Death on the Gambia (8–11) 15+

Death on the Gambia – a 1940s murder mystery party game with a riverboat setting for 8 to 11 guests

"I hosted Death on the Gambia for a New Year's Eve party, and my guests loved it! It was our first time playing an interactive murder game, and they were all surprised at how much fun they had. They all marvelled at the complexity of the game, and they talked for quite some time, and are still talking about it several days later! Great game!"
Jennifer Vals, United States

Recommended for ages 15+
Costs US$29.99
Written by Steve Hatherley

Death on the Gambia is a dinner party murder mystery game for 8 to 11 guests and a host – download the free introductory pdf file.

Join us in a thrilling evening of plotting, mystery and treachery. You will be in the middle of the action and it will be up to you to wheel and deal with the other guests. Can you achieve your goals, keep your secrets hidden and survive Death on the Gambia? It's up to you.

Death on the Gambia

It is 1939 and across Europe countries are preparing for war. In the distant British colony of Gambia a smaller drama is about to unfold as the tramp riverboat Christabel starts a routine trip along the River Gambia...

Death on the Gambia lasts for about four hours and is suited to an evening. It is often played over a meal – a finger buffet if possible to allow guests to circulate and talk in private.

"Death on the Gambia was fantastic! The theme, game play, props, costuming, and murder and treachery was everything I hoped it would be for our Murder Mystery Party! If you like or think you might like a role-playing type party, this one is absolutely wonderful for family and friends from high school age and up!"
James Barnes, United States

The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game, a cast list of all the characters, and a copy of the Gambia Tribune – plus details of how to buy the game.

These are the characters in Death on the Gambia:

• • Alex Thomas – Chief buyer for the Happy Peanut Spread Company.
  • Captain Sam Ironheart – Captain of the Christabel.
  • Caroline Tanner – An English widow seeing the world.
  • Connor McDouglas – A rugged Scottish archaeologist, adventurer and finder of antiquities.
  • Dexter Fairchild – An intrepid big game hunter from England.
  • Gabe Schwartz – A brilliant German doctor bringing aid to the peoples of the jungle.
  • Jane Carter – An American journalist working for the Gambia Tribune.
  • Joey Keene – One of Gambia's finest detectives.
  • Marie Renard – A famous French artist.
  • Uzoma Katanga – A native of Gambia and First Mate aboard the Christabel.
  • Vic Townhill – An English missionary.

How Freeform Games Murder Mysteries Work

Death on the Gambia is unlike many murder mystery games. This game, unlike most of our mysteries, doesn't start with a murder. However, by the end of the journey it is unlikely that everyone will survive!

Death on the Gambia is played just like a murder mystery game. You may be trying to solve the murder, but primarily you are (initially at least) concentrating on your own goals and objectives. Unlike most boxed murder mystery games, Death on the Gambia lets you decide how to achieve your goals and thwart your enemies.

"Everyone enjoyed Death on the Gambia and came in character to the party and stayed in character the whole evening and even for the next week!! Thank you for the game. It made an unforgettable evening for my guests."
Anna Gísladóttir, Iceland

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer, the deckhand of the old riverboat. They then receive their detailed backgrounds - including dark secrets, objectives and money. When everyone has arrived the Christabel casts off and starts the voyage along the River Gambia to Bathurst, Gambia's capital city. The fun then begins as everyone questions, bribes and blackmails each other. As the evening progresses they may even try to murder one another! Finally, the Christabel arrives in Bathurst and everyone finds out how they did, and what what secrets everyone else was concealing.

Extra characters

Sometimes you have too many guests and you need more characters. So we've written a free extra character for each of our games that you can add in, and some of our customers have created their own characters for their parties and are kindly willing to share them.

• • 'Ginger' Roberts – freelance reporter in search of the Big Story. (Any)
    (by Freeform Games)
  • Akuchi Tamba – biologist studying River Fever. (Any)
    (by Lisa Perez)
  • Jenay Richfield – European fur shop owner. (F)
    (by Kimberly Flack)
  • Ousma Mbow – witch doctor. (Any)
    (by Andrew Delaware)
  • Sasha Simirnov – Russian poet. (Any)
    (by A. Fidan)

Please note that we haven't always tested these – and they may not tie in exactly with our games.