Forgotten MysteryDetective Game
Forgotten Mystery games come in three forms: online cases you play in your browser, printable games you print at home, and apps for your phone. Here is how each one works.
Our online cases run in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer. There is nothing to download. One case is free and you can start it right away, with no sign-up and no credit card. A membership unlocks all the other cases. A case takes about 20 to 45 minutes, depending on how closely you investigate.
You can sign in with Google or with a link sent to your email, or continue as a guest. Guest progress is saved only on the device you are using.
Every online case follows the same seven investigation stages:
The final accusation is the whole game. Accuse the wrong person and the killer walks free. Before you name anyone, go back over the statements and the forensic reports and look for the one detail that does not fit. Each case is written so that the answer can be reached by reasoning, not by guessing.
All cases are fiction. The characters, places and events are made up. The cases are made for teens and adults (13+) and contain no graphic violence.
Our printable cold case files are PDF investigations you print at home and solve alone or with a small group of 1 to 6 players. Plan 2 to 3 hours for a full case. Each file is a stack of documents such as police reports, statements, receipts and phone records, and each product page lists the exact number of documents and pages.
Every cold case file comes in two editions: full colour and printer-friendly. Print the case file single-sided. You buy once and download the PDF straight away. Nothing is shipped.
Some cases come with sealed envelopes A, B and C. Print the envelopes without reading them and seal each one. Lay out the documents, build your own timeline on the worksheet, then agree on an answer to question A and open Envelope A to check it and get new evidence. Do the same for B. When you are ready, fill in the accusation card and open Envelope C for the full solution.
Other cases come with a separate solution file. Print it on its own and keep it closed. Read the documents in any order, agree on one name, write your proof on the answer sheet at the end of the case file, and then open the solution file to check your answer.
Each product page has its own "How to play" section, so check it before you print.
Our printable escape rooms are kits for adults, teens, families and kids. You set the room up at home, and your group plays against the clock.
Player numbers, ages and playing time are different for each kit, so check the product page. Many escape room kits use colour in the puzzles and need a colour printer. The product page says so when that is the case.
Our murder mystery party kits turn a dinner or a game night into a case. Every guest plays a character with a secret, personal goals and clues the others need, and one host runs the evening.
Each kit comes with a host guide. The host reads the narration, runs the rounds and keeps the solution sealed until the end. In our murder kits the host does not play.
Before the party, the host hands out the character files. During the rounds, guests mingle in character, trade clues, search for evidence and question each other. Our murder kits include the same case in three sizes: Mini for 4 to 6 guests, Classic for 6 to 9 and Grand for 10 to 20. Trust No One is a hidden role game for 6 to 25 players.
At the end, everyone votes for who they think the killer is. Then the host opens the solution file and reveals the truth. Some kits add scoring and awards after the reveal.
We also make games for iPhone and Android:
Want to play a case live with friends? Our sister site ColdCaseOnline.com lets 2 to 8 players solve a cold case file together in real time.
Questions about prices, downloads or refunds? See our FAQ and pricing page, browse all printables, or write to hello@forgottenmystery.com.