Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about setting up, hosting, and playing fair-play digital murder mystery parties.
Does the host know who the killer is in advance? +
No! That is the core breakthrough of Alibi Night. In old-fashioned boxed games, the host has to read the solution booklet to coordinate the night. With Alibi Night, our cloud engine manages clue distribution, secrets, and timers automatically. The host participates as a full detective and experiences the shock reveal alongside everyone else.
Do all my guests need to download an app? +
Not at all. Guests can join directly from their mobile web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox) by opening alibinight.com/play and entering the 6-character room code. For those who prefer native apps, Alibi Night is also available on iOS and Android.
What happens if someone’s battery dies or phone reloads? +
Our GameRoom server runs on Cloudflare Durable Objects and maintains a persistent, serialized log of all party events. If a player reloads or switches apps, the app immediately re-syncs to the current round, restoring all private clues, whispers, and ballots without missing a beat.
How many people can play in a single session? +
Our free mystery supports 4 to 8 players (free plan capped at 5 players). With the Pro Host Pass, parties scale up to 12 simultaneous players with fully personalized character roles and interlocking storylines.
Can we play remotely over Zoom, Google Meet, or Discord? +
Absolutely. Many groups play remote or hybrid. You just need a voice or video call so everyone can discuss and interrogate each other. The Alibi Night app on each player’s screen manages all the secret clue distribution and synchronized timers.
What does "fair-play deduction" mean? +
Fair-play mystery design is a strict literary principle (pioneered by Agatha Christie and Ronald Knox). It guarantees that all clues needed to deduce the true culprit, murder weapon, and motive are accessible to the players before the accusation round begins. The solution relies on rigorous deductive reasoning, not arbitrary supernatural twists or concealed facts.
How long does a game session take? +
A typical 3-round mystery takes between 60 and 90 minutes, including character introductions, group discussions, and the dramatic final reveal. The host can also pause or adjust the round timers from the host dashboard.
Is Alibi Night family friendly? +
Our flagship mystery, The Last Guest of Thornwood Manor, is suitable for ages 13 and up. It features classic gothic manor drama and mild thematic elements without graphic violence or explicit content.