How to play Culprit — a free online murder mystery game like Deception
One of you did it. One of you knows. Read the clues before they get away.
- Players
- 4–8
- Length
- ~15 min
- Type
- Deduce
- Price
- Free
Culprit is a deduction game about a murder at your table. Everyone except one player gets eight cards, face up for all to see: four ways the crime could have been done, like a rope or a poisoned cup of tea, and four clues that could have been left behind, like a wet umbrella or a train ticket. One of you is secretly the murderer, and at the start they quietly choose one of their own ways and one of their own clues.
One player is the forensic scientist. They see the answer, but they can't say it. All they can do is put markers on scene tiles like Cause of death, Location or Time of death. Everyone else talks it over and tries to read those markers. If you've played Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, you know the idea. Culprit runs in the browser, so there's nothing to install.
Talking it over is most of the game, so a call helps (a group chat works too). The scientist and the murderer see the answer: keep your screen to yourself.
Free, no app and no sign-up to join — players hop in with a 4-letter code on their own phone.
How to play Culprit
Everyone gets a role
One player is the forensic scientist, one is the murderer, and the rest are investigators. With six or more players the host can add an accomplice, who knows who the murderer is and plays on their side. Only you can see your own role.
The murderer chooses
The murderer picks one means card and one key evidence card from their own eight. Nobody else sees the choice except the scientist (and the accomplice, if there is one).
The scientist marks the scene
There are six scene tiles, each with six options. The scientist puts one marker on each tile, picking whatever points best at the murderer's two cards. Cause of death and Location are always there. The other four are drawn at random.
Talk it over
Everyone discusses which pair of cards the markers point to. The murderer joins in and tries to steer people wrong. You can also post a short theory for the table to read. The scientist stays quiet.
Make your one solve
When you're sure, name a player plus one of their means and one of their evidence cards. You only get one try in the whole game, and the murderer and accomplice have one too, so they can look like they're investigating.
Three rounds at most
After each round's discussion a new random tile comes in. The scientist chooses which old tile it replaces and marks it. After the third round, if nobody has the right answer, the murderer gets away.
What Culprit looks like
How scoring works
It's a team game. The scientist and the investigators are on one side, and the murderer and the accomplice are on the other.
If anyone names the right player with the right means and evidence, the investigators' side wins straight away. The player who solved it gets the most points.
If every investigator has used their solve without getting it, or the third round ends, the murderer's side wins.
A wrong solve is shown to everyone, so the table learns from each miss.
Tips for winning Culprit
- As the scientist, start with Cause of death. It's usually the clearest way to point at one means card.
- Look for pairs, not single cards. A marker can fit lots of cards on the table, but only one player has both a means and a clue that fit everything.
- Watch who pushes the room hardest towards a suspect. Sometimes that's the murderer pointing away from themselves.
- Don't rush your solve. Each round adds a new tile and makes the answer clearer, but if you wait too long the case closes.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for Culprit?
Four to eight. With four you have a scientist, a murderer and two investigators. The accomplice option needs six or more.
Is Culprit the same as Deception: Murder in Hong Kong?
It plays the same way: a murderer, a forensic scientist who hints through scene tiles, means and clue cards, and one solve each. The cards, the tiles and the art are our own, and it's played online in a browser.
Do we need to be on a call?
It helps. Most of the game is talking through the clues, so a voice call or sitting together works best. A group chat also works, and there's a short theory note in the game for each player.
Can I play with Blips?
Yes. Blips are the site's bot players, and they can take any role. A Blip scientist marks the tiles sensibly, a Blip murderer picks at random, and a Blip investigator makes a late guess that's right some of the time.
How long does a game take?
About 15 minutes at the default pace, often less if someone solves it early.
Is it free?
Yes. It's free to play and free to host, and you don't need an account to join a room.
Free, no app and no sign-up to join — players hop in with a 4-letter code on their own phone.