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  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Programming & Entertainment

Trend Spotted: Murder Mysteries Are Having a Moment at Events

From mystery-centric dinner parties to true-crime-inspired experiences, more and more events are letting guests channel their inner detective.

Claire Hoffman
May 16, 2025

Who doesn’t love playing detective for a night? From immersive dinner parties where guests gather clues over cocktails to playful escape rooms and clever nods to our true crime obsession, murder mystery-inspired experiences are popping up at events of all kinds. In recent years, brands like Peacock, FX, and OGX have been getting creative with the trend, crafting interactive whodunits and atmospheric intrigue that invite guests to channel their inner sleuths. Check out 24 of our favorite event moments that have dropped guests in the middle of a mystery.

Manhattan Murder Mystery On Ice
Manhattan Murder Mystery On Ice
In January, Abigail Kirsch Catering and RSVP Events hosted an immersive night for New York City’s wedding and event planning community at Bryant Park’s Polar Lounge. The event, called "Manhattan Murder Mystery On Ice," turned the space into a mystery-filled setting, combining interactive entertainment, thoughtful decor, and a menu inspired by the season—all centered around a staged whodunnit.
Photo: Chris J. Evans
Guests got into the spirit of the night by dressing as seductive super-sleuths and collaborating to solve the evening’s mystery. The lively atmosphere encouraged everyone to work together, navigating clues and puzzles while interacting with the event’s immersive elements.
Guests got into the spirit of the night by dressing as seductive super-sleuths and collaborating to solve the evening’s mystery. The lively atmosphere encouraged everyone to work together, navigating clues and puzzles while interacting with the event’s immersive elements.
Photo: Chris J. Evans
Printed programs also helped set the tone for the theatrical event.
Printed programs also helped set the tone for the theatrical event.
Photo: Chris J. Evans
Throughout the night, the 150 attendees enjoyed cocktails and dishes that reflected the winter season. Drinks were cleverly themed as “killer cocktails.'
Throughout the night, the 150 attendees enjoyed cocktails and dishes that reflected the winter season. Drinks were cleverly themed as “killer cocktails."
Photo: Chris J. Evans
The event featured decor and production by Hollywood Pop Gallery, design and print by Alpine Creative Group, and rentals from Party Rentals Entertainment. Chris J. Evans handled photography and Pervez Taufiq handled videography, while ESP Creative handled entertainment and audiovisual.
The event featured decor and production by Hollywood Pop Gallery, design and print by Alpine Creative Group, and rentals from Party Rentals Entertainment. Chris J. Evans handled photography and Pervez Taufiq handled videography, while ESP Creative handled entertainment and audiovisual.
Photo: Chris J. Evans
Metacore's Merge Mansion Experience
Metacore's Merge Mansion Experience
Ever wished you could step inside the puzzle-filled world of popular mobile game Merge Mansion? In March 2023, a lucky group of fans, press, and VIPs got to do just that. To celebrate the game’s biggest update—unlocking the mysterious Boulton family mansion—developer Metacore took over a real-life mansion in Los Angeles. The immersive experience, described as “part live-action theater, part escape room, and part lore museum,” featured actors portraying in-game characters guiding guests through clue-filled rooms. From digging through pies to crawling through a fake fireplace, attendees got hands-on with the mystery—and raced to answer the game’s central question: “What’s Grandma hiding?”
Photo: Getty Images for Metacore/Merge
Guests invited to the immersive experience didn’t just receive a typical event invite—they got a message from Maddie Boulton herself. Handpicked fans were sent a personalized email from the game’s main character, while key influencers and celebrities received curated mailers complete with burner phones, case files, and other on-theme goodies—starting the intrigue long before anyone even stepped through the mansion doors.
Guests invited to the immersive experience didn’t just receive a typical event invite—they got a message from Maddie Boulton herself. Handpicked fans were sent a personalized email from the game’s main character, while key influencers and celebrities received curated mailers complete with burner phones, case files, and other on-theme goodies—starting the intrigue long before anyone even stepped through the mansion doors.
Photo: Getty Images for Metacore/Merge
Each room of the mansion revealed new challenges, including an escape room-inspired study where guests had to crack a safe to advance. Another memorable experience? Crawling through a faux fireplace to reach a bedroom surveillance setup, where guests pored over camera feeds in search of hidden clues. To bring the concept to life, Metacore worked with Finnish creative agency Reaktor and experiential agency Jack Morton Worldwide, along with Scout Expedition Co. and JFI Productions on the scenic design and immersive theater experience. See more: How Pedro Pascal—and Some Clever Uses of AI—Brought Guests Inside the Real-Life Merge Mansion
Each room of the mansion revealed new challenges, including an escape room-inspired study where guests had to crack a safe to advance. Another memorable experience? Crawling through a faux fireplace to reach a bedroom surveillance setup, where guests pored over camera feeds in search of hidden clues.

