Mystery Party Games

Four mystery games to play

These are suggested games you can make with household objects and handwritten cards. The trophy case below is a complete fictional example; change the names if you like, but keep the clues consistent with the answer.

1. Who moved the trophy?

Have ready: three fictional suspect cards, three clue cards, an answer envelope, paper and pencils, and a cup or drawing to represent the trophy. Play seated or around one clue table. Children need to compare written clues or have someone read them aloud.

Tell the guests: “The talent-show trophy has disappeared from the display table. Alex, Bea and Cam each moved something while getting the room ready. Who moved the trophy, and where is it now?” The suspects are characters on cards, not children at the party.

Before guests arrive, write “Bea moved the trophy into the decorations box under the craft table” on a slip and seal it in the answer envelope. Write these suspect cards:

• Alex: Wears a striped scarf. Moved the chairs to the wall.
• Bea: Wears a star badge. Carried a box of decorations to the craft table.
• Cam: Wears a plain cap. Took the empty cups to the food table.

Write these clue cards:

• “The person who moved the trophy was wearing a star badge.”
• “The trophy went into a box with paper decorations.”
• “That box is now under the craft table.”

Give everyone the suspect cards first, then reveal one clue at a time. Rotate the child who opens each clue; read every clue aloud and leave it visible. After all three, give the group two minutes to discuss. Each child or team writes one name and one location privately, or tells the host quietly before anyone reveals an answer.

Open the envelope: Bea moved the trophy into the decorations box under the craft table. Her star badge matches the first clue, her box matches the second, and the third gives its location. Award one point for Bea and one for the location if guests want a score. All correct answers count; equal scores are ties. If nobody solves it, explain the clues and finish anyway. For this version, set a twelve-minute limit including the reveal; when time runs out, collect guesses and explain the answer.

Reset: Put the cards back in order and return the trophy. To play again with the same children, write a new answer and change every affected clue. Moving only the trophy would leave the old solution on the cards.

2. A picture-clue treasure hunt

Have ready: three picture cards, envelopes, a host copy of the route and a shared treasure box or favors. Use recognizable places within the area you’ve chosen for the game.

For an indoor example, hand the group a picture of the sofa. Put a picture of the dining table in an envelope on the sofa, then put a picture of a bookshelf on the dining table. The treasure is beside the bookshelf. Draw the actual furniture rather than a chair that could mean five different places.

Move as one group. A different child carries and opens each envelope; if there are more children than clues, add cards so each child gets a turn. With fewer children, take turns in the same order. The hunt ends when the group finds the treasure. There is no race or individual winner.

If they search the wrong place, point back to the picture and give one hint. If they still cannot find the envelope after a minute, show them where it is and continue. Set a ten-minute limit for this example; show the remaining route and treasure if time runs out. Everyone still gets their favor.

Reset: Collect every envelope, put the treasure back and check the route against your host copy. Use a different route for a repeat. For a yard version, browse games using existing yard features and outdoor party games before deciding where to put the clues.

3. Mystery bag guess

Have ready: an opaque bag, one familiar object for each round, and answer slips. A wooden spoon, a clean sponge or a toy car gives a different shape to describe. Choose objects suitable for your guests to handle; keep the bag on a table or pass it around a seated circle.

Place one object inside. Each child gets one ten-second turn to feel it without looking, then writes or quietly tells the host one guess. Ask everyone to keep guesses to themselves until the reveal. A child may pass; after the circle finishes, show the object even if nobody guessed correctly.

Try three objects, giving everyone the same number of turns. If you score, give one point for each correct guess and let tied players share the result. No tie-breaker is needed. With an odd number of guests, play individually rather than creating uneven teams.

Reset: Empty the bag, replace the object and collect the old answer slips. For a quieter version, let children point to a choice of pictures instead of calling answers out.

4. What disappeared from the tray?

Have ready: a tray, a cloth, five familiar objects, paper and pencils. For example, use a cup, spoon, pencil, toy car and small notebook. Everyone should be able to see the tray from their seat.

Give children thirty seconds to look. Cover the tray and remove one object out of sight. Uncover it, then give everyone thirty seconds to write or quietly tell the host what is missing. Collect all guesses before showing the removed object. End the round at the reveal, including when every guess is wrong.

Play three rounds with the same host removing objects so everyone gets three guesses. Award one point per correct answer if wanted; tied totals stay tied. Younger children can choose from pictures of the objects. With an odd number of players, everyone still plays individually.

Reset: Return the missing object before the next round and rearrange the tray. To make a later round harder, add objects before the viewing time starts; don’t change the rules halfway through a turn.