SHADOWS of ELYSIUM UNIVERSITY

A Murder Mystery Game for 10 – 20 players
One killer. Three victims. Can you and your guests solve the mystery?

Want more drama? When you grab the Expansion Kit or themed Game Money along with the Core Game, you’ll unlock an automatic discount at checkout – no code needed.

  • Digital Format: Instant PDF Download

  • Characters: 20 Characters Total
    – 10 Primary (5 Female, 5 Male and 0 Gender Neutral)
    – 10 Secondary (6 Female, 4 Male and 0 Gender Neutral)

  • Game Style: Freeplay Mingle Game (no strict scripts to follow)

  • Game Length: Around 2,5 – 3 Hours (but can be flexible to fit your party)

  • The Host can play without knowing the killer beforehand (no spoilers!)

  • Rating: PG-16 (Please note that this story contains some adult themes)

  • Expansion Kit with extra Game Play elements available!

GET READY TO HOST A KILLER PARTY
… and get away with it!

(And yes! You can easily host this game even if you have never done it before!)

Uncover the Secrets of Elysium University…

This dark academic, highly interactive murder mystery party game is an evidence-based, multiple murder mingling experience for 10–20 players that you can host right at home!

Welcome to Shadows of Elysium University!

At the heart of an ancient academic institution, surrounded by dusty tomes, whispered legends, and candlelit corridors, something sinister stirs. Just days before the university’s annual gathering of elite minds, a renowned professor was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Now, with the brightest scholars, occult historians, and ambitious students all gathered in one place, the truth begins to surface – alongside dangerous secrets long buried.

With rivalries festering behind polished smiles and cryptic manuscripts offering more questions than answers, can you piece together the mystery before someone else falls victim? Time is running out, and not everyone at Elysium is who they claim to be…

This game is perfect for a thrilling night in with friends, an immersive party, or any gathering where you want to add a touch of gothic academia and high-stakes intrigue!

Read this out loud for the group when the game begins. This sets the scene and explains the game rules.
______________________________________________

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a night of academic intrigue and dark secrets!

Tonight, we find ourselves within the hallowed halls of Elysium University, an institution known for its brilliant scholars, groundbreaking discoveries… and, as you’ll soon discover, a hidden legacy of betrayal and murder.

As the evening unfolds, you’ll step into the shoes of esteemed professors, mysterious students, and secretive staff members, each with their own hidden agendas. But be warned, in these ancient walls, knowledge can be deadly, and those who seek too much often find themselves buried beneath the weight of their own ambition.

And remember, at Elysium, not all secrets are in plain sight; some are locked away in places only the most determined will discover. What you find might not only solve a murder… but reveal something even darker, hidden within the university itself.

Our story begins with the sudden and tragic death of Dr. Alistair Crane, one of the university’s most respected scholars. While the circumstances of his death remain a mystery, whispers of foul play echo through these corridors. Someone here tonight knows the truth – perhaps it’s you.

And before the night is over, three more of you will be dead.

Now, before we begin, let me go over the rules that will guide us through the evening: […]

10 Primary Characters: 

  1. Everly “The Fox” Hawthorne – Mysterious Scholar (F)
  2. Edgar Blackwood – Rival Professor (M)
  3. Lila “The Lark” Morland – Enigmatic Librarian (F)
  4. Eli Black – Ambitious Graduate Student (M)
  5. Helena “The Hawk” Stone – Secret Society Leader (F)
  6. Marcus “The Quill” Sterling – University Dean (M
  7. Vivian “The Whisper” Thorn – Manuscript Restorer (F)
  8. Percival “The Keeper” Hawke – Curator of Ancient Texts (M)
  9. Selene “The Seer” Blake – Occultist Historian (F)
  10. Gideon “The Phantom” Cooper – Visiting Lecturer (M)

10 Secondary Characters: 

  1. Rowan “The Shadow” Hayes – Dark Poet (F)
  2. Julian Bishop – Security Guard (M)
  3. Arlo “The Watcher” Tate – Night Watchman (M)
  4. Astrid Ellsworth – Esoteric Ritualist (F)
  5. Serena Grey – Apothecary and Herbalist (F)
  6. Simon “The Jackal” Winters – Investigative Journalist (M)
  7. Raven “The Oracle” Reed – Clairvoyant Student (F)
  8. Maeve “The Nightingale” Cross – Dark Mythologist (F)
  9. Sabina Quinn – Antiquities Dealer (F)
  10. Theo “The Scribe” Hale – Ancient Languages Expert (M)

Host a Night to Remember – Just Download – Print – Play

HOW THE GAME WORKS

The game is a Freeplay (mingle-style) murder mystery, which means each guest is assigned a unique character. You’ll send out a Character Guide to every player, filled with secrets, objectives, and relationships that drive the drama.

As the night unfolds, guests mingle in character, ask questions, share clues (or lies!), and try to solve the 3 unfolding murders that happen during the game. At the end, everyone casts their vote for who they think the killer is – right before the dramatic final reveal.

There are no strict scripts to follow and no complex rules, so even first-timers can jump right in!
As the host, you don’t need to memorize anything or stay behind the scenes. My easy-to-follow Host Guide walks you through everything step by step. And yes – you can absolutely play along without knowing who the killer is (or peek at the included spoilers if that’s your jam). The killer is a secret to everyone – even the killer themselves – for a truly immersive, spoiler-free experience.