To bring the concept to life, Metacore worked with Finnish creative agency Reaktor and experiential agency Jack Morton Worldwide, along with Scout Expedition Co. and JFI Productions on the scenic design and immersive theater experience. See more: How Pedro Pascal—and Some Clever Uses of AI—Brought Guests Inside the Real-Life Merge Mansion
Photo: Getty Images for Metacore/Merge
FX's 'Grotesquerie' Dining Experience
FX's 'Grotesquerie' Dining Experience
In September 2024, FX took dinner parties to a dark new level with The Feast, an eerie activation celebrating the launch of Ryan Murphy’s series Grotesquerie, which follows the hunt for a serial killer. Created in collaboration with NVE Experience Agency, the event plunged guests into the show’s sinister world, complete with flickering lights, illuminated stained glass, and ballet dancers in custom “meat” dresses.
Photo: Courtesy of FX
The night kicked off with a detective-inspired escape room, channeling the vibe of Lois Tryon’s office from the series. Guests were greeted by a detective and tasked with solving a riddle, piecing together clues from an anonymous caller and a custom crime board. Once they cracked the code, the doors opened to the dining area—where more mysterious surprises awaited.
The night kicked off with a detective-inspired escape room, channeling the vibe of Lois Tryon’s office from the series. Guests were greeted by a detective and tasked with solving a riddle, piecing together clues from an anonymous caller and a custom crime board. Once they cracked the code, the doors opened to the dining area—where more mysterious surprises awaited.
Photo: Courtesy of FX
Dinner itself was as unsettling as the setting. The four-course menu featured eerie dishes like split bone marrow and braised short ribs, served with “unsettling tools” wrapped in a tool roll—each labeled with the dish’s details. A standout moment? A blood orange dessert guests smashed open with mallets, oozing red syrup like something straight out of a crime scene. See more: FX Created a 'Symphony' of Real-Life Screams to Promote Its Creepy New Show
Dinner itself was as unsettling as the setting. The four-course menu featured eerie dishes like split bone marrow and braised short ribs, served with “unsettling tools” wrapped in a tool roll—each labeled with the dish’s details. A standout moment? A blood orange dessert guests smashed open with mallets, oozing red syrup like something straight out of a crime scene. See more: FX Created a 'Symphony' of Real-Life Screams to Promote Its Creepy New Show
Photo: Courtesy of FX
OGX's 'Damage Detected HQ'
OGX's 'Damage Detected HQ'
Here's a slightly more playful take on a crime-solving event: In April, OGX took over The Grove in Los Angeles with “Damage Detected HQ,” a pop-up celebrating the launch of its Bond Protein Repair collection. The one-day activation transformed a bustling area into the Hair Damage Unit (HDU), inviting guests to investigate their most relatable “hair crimes”—from heat damage to bleach breakage—and uncover the best ways to repair the evidence. With clever nods to true crime culture and a focus on hair education, attendees got to “close the case” on their hair mishaps through expert consultations, interactive product experiences, and full-size take-home solutions.
Photo: Courtesy of OGX
Guests were treated to an array of interactive highlights, including a mugshot-style photo wall where they “confessed” their biggest hair crimes, plus expert consultations that matched them with personalized repair solutions from the Bond Protein Repair system. To top it off, the experience featured a 360-degree photo booth, plenty of content capture opportunities, and full-size product sampling.
Guests were treated to an array of interactive highlights, including a mugshot-style photo wall where they “confessed” their biggest hair crimes, plus expert consultations that matched them with personalized repair solutions from the Bond Protein Repair system. To top it off, the experience featured a 360-degree photo booth, plenty of content capture opportunities, and full-size product sampling.
Photo: Courtesy of OGX
TNT's Virtual Murder Mystery for 'The Alienist: Angel of Darkness'
TNT's Virtual Murder Mystery for 'The Alienist: Angel of Darkness'
We're throwing it back to August 2020, when TNT took virtual events to a whole new level with an interactive murder mystery to celebrate the new season of The Alienist: Angel of Darkness. Produced by Little Cinema, the online experience cast guests as investigative journalists from The New York Times, tasked with solving the murder of fictional character Alejandro Valdez. Using a custom platform, attendees navigated through virtual “rooms,” interrogating costumed actors and piecing together clues—like real-life detectives—from the comfort of their own homes.

