Hello, Ghosties,
Sometimes, the best ideas come from unexpected places. For me, the seeds of my great idea were sewn in 2023 when I set out to host a Halloween party with a twist. As an introvert, I’m not the type to enjoy casual mingling at events, even around close friends, so I decided that, instead of throwing on music and watching people hover uncomfortably around a snack table, I’d throw a dinner party. Not just any dinner party, though. At this party, my guests would also play a game.
I’ve always loved games—any kind, really. So, I started brainstorming what kind of game could turn this dinner into something memorable, immersive, and, let’s be honest, a little weird. I wanted it to be more flexible and creative than the typical murder mystery setups. Something haunting but with plenty of room for my guests to shape the night in their own way.
I wanted to tell a story. I wanted my guests to bring that story to life.
The idea I came up with was simple: the dinner would be haunted, each guest unknowingly playing host to a spirit from the “other side.” But not all spirits were equal—one was a demon. My guests had to figure out who was possessed and do it before the end of dessert or risk sending one of their friends to eternal darkness.
Over four courses, my 13 friends bantered, argued, and laughed their way through the game. Once, they guessed wrong and sentenced one of their own to an eternity with the demon. At some point, we adopted affected accents, and no one knew why. My guests ran around my house and garden, searching for clues to brew the color-changing cocktail that would end the game. They created their own strategies for keeping secrets. Some worked, some didn’t. By the end of the night, they did figure out who the demon was (though he did a fantastic job of hiding until the final course).
I wanted to do it again.
I told friends and colleagues about the party, what I had created. Some people asked for invites to the next one. Jokingly, a few asked if I could plan their own versions of the event.
That’s when I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was on to something with this idea.
Fast forward a year, and that one epic dinner party has evolved into Dead Man’s (Dinner) Party. It’s been a labor of love, something that took a year of refining mechanics, tweaking the story, and lovingly recreating the props. What started as scribbled notes and hastily crafted materials for my own guests has now become something that others can enjoy, too.
As much as I loved creating this game, I also know how much work goes into bringing original ideas to life. That’s why I’ve set a personal goal to reinvest 10% of sales back into small businesses and other creators. The artists, creators, and dreamers who make our world more interesting, and who bring originality and wonder into everything they do. Eventually, I’d love to take Dead Man’s (Dinner) Party to a new level—producing printed versions of the game with tangible props, even creating bespoke versions for special events. There’s so much potential for collaborating with talented graphic designers and artists to bring the game pieces to life.
This is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see where Dead Man’s (Dinner) Party goes next. For now, though, I hope it brings as much joy and laughter to you as it did at that first haunted dinner party.
Happy hauntings,
R