A weekend full of “death” and “deception” is, understandably, not how people usually envision spending their downtime — but that’s quickly changing.
Murder mystery experiences, which combine elements of immersive theater and escape rooms, are on the rise, per Bloomberg, and just about everyone is dying to play.
Murder on our minds?
Blame it on popular media like “White Lotus,” “Traitors,” and Knives Out, which McKinsey & Co.’s Alex Gersovitz told Bloomberg have inspired younger, experience-driven travelers.
But these macabre games, which offer a phone-free way to play and connect, have been a hit across demographics.
- “Ms. Maxwell Presents: The Murder Game” — a 90-minute affair by Brooklyn-based theater troupe What May Come Immersive, which is taking its show on the road with an expanded West Coast tour this year — has lured NYC urbanites.
- Mohonk Mountain House in upstate New York, which is credited with pioneering the genre, has kept up the weekend charade since the ‘70s. Today, it charges hotel guests, including boomers, hipsters, and kids alike, ~$30 a head to participate.
- In China, “jubensha” (translation: “scripted murder”) events generated an estimated $2B+ in 2021 revenue.
Destinations for dead serious fun
Over the past year, travel companies have gotten in on the fun, capitalizing on the popularity of whodunit events with elaborate setups around the world catered to deep-pocketed sleuths.
And they’re charging terrifying sums for it.
- Last year, Capital One had Neil Patrick Harris host a murder mystery weekend in the Florida Keys for Venture X cardholders. The cost: $10k for two tickets.
- Luxury travel brand Black Tomato told Bloomberg it’s arranged several “White Lotus”-inspired experiences for private clients. Depending on the complexity and location (think: Scottish castles or St. Bart’s), the cost could land anywhere from a couple $100k… up to $1m.
That price point alone could send us to our graves — no travel or mystery required.
Games
