Short Summary
Till Death Do We Part is a one-hour, narrative-driven murder mystery game where players take on the role of detectives investigating the death of a groom on his wedding day. Designed for group play, players analyze a curated box of immersive evidence—including physical objects, documents, and character interviews—to uncover who committed the murder and why. Intended for adult players and fans of story-rich experiences, the game explores deeper social themes such as empathy, grief, privilege, and truth.
Design Process & Thought Process
Game Design Document (GDD)
- Core Concept: An immersive detective experience driven by evidence-based storytelling.
- Purpose: To foster empathy while exploring power dynamics, emotional depth, and the complexity of truth.
- Rules: Players must go through the provided evidence in order, discuss findings, and make a final deduction using a reveal card.
- Mechanics: Evidence examination, character interviews, group discussion, and narrative deduction.
Iterative Design
The game was fully fleshed out from the beginning, with a clear vision for both story and structure. While the core design remained unchanged, two key improvements were made based on playtesting:
- A player guide was added to clarify the order in which evidence should be reviewed.
- A final “reveal card” was introduced to provide closure and enhance the narrative payoff.
Game Mechanics (Simplified)
- Evidence Analysis: Players examine realistic documents, photos, objects, and text screenshots.
- Character Interviews: Each of the five suspects has a full police transcript revealing personal motives and emotional complexity.
- Group Discussion: A free-flow experience that encourages collaborative interpretation of the facts and stories.
- Final Reveal: A sealed solution card confirms the killer’s identity and motive.
Player Goals
Players aim to determine:
- What killed the groom
- What pieces of evidence point to the answer
- How the pieces of evidence come together to reveal the full story
Victory is achieved when players accurately connect the dots and empathize with the emotional layers behind the crime.
Gameplay Sequence
- Briefing: Players receive a short overview of the murder and are told to examine evidence in order.
- Investigation: Players analyze items including:
- A glass flute
- Wedding invitation and timeline
- Drink menu
- Wedding card
- Three photographs
- Five suspect interviews
- One personal letter
- Screenshots of text messages
- Discussion: The group compares notes, interprets motives, and formulates a theory.
- Reveal: Players open the final card to discover the truth and reflect on their conclusions.
Game Board & Components
There is no game board; instead, the experience is driven by tactile storytelling through evidence. Components include:
- 3 printed photographs
- A glass champagne flute
- A handwritten wedding card
- 5 police interview transcripts (one per suspect)
- A drink menu
- Wedding invitation and schedule
- A personal letter
- Screenshots of character text conversations
- A reveal card for the final solution
These items guide player actions and slowly build a layered, emotional narrative.
Rulebook & Playtesting
Rulebook Sample
A short instruction document is provided to:
- Guide players through evidence in the correct order
- Encourage group discussion and theory-building
- Explain how and when to use the final reveal card
Playtesting Notes
- Players found the experience highly immersive and emotionally engaging.
- The biggest challenge was managing the flow of evidence—solved by adding a clear order-of-play document.
- Players requested and appreciated the addition of the final reveal card for narrative closure.
Game Reflections
Developing Till Death Do We Part confirmed the power of narrative games to evoke empathy and critical thinking. The biggest lesson was in narrative coherence—ensuring every piece of evidence felt intentional and interconnected. Future expansions might explore alternate suspects, branching storylines, or character-driven epilogues to deepen replayability.