This game is licensed for personal, private use only. If you plan to use it for any commercial purpose, public event, business, organization, school, fundraiser, church, promotional activity, paid event, or any use that generates revenue or provides a commercial benefit, you must purchase a Commercial License.
- Type Download
- SKU SKULL
- Age Range 13 to Adult
- Minimum # of Players 8 Suspects
- Max Players (Main Game) 12 Suspects and 1 Optional Team Role
- Max # Available (Sold Separately) 400: 45 Suspects, Up to 355 Team Roles (12 Teams)
- Difficulty Rating Moderate, 5/10
- Roles Co-Ed or All-Female
- Game Duration 2 - 4 Hours Average (Flexible)
- Setting At the annual costume ball held at Skull Manor, an old estate in the heart of Spider City known for its captivating architecture, mysterious ambiance, and unspeakable history.
- Game Format Murder | Guided Clue Mingling | 4 Rounds
- Vibe & Content Notes Clean Halloween Fun * Humor & Scandals * Small Town Celeb Drama
- Publication Date 2013. Last Revised: 2024
A spooky Halloween costume-ball murder mystery party game set inside the mysterious halls of Skull Manor. This atmospheric mystery is packed with eccentric Spider City residents, outrageous costumes, blackmail rumors, theft, scandalous secrets, bitter rivalries, suspicious histories, festive challenges, hidden motives, and murder during the town’s annual costume ball.
Murder Mystery Party Game Synopsis:
It is time once again for the annual Skull Manor Costume Ball. Located in the heart of Spider City, the historic estate is renowned for its captivating architecture, mysterious atmosphere, and unspeakable history. The townspeople are preparing their most outrageous costumes for an evening filled with delicious food, entertaining conversations, festive challenges, and enough gossip to keep the Spider City rumor mill spinning long after midnight.
Unfortunately, the past year has brought dissension and discord among many of the invited guests. Rumors of blackmail, theft, sabotage, and scandal have spread throughout town, while old grudges, bruised egos, suspicious histories, and carefully guarded secrets have created tension between several residents. Everyone hopes the guests can set aside their differences long enough to enjoy the celebration, but gathering so many unpredictable personalities beneath the roof of Skull Manor may invite disaster.
You have received an invitation to Skull Manor, your costume is ready, and this is where your story begins.
Host a Large Group Game:
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Main Game: 12 unique suspect characters and one optional expandable team
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Viking Tough Run Staff: Led by Darby Yontz
- Add up to 30 duplicate Viking staff roles.
- The additional Vikings are duplicate, non-suspect team roles.
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Viking Tough Run Staff: Led by Darby Yontz
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Expansion Pack #1: 12 additional unique suspect characters and one optional expandable team
- Sold separately.
- Purchase this pack before Expansion Pack #2.
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Contortionists: Led by Mo Plinker
- Add up to 30 duplicate contortionist roles.
- The additional contortionists are duplicate, non-suspect team roles.
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Expansion Pack #2: 12 additional unique suspect characters and one optional expandable team
- Sold separately.
- Designed to be added after Expansion Pack #1.
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Citizens on Patrol: Led by Bruce Kent
- Add up to 30 duplicate superhero roles.
- The additional superheroes are duplicate, non-suspect team roles.
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Expansion Pack #3: 9 additional unique suspect characters and 9 optional expandable teams
- Sold separately.
- Designed to be added after Expansion Packs #1 and #2.
- Each expansion character may lead an expandable team.
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Expandable Teams:
- Bonnie Capone’s 1920s mob
- Jess Bigsby’s telemarketing colleagues
- Micki Fish’s monster castmates
- Vic Beeber’s reality-show castmates
- Kris Nance’s cyborg engineers
- Stevie Jett’s world travelers
- Theo Wimbly’s artifact dealers and mummies
- Heather Bank’s security entourage
- Ash Spinx’s witch and wizard managers
- Each team may include up to 30 duplicate, non-suspect players.
The main game and all three expansion packs provide 45 unique suspect roles. The 12 expandable teams use duplicate, non-suspect roles designed for very large groups.
Add the expansion packs in numerical order. Larger invitations and pre-game websites include characters from the preceding packs, so hosts should assign only the roles included with the materials they have purchased.
This is the murder version of Pumpkin Palooza Costume Ball. The two games share the Skull Manor setting, characters, and some story elements. Hosts who have played Pumpkin Palooza should select a different mystery.
This is the instant download version of the game. Simply download, print, and prepare everything you need to play, with no shipping fees or delivery wait.
PDF files included:
- Host Instructions
- Printable Game Materials
- Solution
- Optional Extras, such as the free invitation
For the boxed kit, also called the Party Pack, use the link provided on the product page.
Printing Tips
For the best results, open and print the files using Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe.com. Other PDF viewers may alter fonts, spacing, colors, page sizing, or interactive features.
- Download the PDF files to your computer and note where you save them before opening or printing.
- Select Actual Size or 100% Scale unless the instructions specify otherwise.
- Do not select Fit to Page, as this may resize cards, labels, or other game materials.
- Confirm that the paper size is set to US Letter, 8.5 × 11 inches.
- Print one test page before printing the complete game.
- Use standard printer paper for any worksheets or investigation sheets.
- Use heavier paper for invitations, clue cards, and other materials that will be handled during the game.
- Print in color when possible for the intended appearance.
- Do not select double-sided printing.
- Allow ink to dry completely before cutting, folding, or assembling the materials.
Printer settings and results may vary by printer.
Great murder mystery! Love the characters. Everyone had a great time!
We had a group of 60 people and we used all the expansion packs. We had an amazing time and it was worth all the effort!! So many people kept saying how they loved all the steps, characters, and clues throughout the evening. Our crowd was between the ages of 55- 85, it was a neighborhood gathering in a retirement community. The only criticism I would have for the mystery overall was that one set of clues had "pre-murder" and "post-murder" printed on the same handout. When we did a practice run with the neighborhood board members, we found that the double set of clues in that round confused the flow, so when we did it with 60 people we printed out and clipped out the "pre" and "post" murder clues from that round separately. Other than that, the overall murder mystery was EXTREMELY well written, well designed, thoughtful, it kept everyone's interest, we had a lot of laughs (everyone dressed up) and only one complaint out of 60 people! (but he complains about everything, so his vote doesn't count!) I am very very impressed with the overall package and I would do it again. One pre-cautionary note: it's a lot of work, you have to read EVERYTHING, and be meticulous in your planning, printing of clues, and time frame. We had a couple designated to emcee the event and they kept us on the time schedule. The Skull Manor Costume Ball Murder mystery was an absolute crushing success!! Thanks to all the writers!! I would buy another!
This is my fourth murder mystery and I haven't been disappointed yet. Every one is full of surprises and fun and the story lines are always so unique. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to have a party with those spooky Halloween vibes while also having a night full of laughter and memories.
Paid $45 and had to download everything? Find a free one online. Thats my opinion. But the game was fun and the kids had a great time.
Murder at Skull Manor Costume Ball. Family Halloween party ages, 14-adult. Great time! Everyone wore costumes for their character. No one figured out the murderer. I was disappointed with that. Not sure why.