One of the night’s most gripping moments? A live actor was trapped in a locked box rapidly filling with water, while guests frantically exchanged clues in the chat to figure out how to help.
Photo: Little Cinema for TNT
To help guests keep track of their findings, the platform included a “clues” section, recapping everything learned so far. At the end of the event, guests were prompted to vote on who the real killer was. See more: Steal-Worthy Ideas From TNT's Virtual Murder Mystery Party
To help guests keep track of their findings, the platform included a “clues” section, recapping everything learned so far. At the end of the event, guests were prompted to vote on who the real killer was. See more: Steal-Worthy Ideas From TNT's Virtual Murder Mystery Party
Photo: Little Cinema for TNT
Perot Museum of Nature and Science's Fifth Annual Fundraiser
Perot Museum of Nature and Science's Fifth Annual Fundraiser
Another favorite throwback comes from 2017, when the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas hosted its fifth annual Night at the Museum fundraiser—this time with a theme centered on “intrigue.” The evening was packed with hands-on science experiments (like squid dissections!) and lie-detector tests, but the real highlight for true crime fans was playing detective at various interactive stations. One particularly clever moment? Guests accessed a hidden speakeasy by eating edible paper with the secret passcode. Made from rice and potato starch, the paper dissolved with moisture, making sure no trace was left behind. See more: Why This Benefit Offered Squid Dissection and Lie Detector Tests
Photo: Antonio Diaz
FX's 'A Murder at the End of the World' Dinner Party
FX's 'A Murder at the End of the World' Dinner Party
To celebrate its series A Murder at the End of the World back in 2023, FX transformed an event space into a chilling, immersive experience. Projection mapping, RFID tech, costumed actors, and surprise-and-delight moments plunged guests into the show’s eerie world. Aptly named "A Killer Evening: Cocktails. A Mystery. A Murder," the night kicked off with masked actors greeting attendees—setting the tone for the spooky scenes ahead.
Photo: Courtesy of FX Networks
For the New York event, guests dined in an atmospheric space where projection mapping recreated the series' haunting Icelandic backdrop. The room felt like a mysterious, otherworldly escape—perfect for a murder mystery dinner.
For the New York event, guests dined in an atmospheric space where projection mapping recreated the series' haunting Icelandic backdrop. The room felt like a mysterious, otherworldly escape—perfect for a murder mystery dinner.
Photo: Courtesy of FX Networks
As guests enjoyed their meals, unexpected elements from the series crept into the evening—from puzzle-like challenges to an AI-inspired “voice of God” that guided the night’s storyline. RQ Agency and FX took immersion to the next level by embedding actors among the diners. These 'undercover' characters would casually share intriguing tidbits about the series before dramatically revealing their roles at the night’s end—much to the guests’ surprise. See more: See FX's Tech-Forward Twist on the Standard Murder Mystery Dinner Party
As guests enjoyed their meals, unexpected elements from the series crept into the evening—from puzzle-like challenges to an AI-inspired “voice of God” that guided the night’s storyline. RQ Agency and FX took immersion to the next level by embedding actors among the diners. These "undercover" characters would casually share intriguing tidbits about the series before dramatically revealing their roles at the night’s end—much to the guests’ surprise. See more: See FX's Tech-Forward Twist on the Standard Murder Mystery Dinner Party
