18 Characters + 3 Expendable Characters

Murder at Blackthorn Keep is a medieval murder mystery game set in a kingdom gripping with treachery, ambition, and whispered vendettas — and the perfect murder mystery stag night game for all-male or male-dominated groups. With 15 male characters and just 3 female roles, this is the only murder mystery game in our collection designed to work seamlessly for groups where most — or all — guests are men. The kingdom is in turmoil. A great banquet has been called to honour the late Lord Blackthorn, a nobleman of fearsome reputation — who has just been found dead under most suspicious circumstances. The King himself presides over the feast, but even his presence cannot contain the whispers of treachery swirling through the hall.

Was it the ambitious cousin, eager to inherit the keep? The enigmatic steward, lurking in the shadows? Or the local apothecary, whose latest potion may have had unintended consequences?

“We hosted this in the UK as part of a stag night for a friend getting married, and it was a huge success. We were honestly a bit nervous about hosting, but everything ran seamlessly on the night. Dave and I nailed the planning, and our guests absolutely loved it—the activities were engaging, creative, and kept everyone involved. No one guessed it was Rob, which made the reveal even better. Everyone fully embraced their characters, and it added a whole new level of immersion to our castle banquet. We’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to host something unique and memorable.” – Joe Webb

As goblets overflow with wine and tempers run high, the truth grows darker with every course. Alliances forged in the shadows of the great hall are tested, loyalties crumble under interrogation, and no one seated at the King’s table is above suspicion. Will honour prevail, or will secrets be buried alongside the fallen lord? One thing is certain — this medieval mystery is no fairy tale.

This is not a passive experience. Every guest arrives as a character with a backstory, a secret, and a motive — and the investigation begins the moment they take their seat at the banquet table. Each player must uncover others’ clues while carefully guarding their own secrets. With every twist and turn, alliances form, accusations fly, and the web of deception tightens. The beauty of this game is that the drama unfolds from your guests, not from a script — the more they commit to their characters, the more unforgettable the evening becomes. At the end of the night, the group awards prizes for Best Male Character, Best Female Character, and Best Dressed — but the ultimate reward is unmasking the murderer.

The game caters to 18–21 guests (3 female, the rest male, but suitable for other male-to-female ratios if more female guests are open to playing male characters).

The fully designed printable kit includes everything you need to host a seamless evening: Invitations to set the scene before the night, Character Descriptions so every guest arrives in character, Clue Cards to drive the investigation, Name Tags and Place Cards for the banquet table, the Host’s Timeline to keep the evening on track, two Dramatic Discovery Notes to deliver the story’s key twists, and a WhatsApp text message instructing guests on how this largely improvised game works — sent in advance so everyone arrives ready to play.

Please note: For the best experience, use all main characters with secrets. Expendable roles may be added at your discretion. We recommend keeping your total guest numbers to an absolute maximum of 24 for the best experience.

Murder Mystery Guide games are conceived and designed in Cape Town, and played everywhere — from living rooms to luxury venues across South Africa and beyond. Every game in our collection is an original production: fully designed, largely improvised, and built for real people, not trained actors. No scripts to memorise, no experience required — just great company and a willingness to have fun. Whether you’re planning a stag night, a milestone birthday, or a private banquet with a dark medieval twist, we give every guest a role, a secret, and a reason to stay at the table.

Need inspiration? View photographs from the first group to enjoy this medieval Murder Mystery Guide Experience.

The stories, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in these productions are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. Please note that all event, décor, catering, printing, venue hire and hosting services are not included in this purchase; the downloadable PDFs alone are the product. Please note that Murder Mystery Guide Experiences are not suitable for children and contain themes, scenarios, characters and references that may be inappropriate for sensitive persons.