Cryptozoic Entertainment has announced a partnership with Decipher to relaunch the How To Host A Murder party game series. The collaboration aims to reintroduce the long-running murder mystery game franchise, which has seen over 20 releases and more than 50 million players since its debut in 1985. The relaunch is scheduled for late 2025 and will include updated versions of classic episodes as well as new licensed content.
The How To Host A Murder series is known for its engaging party gameplay, where participants take on the roles of suspects in a humorous murder mystery. Each episode accommodates up to eight players, who use costumes, role-playing, and provided materials—such as a host guide, player manuals, secret clues, invitations, and name tags—to solve the mystery. The core gameplay will remain unchanged, but the relaunch will feature updated aesthetics and packaging.
The initial release will include four classic episodes, each sold separately: The Watersdown Affair, Class of ’54, The Chicago Caper, and Saturday Night Cleaver. Additionally, new episodes based on licensed intellectual properties are in development, with further announcements expected in the coming months.
Warren Holland, CEO of Decipher, commented on the partnership, saying:
“We are pleased to be working with Cryptozoic to revitalize How To Host A Murder with updated packaging and new licensed properties while maintaining the high quality that made it the most recognizable and best-selling dinner party mystery game in the world,”
Cory Jones, Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of Cryptozoic, added:
“How To Host A Murder is a timeless brand, so we are thrilled our friends at Decipher trusted us to bring the game back into the world. Millions of former players will love experiencing the game again and new generations will discover the fun and intrigue of getting together with friends to solve a murder. The new licensed releases will bring the How To Host A Murder gameplay to beloved IPs, creating an unforgettable and unique experience for fans.”
The relaunch of How To Host A Murder® is planned for late 2025.
