Gather your family and friends from near or far for a hilarious video chat Thanksgiving mystery party! The Thanksgiving Saboteur is a clean, non-murder mystery game designed for Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and other video-chat platforms.
The game is family-friendly and works best with a mixed-age group or a group of adults, as the mystery may be too challenging for a group made up entirely of younger children. Players will portray the quirky residents of Acorn Hill as they work together to expose the mysterious Savvy Saboteur before the prankster ruins Thanksgiving Day.
Helpful Pre-Game Resources
Use the resources below to choose characters, invite your players, and help everyone prepare for the mystery. The player pre-game website is optional but highly recommended to get your players ready and excited for your game.
Mystery Synopsis
The neighborhood of Acorn Hill has been tormented by a prankster known as the Savvy Saboteur. For the past week, the disguised troublemaker has crept through the community at night, covering homes in toilet paper, slipping corny license-plate frames onto cars, and setting traps that spew old banana peels. The prankster has also been leaving teddy bears with mysterious notes on doorsteps, hoping the neighbors will work together to solve a collection of riddles and coded messages.
Now, the Savvy Saboteur has announced plans to strike again on Thanksgiving Day unless the residents uncover the prankster’s identity. Unfortunately, the holiday is quickly approaching, and the community is nowhere near solving the mystery. While their turkeys are cooking, the residents of Acorn Hill will gather for an emergency meeting in hopes of exposing the saboteur before Thanksgiving is ruined for everyone.
You live in Acorn Hill, and this prankster has been causing chaos in your neighborhood. You will certainly be at the meeting. This is where your story begins.
Hosting a Large Group
The main game includes 12 unique suspect roles. A separately purchased expansion pack adds four additional character roles for groups that need more assigned parts.
For significantly larger events, the included spectator file allows additional players to follow the mystery without adding more suspect storylines. The spectator materials follow the same pagination as the character packets, helping everyone remain on the same page throughout the game. This option can accommodate groups of 100 or more players, but only if you're used to hosting video chats of that size.
Virtual mysteries are generally easiest to manage with a focused group of suspect roles. For larger family, school, corporate, or organizational events, using the primary suspects alongside spectator players can make the investigation easier to follow while allowing more people to participate.
For significantly larger events (e.g., 100+ players), most video chat themes will include a spectator file, either with the main game purchase or with the purchase of the expansion pack, when available. The spectator files allow additional players to participate in a general, non-suspect role.
To see if a theme has a spectator file included with the main game, view the product details section under Max Players (main game).
The spectator players will receive a character packet just like the character players. All character packets will follow the same pagination so the host can control the flow of the game.
The spectators are not suspects, and they are not unique characters, but rather will be a general group that goes along with the game's theme. For example, the Murder on the Buffalo Express game has Buffalo Express Crew Members. The spectators expand the game to 100 or more participants.
Important: Only host a video chat game with a group size you have successfully managed on your chosen video-chat platform before.
Do not use this party as your first attempt at hosting a large virtual group, as larger events require additional preparation, platform familiarity, and moderation.
The spectator players should be encouraged to dress in costume for their generalized roles. As the host, you can create a fun themed background graphic for them to use on the video chat (depending on the platform), so the spectators are easily visualized together as a group and different than the character role players.
The spectator players will not add information, clues, or dialogue to the game, but you can allow them to freely speak, ask questions, pose theories, help with group challenges, etc.
Assigning Characters: After purchasing the game and reading the host instructions, the host downloads the character packet files, assigns one character to each player, and sends each participant their assigned character packet by email or text message.
Character Packets: Each participant receives an individual PDF character packet before the party, along with a player contact sheet for the pre-game round. The packets include clear instructions specifying which pages players may view before the game begins.
If you have a mischievous guest who peeks ahead, don’t panic—the mystery is designed so that no single player can solve it alone. Players must collaborate and consider the videos and additional evidence presented by the host to uncover the solution. Fortunately, most players are honest and will follow the instructions!
Pre-Game Round: Players will engage in the pre-game round by sending assigned characters messages (directed by their packets). This kicks off the fun roleplaying and gets everyone excited for the party. Typically, it's done the week before the party, but as long as it's done before the party starts, it's fine.
Gameplay Begins: For gameplay, each player joins the group through the host's chosen video-chat platform. The host will review the player instructions and ensure everyone knows how the game will proceed. Allowing the players to introduce their characters is optional.
Rounds One and Two: The character packets guide players through the mystery with private information, character backgrounds, suspect details, and materials for each round. The host keeps everyone on the same page in their packets and follows a checklist to reveal graphics, videos, and other game elements at the appropriate times.
During the two rounds, players take turns presenting their assigned clues and/or dialogue, and the story builds. Most games will have two videos that push along the story. Everyone remains together on the video call as they question suspects, uncover evidence, complete virtual challenges, and work to identify the culprit.
Accusations and the Solution: Players can take turns making accusations of who they believe did the crime. Then, the host will either read the solution file to the group, or most games will have a solution video for the host to share.
The host may easily participate as a character without learning the solution in advance.
The solution is a separate file or video that the host does not need to view in advance.
