Murder at Sea (17–33) 15+

Murder at Sea – a 1910s murder mystery party game with a seaborne setting for 17 to 33 guests.

"We really enjoyed All at Sea, and in fact we extended the play to give more performing time!"
Katherine Clarke, United Kingdom

Recommended for ages 15+
Costs US$49.99
Written by Chris Boote

Murder at Sea is a dinner party murder mystery game for 17 to 33 guests and one or two hosts – 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 Murder at Sea? It's up to you.

Murder at Sea

It is 1914 and the First World War has just broken out. On an American cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, diplomats, dignitaries and the crew must grapple with not only the outbreak of war but also the murder of Captain Bayard.

Who killed Captain Bayard – and why? Find out in Murder at Sea.

Murder at Sea 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.

"I really enjoyed All at Sea and thought that your materials were extremely well done. "
Beverley Neyenhouse, United States

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

These are the characters in Murder at Sea:

• • Aggie Marbles – Amateur sleuth and friend of the Finkelsteins.
  • Albert Wiggin – English travel writer.
  • Armin Oberhausen – Maximillian von Grafenberg's ambitious assistant.
  • Candice Dumlop – American socialite and Eldon Dumlop II's wife.
  • Catherine New – One of the Libertania's stewardesses.
  • Chief Engineer Brynneth Cawdra – Libertania's Welsh Chief Engineer.
  • Chief Purser Chris Gamble – Libertania's American Chief Purser.
  • Clark Ridgeway – PJ Nichols's manager.
  • Cynthia Petal – One of the Libertania's stewardesses.
  • Eldon Dumlop II – Rich American socialite.
  • Elizabeth James – Sir Ranulph Royston's 19 year old daughter.
  • Engineer Reiner Tanhauser – One of Libertania's engineers.
  • Entertainments Officer Vic Hammerstein – Libertania's American Entertainments Officer.
  • Eric Lassiter – Trainee Steward aboard the Libertania.
  • First Officer Daniel Warren – Libertania's popular American First Officer.
  • Gilbert Ryce – American Secretary of State.
  • Jennifer Floreste – Libertania's American caberet singer.
  • Jeremiah Finkelstein – American industrial businessman.
  • Julilia Morteblanca – Libertania's Italian cocktail stewardess.
  • Lady Isabelle Canter – Sir Rory Canter's wife and previously an actress.
  • Lou Noble – American journalist.
  • Marie Hati – Glamorous French journalist.
  • Master Chef Blaise de Richelieu – Libertania's temperamental French chef.
  • Maximillian von Grafenberg – German Procurement Minister.
  • Patrick Malloy – Libertania's Irish padre.
  • PJ Nichols – Music-hall entertainer and singer.
  • Rachel Finkelstein – Jeremiah Finkelstein's wife and business partner.
  • Sasha Alexandrovich Ilyatkin – Russian Minister.
  • Second Officer David Whitworth – Libertania's competent Second Officer.
  • Sir Ranulph Royston – British Minister of War.
  • Sir Rory Canter – English Baronet and rumoured to be the richest man in Great Britain.
  • Third Officer Christina Younger – Libertania's female Third Officer.
  • Wilma Drew – Gilbert Ryce's assistant.

How Freeform Games Murder Mysteries Work

Murder at Sea is unlike many murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a murder, most of the characters have more important things to do than to investigate it. And the killing may not be over – it is unlikely that everyone will survive the remainder of the journey!

Murder at Sea 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, Murder at Sea lets you decide how to achieve your goals and thwart your enemies.

"Many of the people who came to play All at Sea were new to freeform games. We had a great time! Thanks!"
Melanie Westbrook, Oregon, United States

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer. They then receive their detailed backgrounds - including dark secrets, objectives and money. When everyone has arrived Captain Bayard makes his introduction - then the lights go out and when they come back up Captain Bayard is dead!. 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 Libertania arrives at its destination and everyone finds out how they did, and 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)
  • Seven extra characters – a group of seven extra characters (Any)
    (by Pauline Wilson)

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