Be careful with those
you call friend
Inspired by classic investigation games like Cluedo, the fourth edition of Midnight Madness took on a murder mystery dinner formate with a brand new story and game created by me.
Designed as a special pocket edition, the event was limited to a few guests and organized as a real time detective game.
Set in an elegant dinner, I created seven characters inspired by classic murder mystery games and novels, who would star in the central narrative and come to life through the performances of the guests during the dinner.
The goal was to unravel the crime through clues, rumors, and deductions.
Corvinero Mansion, 2024
The story goes that Mr. Corvinero, with his newly acquired trust fund, gathers his closest friends for a banquet: Miss Scarlet, Madame Green, Dr. Peacock, and Professor Plum, along with the mansion staff, Ms. White and Chef Mustard. However, the atmosphere turns into a dark mystery when his dead body is found, and with it, many motives for his demise are revealed.
Entering the mystery
The invite followed a brutalist aesthetic and included easter eggs drawn from the story and classic murder mystery games.
Each guest also received their assigned character and a moodboard with a brief introduction to their role.
During the preparation for the event,
I wrote six small books, one for each character, detailing their backgrounds, secrets, and connections with Mr. Corvinero and other guests.
The biggest challenge was creating something cohesive and engaging, where each character had their own arc while also being part of a larger whole.
Each story needed to fit seamlessly, ensuring that the clues led to the solution of the mystery without making it too obvious or impossible to solve.
Let the games begin
Close to the event day, each guest received a manual confirming their innocence, their objectives, necessary actions, and lines to advance the mystery. On the day of the event, an expanded version of the same manual was handed out, including a points system and rumor and argument cards. These cards were used to divert attention away from themselves, incriminate other players, or simply create more drama.
Between paper trails and puzzle pieces
In addition, I produced more than ten detailed clues, such as bank statements, receipts, medical exams, legal letters, and documents from fictional companies linked to the Midnight Madness universe. The players had to solve puzzles to find them, connect the pieces of the mystery, and advance in the investigation.
"There's murder on the dancefloor"
The game was divided into five acts. In the first three, followed by a three-course dinner, the participants interacted and developed their stories until the discovery of the body.
From there, the search for clues began, with riddles and evidence that could lead to the killer’s identity.
