Table of Contents
Our murder mystery party games already give your guests plenty to do, but sometimes it’s fun to add at least one extra challenge, an icebreaker, or mini-game before the mystery begins, between rounds, or as a fun conclusion to the night - especially during a Halloween party. That's why My Mystery Party includes bonus games with every murder mystery party.
It can also be a lot of fun to give a side quest to the players who are especially into the experience and would love one more secret objective to juggle during the party.
Should you give a side quest to every player? Absolutely not.Unless, of course, your goal is pure, unhinged chaos and you’re willing to watch the actual mystery get trampled beneath fifteen competing secret missions. Therefore, keep side quests limited to a small number of players.
In almost every group, the people who would absolutely love an extra mission tend to reveal themselves pretty quickly. You’ll know who they are.
Side Quest People. Definitely.In this post, there are six free Halloween side quests inspired by some of My Mystery Party's the top Halloween murder mystery party games:
- Murder at Skull Manor
- Deadly Intentions in Dark Cloud
- Monster Mash
- Haunted Hotel
- Too Many Witches
- Chronicles of Zombie Town
Each bonus game matches the atmosphere of a particular mystery, but here’s the best part:
You can use any of these games with any Halloween party - even if it's not one of the ones listed here.
Hosting a creepy haunted hotel but love the witch-themed challenge? Use it.
Running a zombie party but want the Skull Manor game? Absolutely.
Borrow shamelessly. Halloween has no jurisdiction here.
Deadly Intentions in Dark Cloud Side Quest
The Omen
This one is simple, eerie, and perfect for creating suspense at your Halloween party before the mystery even begins.
As the Halloween party begins, choose one guest to secretly become The Omen Keeper.
Give that person one harmless event they must watch for during the evening.
Examples:
- someone drops something
- someone mentions the weather
- someone takes a selfie
- someone says, “That’s creepy”
The Omen Keeper announces:
“Before this night is over, the omen will appear.”
But they do not reveal what the omen is.
Guests may ask up to five yes-or-no questions during the game.
The moment the predicted event occurs, the Omen Keeper announces:
“The omen has appeared.”
Anyone who correctly guessed the omen wins.
Why It Fits Deadly Intentions in Dark Cloud
It creates the feeling that something ominous is hanging over the party, all without requiring cards, props, or extra setup.
Slip the side quest player a card like this when nobody's looking. Murder at Skull Manor Bonus Game
The Treasured Heirloom
Before the Halloween party begins, as players are trickling in, choose one small object to become Skull Manor’s treasured heirloom, and choose two players to compete in the side quest.
Good choices for the heirloom include:
- an old key
- a piece of costume jewelry
- a decorative skull
- a candlestick
- a small framed photo
- a mysterious-looking book
The two players will be secretly given two opposing missions.
The Thief
The Thief’s mission is to steal the heirloom and hide it somewhere else in the party area without being caught.
They may move it at any point during the designated side-quest period.
The hiding place should be fair and accessible. No purses, pockets, locked rooms, bathrooms, or places where guests are not meant to go.
If the Thief successfully relocates the heirloom and it remains hidden until time is called, the Thief wins.
The Guardian
The Guardian secretly knows that someone intends to steal the heirloom.
Their mission is to prevent it from disappearing.
They may:
- keep an eye on the heirloom
- casually linger near it
- redirect suspicious guests
- check periodically to make sure it is still there
However, the Guardian may not pick up the heirloom and carry it around, hide it themselves, or publicly announce that someone is trying to steal it. If the heirloom remains in its original location when time is called, the Guardian wins.
The Catch
Neither player knows who their opponent is. The Thief must figure out how to make a move without attracting attention.
The Guardian must determine who seems unusually interested in one completely ordinary object.
Everyone else at the party has no idea that a tiny battle over Skull Manor’s heirloom is happening right in front of them.
Optional Ending
When time is called, announce:
“Something belonging to Skull Manor has either been protected... or stolen.”
Then reveal the Thief, the Guardian, and the fate of the heirloom.
Why It Fits Skull Manor
It creates a secret cat-and-mouse game inside the larger mystery, with one guest plotting a theft while another quietly stands guard.
Very manor.
Very suspicious.
And suddenly everyone at the Halloween party hovering near a candlestick looks guilty.
Haunted Hotel Side Quest
Room Service
Choose one player to become The Bellhop.
The Bellhop secretly selects three harmless “requests” that must occur during the party.
Examples:
- someone asks for a drink
- someone compliments another guest’s outfit
- someone sits down
- someone asks what time it is
- someone says they are hungry
- someone takes a photo
- someone asks where the bathroom is
The Bellhop writes them down, folds the paper and gives it to the party host (who does not view it until the game is over). The Bellhop does not tell anyone what the secret triggers are.
Instead, whenever one occurs, the Bellhop announces:
“Room service.”
Guests must figure out what actions are causing the Bellhop to make the announcement.
The first guest to correctly identify all three triggers wins.
After the murderer confesses, the party host announces that the 'Bellhop' had a side quest and shouted 'Room Service' after witnessing one of the three events on the Bellhop's list. The players are to write the three events that triggered the Bellhop to call for 'Room Service.' The first player to turn in the most correct guesses, wins. Or, you can have multiple winners - your choice!
Why It Fits Haunted Hotel
It turns completely ordinary party behavior into an oddly suspicious hotel ritual.
And after the third unexplained “Room service,” people will start questioning everything they do.
Monster Mash Bonus Game
Who Would Survive?
