You’ve prepped your clues. You’ve printed your character cards. You’ve even bought a faux monocle off Amazon because *this is your night*. But then… *the text comes in.*

“Hey! So sorry, can’t make it tonight! 😬”

Or worse: total silence… and they never show. Now what?

Let’s talk about how to salvage your murder mystery night when guests ghost you—and how to do it without derailing the entire game.

As hosts, we’ve had this happen all the time. So we accounted for it.

First, Don’t Panic—Our Games Are Built for This

At Megan’s Mysteries, our mystery sets are designed to flex. Each story has about 8–10 essential characters and another 10–12 non-essential or “supporting” roles. But here’s the key: *we never tell anyone they’re non-essential.* Everyone gets a backstory, secrets, objectives, and drama. That way, no one feels like an extra—even if they were technically replaceable all along (sorry, Brad).

If someone drops out last minute, you’re still good to go—as long as the essential roles are covered. That’s your new mantra: Cover the Core, Float the Rest.

Not sure what “essential” means? Each of our mysteries—like The Emerald Expedition or The Grand Gilded Express—clearly mark which roles are needed to make the mystery work and which ones are just delicious extra chaos. You’ll find this info in your Host Guide. *But*, if you’re not using one of our sets, here are some other options:

Backup Plan #1: Have a Float Character Ready

Pick one person you trust—maybe your drama-loving cousin or that one coworker who memorized their lines *and* everyone else’s in school plays. Ask them to “float” during the night, which just means they’re on standby to pick up any dropped roles.

They don’t need to memorize anything. Just keep the character sheets nearby, and if someone no-shows, your float steps in with minimal disruption. Is it Oscar-worthy acting? No. Is it better than scrambling 5 minutes before go-time? Absolutely.

Backup Plan #2: Combine or Disguise Roles

Let’s say your cast of 14 drops to 11. Can you combine two supporting characters into one juicy new role? Potentially. Just hand one player both sets of secrets and objectives and say, “Your character’s been keeping double lives.” Bonus points if they get dramatic with it.

Another trick? Disguise a missing character as “offstage.” You can say someone is locked in a back room, wandering the garden, or mysteriously missing. Then have their secrets discovered through props or gossip from other guests. This turns a no-show into a plot twist.

Backup Plan #3: Assign the Character as an NPC

Assigning a missing role as a “non-player character” (NPC) is a great way to keep their info in circulation without needing someone to act it out. Simply have another player mention them in dialogue (“Didn’t Tobias say he saw the gemstone in *your* pack?”), or use clues like notes or evidence left behind.

Backup Plan #4: Use Your Non-Essential Players as Bonus Story Fuel

If you’re short on guests but still have a good group, shift your focus from numbers to depth. Have your remaining players dig deeper into their roles—ask them to invent connections, whisper suspicions, or reveal a secret from “long ago.”

You can even encourage them to stir things up by sharing a clue that wasn’t originally theirs. (The Host Guide gives you permission to shuffle minor secrets around as needed. Don’t worry, we won’t call the mystery police.)

Bonus Tip: Don’t Over-Explain Who’s “Essential”

If your friend Joe doesn’t show and someone asks, “Wait, wasn’t he a key character?”—just shrug and say, “His absence is part of the mystery.” Keep it vague. Keep it fun. Never say, “Oh, he was a non-essential character,” unless you want to cause problems.

We don’t mark any role as “non-essential” in a way that’s visible to players for a reason: everyone should feel important. That’s why even the optional characters in our mysteries come with unique secrets, motives, and relationships.

If You’re Hosting Again, Build a Buffer

Once you’ve hosted once, you learn. And here’s one of the biggest lessons: not everyone will show. Life happens. Sickness, kids, traffic, commitment issues—it’s all real. So the next time you plan a game, invite a couple more people than you think you need.

That way, if two guests bail, you still have a great group. If no one bails, great! You’ve got even more gossip, betrayal, and over-the-top acting. Win-win.

What If You’re the One Who Bails?

First of all, shame.

But also… tell your host ASAP so they can reassign your role. If you’re hosting and worried you might bail on your own event, just… don’t. You’re the glue holding this suspicious soirée together. Get a thermos of tea and push through. 😉

Let the Mystery Adapt

Our mystery kits are forgiving for a reason. We want you to have a blast even if your cast list isn’t 100% intact. With flexible scripts, dynamic clues, and rich characters, you can adapt in real time.

In fact, some hosts find that unexpected absences actually improve the story. Fewer people can lead to deeper interactions, tighter pacing, and less chaos (unless you like chaos—in which case, the more the messier).

Need Help Mid-Party? We’ve Got You

If you’re hosting one of our mysteries and need a quick solution—like “Can I remove this character and still have a plot?”—you can always check our help guides, or contact us for quick advice. You’re not alone in the jungle, train car, or Wild West town. We’ve been through it too.

So the next time someone ghosts your mystery night, just remember: the show must go on. The butler must still reveal a shocking secret. The botanist must still hide a deadly plant. And someone, somewhere, still did the crime.

And hey—if you need a mystery kit that’s *actually* designed to flex with your flaky friends, check out our full lineup of printable mystery games. You’ll be ready for anything.