Before the Mystery Begins: All Aboard for Fun

Your guests have arrived. Some are sipping tea, others are awkwardly staring at the snack table like they’ve just boarded the wrong train car. Whether you’re hosting a glamorous 1930s train-themed night or the full Murder on the Orient Express-inspired mystery game, you don’t have to let the party idle in the station. A few clever train-themed games can break the ice, get everyone laughing, and set the scene before the first clue is even revealed.

Here are our favorite train games that work for all ages—no ticket puncher required.

1. Luggage Relay

Divide guests into two or more “train lines.” Give each team a small suitcase, duffel, or even a shoebox labeled as “cargo.” Place the cargo at one end of the “platform.” Players must race down the “track,” pick up the luggage, and bring it back before the next person in line can go. Add twists: race while balancing a teacup, walk heel-to-toe like you’re crossing a swaying train car, or dodge “passengers” (obstacles) in the aisle.

2. Mystery Passenger Charades

Classic charades gets a ticket upgrade. Make a stack of train-themed prompts such as:
– Porter carrying too many suitcases
– Detective inspecting a pocket watch
– Passenger spilling tea during a sudden stop
– Conductor punching tickets with flair
– Someone chasing the train as it leaves the station

Encourage dramatic gestures. Bonus points for accents. And if someone draws “overly suspicious gentleman in Car 3,” expect immediate laughter.

3. Ticket Punch Toss

Set up a “ticket booth” (a box or container with small holes) and give guests rolled-up paper “tickets” or beanbags. The goal: toss tickets into the punch holes from a set distance. Assign points for different holes—harder ones can be worth more. If you’re running your murder mystery game, label the holes with “suspect names” and let people “accuse” someone by making the shot.

4. Conductor Says

Like Simon Says, but the leader wears a conductor’s hat. Only when the leader says “Conductor Says” should guests follow the command. Otherwise, they’re “off the train” (out for the round). Commands can be train-themed—“Chug like a steam engine,” “Tip your hat,” “Check your ticket,” “Lean for the curve.” It’s silly, simple, and gets everyone moving.

5. Clue in the Caboose

Hide small props, papers, or “clues” around your party space. Hand out a riddle sheet or map showing where the items might be hidden—like “Beneath the tea service” or “Next to the sleeping car curtain.” The first player or team to find all the items is declared “Lead Detective” and earns bragging rights (and maybe a chocolate truffle).

6. Guess That Train Sound

Play audio clips of train whistles, station announcements, clattering wheels, or even themed music from classic films. Guests write down their guesses, and the highest score wins. Works beautifully as a filler game between rounds of your murder mystery. Tip: Slip in one or two totally unrelated sounds (cow moo, ship horn) to catch people off guard.

7. Passenger Freeze Dance

Play upbeat jazz or swing-era music and have guests dance as if they’re passengers on a train. When the music stops, they must freeze mid-action. If someone moves, they’re “jostled off the platform” and out until the next round. For extra fun, assign roles—someone must dance like a wealthy heiress, another like a sleepy porter, another like a flustered tea server.

8. Platform Trivia

Lay paper “platforms” (numbered sheets) on the floor in a winding path. Each platform corresponds to a trivia question—either train-themed, mystery-themed, or general history from the 1930s. Correct answers let players advance to the next platform. Wrong answers send them back to the last station. First to reach the “locomotive” at the end wins.

Sample questions:
– What’s the fastest train in the world today?
– What’s the name for the car where passengers sleep?
– In what decade was the Orient Express first launched?

9. Dining Car Hot Potato

Pass around a teacup, wrapped biscuit tin, or napkin “bundle” while music plays. When the music stops, whoever’s holding it must unwrap a layer and complete the challenge inside. Challenges could include:
– Give your best conductor’s “All aboard!”
– Pretend to be late for the train
– Describe the most suspicious thing you’ve seen tonight
– Recreate a dramatic train chase in 5 seconds

10. Train Name Generator

Print a simple chart for guests to create their train passenger persona based on their first initial and birth month. Example:
– First initial: M = “Midnight”
– Birth month: April = “Ticket Inspector”

Guests must now introduce themselves in character—“I’m Midnight Ticket Inspector, at your service!” It’s especially fun to do this before roles are handed out for your mystery game.

Need More Steam in Your Party?

These games work perfectly alongside the full train-themed murder mystery kit from Megan’s Mysteries, where guests become detectives, porters, aristocrats, and more to solve a 1930s crime on the rails. If your party vibe leans more jungle expedition than train station, you might love our guide on How to Host a Jungle Expedition Murder Mystery.

Final Tips: Keep It Rolling

Don’t worry if every guest doesn’t join every game—the goal is to create a relaxed, interactive atmosphere that keeps the party moving. Keep props handy: conductor hats, tea cups, fake tickets, or even printed “train schedules” for laughs. Hand out silly awards at the end—Best Whistle Impression, Fastest Luggage Porter, Most Convincing Sleepy Passenger.

Your murder mystery night may have a dramatic reveal at the end, but the ride there should be packed with laughter, camaraderie, and a bit of organized chaos.