick-off doesn't have to mean another quiz, presentation or awkward icebreaker.

Give your colleagues a crime instead.

Divide everyone into investigation teams.

Hand out the evidence.

Start the clock.

Then see which team can piece together the clues, expose the lies and solve the case first.

Whether you're planning a small office activity, a company kick-off or a larger corporate event, a murder mystery can turn a few hours of team building into something people actually want to talk about afterwards.

And when the investigation is over, there's only one question left:

Which team deserves to be crowned the best investigators in the company?