So, you’ve picked a murder mystery game—maybe one like The Emerald Expedition, with its jungle intrigue and treasure-hunting chaos. Or maybe you’ve chosen the glitz of The Grand Gilded Express, where secrets travel as fast as the train. Either way, now you’re staring at your guest list like it just betrayed you.

“Wait… do I have 8 people coming? Or 12? Or 17?!”

We’ve all been there. RSVPs are a lie. Someone will bail last minute. Someone else will bring their cousin “who’s, like, super into puzzles.” And now your perfectly plotted murder mystery is teetering on the edge of chaos—before the game even begins.

Good News: Our Games Are Built to Flex

Unlike your great-aunt’s meatloaf recipe, our murder mystery games are not rigid. Many of our titles are designed to work for 8–20 players, with a core set of “essential” characters driving the mystery. Everyone else? They’re delightful chaos machines—adding twists, distractions, red herrings, and extra layers of drama. The party can go on with as few as 8, or scale up to 20 and still work beautifully.

But how exactly do you scale your murder mystery without losing the plot (or your mind)? Let’s break it down.

1. Know the “Essential” Characters

In every Megan’s Mysteries game, you’ll see a cast list divided into essential and optional characters. These aren’t just suggestions. The essential characters carry the mystery. They are tied directly to the plot, clues, motives, and the murder itself. If you’re playing with 8 and there are 8 essential characters—great. Assign those first and let the mystery unfold as planned.

If you’re playing with 10 or more, begin layering in optional characters. Think of them like seasoning: the right balance can elevate the whole dish.

2. Assign Optional Characters Strategically

Optional characters are more than filler. They’re written to enhance the story with side plots, extra drama, or hidden alliances. In Murder at Copper Gulch, the town’s colorful residents each carry secrets of their own—even if they didn’t pull the trigger.

Some optional characters can stir up trouble by spreading rumors, snooping where they shouldn’t, or accusing others without proof (which, let’s be honest, is half the fun). When scaling up, choose characters that add tension to your group dynamics. A party full of wallflowers won’t be as fun as one with at least one person who thrives on chaos.

3. Keep the Clues and Evidence Central

The beauty of the Megan’s Mysteries format is that the mystery doesn’t depend on everyone being present. The clues, evidence, and major reveals are tied to the essential characters. This keeps the core plot intact—even if your flaky coworker skips out or your cousin’s friend has stage fright.

If you have 15 or more guests, consider letting multiple players “witness” the same clue. Encourage side conversations. This creates a sense of discovery, even if only one or two characters hold the true smoking gun.

4. Let Extras Improvise (Within Bounds)

Optional characters can be given simple direction cards (“You’re trying to find out who stole your map,” or “You think your rival is lying about where they were last night.”) They don’t need a deep backstory—they just need a reason to talk to everyone.

You can also encourage them to invent tiny subplots—romantic rivalries, professional jealousy, or petty grudges—as long as they don’t interfere with the main mystery. Think of them as reality show contestants: loud, slightly unhinged, but not allowed to rewrite the script.

5. Don’t Stress About Perfect Balance

Some hosts get caught up trying to perfectly distribute speaking time or ensure every guest has the same number of objectives. Don’t. The magic of a great mystery night is in the chaos. It’s okay if some guests are more involved than others—as long as everyone feels included.

Encourage quiet players to team up with bolder ones. Let people interrogate each other. The game is designed to get people talking. You just have to set the stage—and maybe toss a few vines and props around while you’re at it.

6. Scaling Down? Stick to the Essentials

If your guest list shrinks to just the minimum, don’t worry. All of our mysteries are designed with a core cast of essential characters—usually 8 or 10—who carry the full plot. As long as those roles are filled, the mystery still works like clockwork.

What you can’t do is combine essential characters or have one guest play two of them, at least in our mysteries. Each role has unique secrets, objectives, and clues tied directly to the murder. Trying to merge them breaks the logic of the game and risks leaking key info too early—or worse, creating contradictions.

If you fall below the minimum number of players, it’s better to reschedule than to Frankenstein the cast list. But if you’ve got just enough to hit that magic number? You’re golden. It’ll be intimate, intense, and easier to keep tabs on everyone’s alibis (or lies).

7. Scaling Up? Use Every Character in the Cast

Unlike many boxed mystery games that top out at 12 players, Megan’s Mysteries are built to scale—up to 20 or even 22 characters depending on the theme. That means no need to invent “extra” roles or toss in random bystanders with vague objectives. Everyone gets a real character card, a full backstory, and real objectives tied into the plot or subplots.

Optional characters don’t just fill space—they stir the pot, spread rumors, uncover side clues, and derail each other in the best way possible. Every additional player you bring in adds more tension, more misdirection, and more chances for the quiet botanist to suddenly accuse the treasure hunter of lying about his alibi.

So yes, go big. Invite the whole friend group. Just make sure everyone gets their assigned character and knows not to trust anyone—especially the one in the wide-brimmed hat holding a mysterious gemstone.

Final Word: Bigger Isn’t Always Better (But It Can Be)

You don’t need 20 guests to have an unforgettable night. Some of our best stories have been told around a dining table with just 8 players. But if you want to go big—go for it. Our mysteries are built to scale, flex, and thrive in controlled chaos.

Just remember: the plot will hold. The twists will land. The murder will be solved (or not). And your guests? They’ll leave asking when they get to do it again.

Looking for your next great game? Check out our full collection of flexible, printable mysteries at Megan’s Mysteries—where every party becomes an adventure worth remembering.