Murder mystery
The Nowak murder mystery
A teamwork and communication whodunit - each participant gets their own clues on their phone and the group works out who, with what, when, where and why.
What is the The Nowak murder mystery game?
The Nowak murder mystery is a teamwork-and-communication game. Each participant pulls one or more clues onto their own phone (via a QR code). From then on the group manages on its own - you, as trainer, only confirm whether a conclusion is right. The task: reconstruct what happened and answer five questions - who, with what, when, where and why they killed.
Clues are dealt out evenly and simple rules apply: you may not show your clue to anyone (but you can re-read it as often as you like), you may not take notes, and the group must stay together. You set a time limit and the number of groups - with several groups each solves the same mystery independently. Optionally you can name a lead investigator and add penalties for wrong answers.
Features
Key capabilities
Clues on the phone
Each participant pulls their clue (or several) via a QR code - information is scattered across the group.
Rules that force talking
You can't show clues or take notes - knowledge can only be shared by speaking.
Five questions to solve
The group must work out who, with what, when, where and why they killed.
Multi-group mode
Participants split evenly into groups, and each solves the same mystery independently.
Time limit
You set the solving time (15–120 min), and you only confirm whether conclusions are right.
Solution key and debrief
The host keeps the full solution and ready debrief questions on hand, and can shorten the clock with a penalty or extend it with a bonus.
Step by step
How it works
Pick a mystery and settings
Choose a scenario, set the time limit and the number of groups, then start the session.
Participants draw clues
Each scans a QR code and gets their clue or several on their phone - dealt out evenly.
The group works alone
From the deal participants work independently - you only say 'good conclusion' or 'wrong conclusion'.
Solve the case
The group answers the five questions before time runs out - who, with what, when, where and why.
Use cases
What it’s good for
- Training teamwork and sharing information
- Practising communication and listening in a group
- A team logic challenge for a workshop
- Showing how scattered knowledge needs coordination
- Show that nobody on the team holds the full picture
- An exercise in sharing what you know with the others
- A team puzzle for a communication workshop
Training by Octigo
Want this run as a full training?
You are free to run our games and simulations on your own. But if you would like us to deliver a complete training, with a professional debrief and the concepts behind the “The Nowak murder mystery” simulation explained in depth, get in touch. Octigo is a professional training company with 20 years of experience and many awards for its simulations.
- 20 years of experience in corporate training
- Award-winning training simulations
- A professional debrief and takeaways after the session
- A programme tailored to your goals and your team
Prefer to write to us directly? szkolenia@octigo.pl
Try “The Nowak murder mystery” in Verbalu
Create a free account and run your first engaging session today. No card, no installation.