Murder Mystery Party Game for 8–14 Players | The Canine Crown

FOUNDING PLAYTEST EDITION - ONLY FIVE COPIES AVAILABLE

A complete, playable English-language printable murder mystery game for 8-14 players. This introductory edition is offered at a reduced price while the first five customer groups provide real-world playtest feedback. Feedback is welcomed after play and remains entirely voluntary.

Welcome to The Canine Crown, the world’s most prestigious dog show, where reputations are polished, results are contested, and one powerful official will not survive the evening.

When Julian Harcourt is found dead beside the empty trophy display, every guest has a reason to control the story. Players must separate a missing trophy, a score-manipulation scandal, and a trail of institutional secrets from the evidence that proves murder.

AT A GLANCE

* 8-14 players, including a playing host
* Approximately 90-150 minutes
* English-language printable PDF game
* Recommended for ages 16+
* Darkly comic institutional mystery with no graphic imagery
* Instant digital download
* No physical item will be shipped

WHAT IS INCLUDED

* Spoiler-light Host Guide and exact evidence release plan
* 14 separate four-page private character dossiers
* 20 printable evidence exhibits released across four rounds
* Four QR evidence cards with video, audio, and digital metadata
* Complete printable QR fallback with stills and transcripts
* Player Rules, accusation sheets, and sealed solution
* Quick Start Here guide with printing and casting instructions

HOW IT PLAYS

Choose the cast, privately assign one dossier to each player, and keep four evidence groups sealed. The host releases new documents as the investigation develops. Players question one another, test alibis, and submit a final accusation identifying the killer, method, opportunity, and motive.

The host can play. The Host Guide stays spoiler-light, and the sealed solution remains closed until all accusations are final.

FLEXIBLE GROUP SIZE

All games use eight core characters. Six optional roles are added in a tested order for groups of 9-14, so the central mystery remains the same at every supported player count.

PRINTING AND PHONE REQUIREMENTS

Print at 100% scale. Color improves navigation, while every decisive fact remains readable in monochrome. One connected phone is enough for the QR round. The included printable fallback keeps the mystery fully playable if video or audio cannot load.

TONE AND CONTENT

The game contains a fictional death, corruption, fraud, and social conflict. It contains no graphic imagery. Calmora-X is entirely fictional and provides no real drug or poisoning instructions. Every dog remains safe, supervised, and outside the crime.

ABOUT THE FOUNDING PLAYTEST EDITION

The mystery, files, QR evidence, and solution are complete. Minor wording, pacing, or usability revisions may follow after the first five customer playtests. A five-minute anonymous group feedback form is included. It requests no name or email address.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD INFORMATION

You will receive five digital files. Etsy digital purchases currently need to be downloaded through a browser or computer. ZIP files must be extracted before use.

LICENSE AND SUPPORT

Personal, non-commercial use only. You may print the copies needed for private game sessions and privately send each participant their assigned dossier. Resale, public upload, complete-set sharing, and paid event use are prohibited.

If a file or QR item prevents play, contact the seller through Etsy Messages and identify the affected filename or evidence code.

AI TRANSPARENCY
This game was developed with the assistance of AI tools for text and visual content, under the creative direction of Secret Plot Games. We select and edit the material for the final game. Listing images may include AI-generated scenes and illustrations.