How to score points at the end of a murder mystery party

A murder mystery party is played for fun first. But a little scoring at the end adds real stakes: everyone has a reason to investigate well, and even the killer can win. Here is how it works in our cases.

The idea

At the end, after the solution is read, the host collects the accusation sheets and counts each player's points. The exact scale is in the host's book of each case; here is the general idea.

What earns points

• The right killer: the main reward.
• The right motive: understanding why, not just who.
• Real evidence: quoting the case file that genuinely incriminates the killer.
• Secret goals: each character has goals in their file, act by act. Each player honestly says which ones they achieved.

And the killer?

The killer plays against everyone. In our cases, they score if most players accuse someone else. A good killer can finish first, even after being suspected all evening.

In case of a tie

The host's book includes a tie-break rule. In The Vernier Case, for example, the player who quoted the most real evidence wins.

Why secret goals change everything

Thanks to the goals, even a player who did not find the killer can finish well: they protected their secret, obtained information, made someone talk. Everyone plays their own game inside the shared investigation. That is what keeps everyone active until the end.

Do you have to keep score?

It is not compulsory. Some groups prefer simply to read the solution and talk about it. But scoring has one advantage: it gives the evening a clear ending, with a "best detective" to applaud.

An idea to finish

Prepare a small symbolic prize for the best detective and another for the killer if they got away with it: a chocolate medal, a "best liar" badge. It is often the final photo of the evening.

To prepare for that moment, read how to nail the final accusation, and the rules explained simply.