This one requires almost no setup and can become wonderfully ridiculous very quickly. It's not technically a side quest - but it's a fun bonus game!
Read a series of Halloween scenarios aloud.
On the count of three, everyone points at the person in the room who best fits the question.
The questions and point values are:
- Who is the least likely to check Halloween trick-or-treat candy before eating it?
- Who would accidentally invite a vampire inside?
- Whose goal would it be to catch the Loch Ness Monster on a fishing trip?
- Who would try to become friends with a ghost?
- Who would absolutely open the cursed box?
- Who would be the first to trick or treat at a home without a porch light on?
- Who is most likely to start a campaign to Save the Monsters?
- Who would try to convince a werewolf to become vegan as a better way of life?
- Who would defeat a monster and then complain about ruining their shoes?
- Who would hear a strange noise upstairs and actually go investigate it?
Each time a player gets pointed at by another player, they earn a point. Have each player tally their points as the game proceeds.
At the end, the player with the most points is crowned:
Least Likely to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
Why It Fits Monster Mash
It’s loud, social, silly, and gives everyone an excellent excuse to roast their friends.
Too Many Witches Side Quest
The Secret Spell
As your players are trickling in to your Halloween party, choose one person to secretly become The Supreme Witch.
The Supreme Witch selects one completely ordinary word or phrase that becomes their secret “spell.”
Good choices include:
- seriously
- absolutely
- no way
- I know
- really?
- exactly
- cheers
- what happened?
- suspicious
- definitely
They write this down, fold the paper, and hand it to the party host for later. The Supreme Witch's goal is to trick three different guests into saying the secret word or phrase during normal conversation.
They cannot directly tell anyone what to say or say the word. Instead, they have to steer the conversation naturally.
For example, if the secret spell is “seriously,” the Witch might tell someone an unbelievable story and hope they respond:
“Seriously?”
Every time someone says the spell, the Witch quietly notes it. Once three different people have said it, the Witch announces within 1 minute:
“The spell has been cast!”
Then, the host explains the side quest and asks everyone to guess the secret word. Players announce their guesses from youngest to oldest in the room. (Or, you can have everyone write down a guess and turn it in.) If anyone guesses correctly, they win. If nobody guesses it - the Supreme Witch wins!
Optional Twist
Create two Supreme Witches at your Halloween party and see which Witch completes theirs first.
Why It Fits Too Many Witches
It feels like someone is secretly casting spells over ordinary conversation, while requiring absolutely no bubbling cauldron, dried newt, or suspiciously expensive potion ingredients.
Chronicles of Zombie Town Side Quest
Patient Zero
As the players are trickling in to your Halloween party, secretly choose one person to become Patient Zero.
Patient Zero has one mission:
They must “infect” other guests by getting them to perform one specific harmless action during conversation.
Choose something easy but not too obvious, such as:
- touching Patient Zero's hair
- saying the word brains (without being told to do so)
- checking their phone
- taking a drink after Patient Zero has held their glass/bottle
- dancing with Patient Zero
- consuming anything from the snack/buffet table that Patient Zero hands them
Whenever Patient Zero successfully causes someone to perform the secret action, that guest becomes infected. However, the newly infected guests do not know they have been infected.
Patient Zero quietly keeps track.
After a predetermined amount of time, such as 1 hour, or after Round One of the murder mystery party game, the party host announces:
“The outbreak has begun.”
Players are handed a slip of paper and a pen and must then guess:
- Who was Patient Zero?
- What action caused the infection?
- How many people are infected?
Anyone who correctly identifies all three is the winner.
Patient Zero also wins the side quest only if they have infected over 50% of the room.
Why It Fits Chronicles of Zombie Town
One tiny action quietly spreads through the room until everyone realizes an outbreak has been happening right under their noses.
Very Zombie Town.
Use Any Bonus Game With Any Halloween Party
These bonus games were inspired by specific murder mystery themes, but none of them are locked to one title.
Mix and match them however you like.
Play The Omen during Murder at Skull Manor.
Use Patient Zero at Monster Mash.
Try The Secret Spell during Haunted Hotel.
Play Who Would Survive? before Deadly Intentions in Dark Cloud.
The best side quest is simply the one that fits your group.
Some parties love deduction.
Some love theatrical nonsense.
Some love accusing their friends of suspicious behavior with absolutely no evidence.
Halloween accommodates all three beautifully.
Keep It Simple
The best Halloween party side quests shouldn’t compete with the main murder mystery.
They should:
- be easy to explain
- require little or no setup
- use few or no props
- encourage guests to interact
- add atmosphere - and more suspicion and mystery - to the party
- be easy to stop when it’s time to return to the mystery
Choose one or two and sprinkle them into the evening.
That’s plenty.
After all, your guests already have a fictional crime to solve.
There’s no need to give them homework too.
Ready to Choose Your Halloween Murder Mystery?
In addition to the top murder mystery party games above, explore more of our Halloween murder mystery party selection:
HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY PARTY GAMES
Choose your mystery, invite your suspects, pick a bonus game, and prepare for an evening filled with costumes, clues, accusations, suspicious behavior, and highly questionable alibis.
Written by Bon Blossman while my lovely colleagues whom I adore and appreciate chatted away at me. My apologies for any errors, but we have a busy office, what can I do? Everyone is excited about Halloween!
*The cards above were created by AI - I'm terrible at graphics. But don't worry, our games were all created by me, and I am human...or am I? Yes, of course!