GET SOME SNEAK PEAKS

Inside the Game Kit You’ll Get:

Host Documents

These make it a breeze to plan and host your murder mystery party!

  • A Host Guide: This includes step-by-step instructions, short tips, a timeline for the party and much more to make it easy for you to host

  • Themed Party Invitation(s): One or more invitations are included in the kit

  • Pre-Game News Article: Send out with the invitations to build anticipation and set the vibe before the party
  • Character Overview: So you can easily assign characters to your guests without spoilers

  • Host Scripts: The Introduction monologue (to be read outloud at game start) + 3 short optional scripts to read after each murder

  • Evidence Walkthrough: Of all the included evidence (optional to read as it includes spoilers and solutions to ciphers or coded text)

Guest Documents

These done-for-you Character Guides and extra material make it super easy for your guest to get into their character and play their part.

  • 8 Primary Character Guides: These are the 8 essential characters in the game and must be in the game for the story to work
    Genders: 3 Female, 3 Male, 2 Gender Neutral

  • 12 Secondary Character Guides: These 12 Characters you can choose to include or leave out. The Characters are written in the same way as the Primary Characters (so noone will know if they’re a primary or secondary character)
    Genders: 5 Female, 5 Male, 2 Gender Neutral
    TIP: If you get the Expansion Kit, you can add unlimited players to the game

  • 3 Ghost Cards: These are small badges and a mini-guide for your guests that gets killed during the party, so they know what to do once they’re killed

  • Evidence Log for Guests: A one-page-log where it’s easy to keep track of the evidence in the game (optional to use)

Gameplay Elements

And ofcourse! There is no murder mystery party without evidence and fun game boosters.

  • Evidence for the 3 murders in the game: For this particular game, there are 29 pieces of evidence included

  • 12 Action Cards: A player can take a card and act out the instructions during the game, to add a bit more fun and drama + Blank Action Cards and a Guide on how to make your own Action Cards (optional for the host to include)

  • Voting Cards: Print these out and let your guests (and yourself) take a guess at the killer and the motives at the end of the game

  • 3 Award Certificates: Players gets much more into it when there is something on the line, so I included these for you

  • THE REVEAL! The Reveal is a pre-written monologue designed to be read by the killer at the end of the game to reveal their motives for each murder (this adds the last touch of drama to the game)

Designed for Suspense and Drama. Built for Real People.

EXPANSION KIT

The Expansion Kit gives you extra clues, gameplay options, and tools to customize the game and keep things dramatic – making it even easier (and more fun) to host a party everyone will remember.

Remember; When you buy 2 or more items in my shop you’ll unlock an automatic discount at checkout – no code needed.
+ You get a 7-day full refund guarantee 🧡

Host Documents

  • Host Guide: Specific for the Expansion Kit with step-by-step guides, tips and tricks to use the stuff in the Expansion Kit

Guest Documents

  • Detective Character Guide: With this Character you can add unlimited players to the game! You can have guests dress up as “real” detectives or undercover detectives (just ask them to match their costume to the theme of the game) and let the drama unfold! This is great for last-minute and unexpected guests too.

  • Character Prompts: I’ve included Character Prompts for all 20 characters; These includes a short Introduction Script and a short prompt or action to do after each murder (customized for each character) – These will not make the whole game scripted, but make it easier for new players to get into character. They’re optional to use

  • Game Rules for the guests + Slang Guide: You can send this out before the game to everyone, so they know the rules of the game and make it easier to start right away (include the slang guide to add a bit more fun to the game night vibe)

Gameplay Elements

  • Extra Evidence Pack: You’ll get a set of optional evidence to include in the game – More evidence = More drama and speculations!

  • 3 Bonus Plot Twists: 3 ways to customize the game to fit your style of hosting or your guests preferences (a dramatic, a fun, an eerie option)

  • 16 Extra Action Cards: A player can take a card during the game, to add a bit more fun and drama + Blank Action Cards and a Guide on how to make your own Action Cards

  • Alibi Cards: These Alibi Cards can be used as small “prompts” or help for the guests to get into character. All the Alibis includes a small “How-To-Use” note for the player

  • 8 Gossip Notes: These are small snippets of gossip, that can add a touch more drama and fun to the game – you never know if the gossip is true or a lie.

  • Extra Awards: 3 extra Award Certificates and a blank included too

Props and Extras

  • Spotify Playlist: Around a 3 hour playlist that fit the theme of the game

  • Name Tags: For all 20 characters (when everyone is playing someone else, it’s quite handy to have a nametag for everybody)

  • Prop & Decor Ideas: The perfect starting point of inspiration for setting the vibe and get your space ready to host the party game

  • Guestbook: A fun way to get the guests to leave a little note for you as a memento for the night

  • Party Posters: These are some pre-made posters you can use to decorate and set the scene

  • Menu, Snack and Drinks suggestions: Don’t know what to serve? Not a problem, here is a list of themed ideas for your party

🖤 LOVE IT GUARANTEE! 🖤

I stand by my games and props.
If you’re not absolutely thrilled with your purchase, just reach out within 7 days for a full refund.
This is my promise to make your event unforgettable!

FAQ

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Hello@MortalCase.com
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