Photo: Courtesy of FX Networks
Peacock's 'Crime and Unwind' Pop-Up Spa
Peacock's 'Crime and Unwind' Pop-Up Spa
In December 2024, Peacock gave relaxation a true-crime twist with its "Crime and Unwind" spa pop-up at Remedy Place in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. The unique activation catered to fans who find mystery-solving oddly soothing—playing off research that revealed 56% of true crime enthusiasts actually feel relaxed when following complex investigations.
Photo: Courtesy of Jack Morton
Inspired by this unexpected connection between crime and calm, Peacock designed immersive wellness treatments with punny, mystery-themed names. Guests could try 'The Airtight Alibi' (a hyperbaric oxygen chamber), 'Hot Pursuit' (an infrared sauna), 'Cold Case Plunge' (an ice bath and breathwork session), and 'Knot Guilty' (a massage area). Each treatment offered a blend of relaxation and detective vibes, while lounge areas featured Peacock’s true crime collection, including Dateline and Based on a True Story.
Inspired by this unexpected connection between crime and calm, Peacock designed immersive wellness treatments with punny, mystery-themed names. Guests could try "The Airtight Alibi" (a hyperbaric oxygen chamber), "Hot Pursuit" (an infrared sauna), "Cold Case Plunge" (an ice bath and breathwork session), and "Knot Guilty" (a massage area). Each treatment offered a blend of relaxation and detective vibes, while lounge areas featured Peacock’s true crime collection, including Dateline and Based on a True Story.
Photo: Courtesy of Jack Morton
The experience wasn’t complete without a photo op fit for a true crime fan. Peacock worked with Jack Morton Worldwide to bring the immersive—and surprisingly soothing—concept to life.
The experience wasn’t complete without a photo op fit for a true crime fan. Peacock worked with Jack Morton Worldwide to bring the immersive—and surprisingly soothing—concept to life.
Photo: Courtesy of Jack Morton
Hulu's 'Only Murders in the Building' Pop-Up
Hulu's 'Only Murders in the Building' Pop-Up
New York City’s United Palace Theater wasn’t just a filming location for Only Murders in the Building—it also became the scene of a mystery-inspired pop-up in September 2023. The immersive experience brought the show’s third season to life, inviting guests to step into the world of the series. If you’re not caught up: The season followed the murder of actor Ben Glenroy (played by Paul Rudd) just before his big Broadway debut. Naturally, his friends and neighbors take it upon themselves to crack the case.
Photo: Courtesy of PR Dept
As guests arrived at the iconic theater, they were greeted as if stepping into a crime-filled Broadway show: They were handed a playbill and a flashlight to set the mood. And on the mezzanine level, eventgoers-turned-detectives could find a costume gallery and other items cataloged as “evidence.” See more: This Ultra-Immersive Only Murders in the Building Pop-Up Allowed Fans to Help Solve the Show's Latest Mystery
As guests arrived at the iconic theater, they were greeted as if stepping into a crime-filled Broadway show: They were handed a playbill and a flashlight to set the mood. And on the mezzanine level, eventgoers-turned-detectives could find a costume gallery and other items cataloged as “evidence.” See more: This Ultra-Immersive Only Murders in the Building Pop-Up Allowed Fans to Help Solve the Show's Latest Mystery
Photo: Courtesy of PR Dept
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