How to get away with murder

Do you enjoy playing the killer? In script games, it’s hard to avoid drawing the killer role now and then. You’ll often see friends venting on social media about their luck: “Every time I play, I end up as the killer.”

Since the killer stands opposite the rest of the table, quietly fighting everyone alone, the pressure can feel intense. So if you draw the killer, how do you play it well?

We asked some veteran players and hosts in our group and pulled together a few tips. Sometimes, the killer role can be played with real flair.

1. Keep your cool

Once, a player named VV was heading to a script he’d been excited about for ages. Before he left, he kept saying how hyped he was. When the game began, he sent me a line: “I read the first sentence. Tonight won’t be simple.”

But he didn’t melt down because he pulled the killer. He joked with me for a bit, then got down to business. In most scripts, every character has something to hide and a possible motive for murder. So don’t worry that you’re “too obvious” by default.

Even if clues point your way, or players’ theories happen to match the script's design, everything is still just speculation until the killer personally admits it .

When we discussed the “evil twin gambit” for killers in the group, I wondered, won’t making stuff up like that get called out? Our host Zhuzhu said: “As long as you plant doubt, they’ll start arguing with themselves.”

In your own experience, have you ever noticed a vital clue only to completely forget about it later? Especially late game, with messy clues and tangled timelines, a few nudges can push non-killers into mental traps. They’ll have two clashing ideas in their heads and walk right past the truth. So if you get the killer, remember: your opponents are not invincible.

Steady your mind. This is your test. It’ll make an extraordinary journey.

2.   Act decisively

Unlike other players who can jog along at an easy pace, the killer is running a marathon. The trick is to keep that effort hidden and don’t let the joggers see you’re racing. The hard work pays off when you win at the end.

Decide from the beginning what you can reveal and what you absolutely can’t. Map out which points, clues, and testimonies might harm you. There is a tradeoff between some things that are just immoral and give you a bad reputation verses the things that will get you caught.

Plan your approach: do you lay track step by step, or play it by ear? Then begin your sleeper agent wolf-in-a-flock-of-sheep run.

There’s a player type we call the “scriptless player.” They shut the booklet and start improvising like crazy. They read one story but tell another. Parents alive? Say you grew up an orphan. Rich and powerful? Claim you suddenly went broke and you were an undercover agent in the mob. If it’s a historical script, say you’re a royal survivor whose clan was wiped out, here to find your lost sister.

There’s also the “cards-on-the-table” type, the so-called “open-book monster.” When pressed, they look overwhelmed and blurt: “Fine, fine, I’ll confess…” but what they confess might still be a lie. Both styles rely on skill in spinning and bluffing. but both can backfire, leaving teammates unwilling to believe a word you say.

Another approach is to hide parts of your story, ramp up others’ motives and methods, muddy the waters, and steer the discussion. When you are the one most actively seeking the killer, it's hard to believe that it was you all along.

Whatever your style, those above or others not listed, you need to stay fully focused. Listen closely and gather everyone’s info. Pounce on others' hesitations, speak clean and sharp, clear your name, and redirect attention to someone else.

In some ways, this raises your engagement in the game a lot. If you escape in the end, the sense of achievement is huge. On the other hand, hiding by acting shy doesn’t count. Yes, it makes you less noticeable, but your experience and involvement drop to near zero, and it drags down the table.

3.   Show confidence

Sometimes when we suspect a player, they get flustered and go full scattershot attack. That only makes us more suspicious. As the killer, you’ll face doubts. But if you believe in yourself, you can sell your “innocence.”

The popular “sunshine style” does exactly this: you take the lead, lay out methods and clues for everyone to analyze, and make people feel the story can’t be that simple. Some even become the “light of the team,” and everyone rallies to vote out a scapegoat instead.

The “sunshine style” needs care and suits players who can pivot fast. Beyond staying calm, that righteous energy and a desire to carry the team can mislead others too.

“As the killer, stay composed. Don’t give off a ‘you can’t vote for me’ vibe. Aim for ‘I want to help you crack the truth,’ ‘Your logic’s a bit off,’ ‘Try this angle instead.’ Then confidently use clues and reasoning to build a case against a pushable target. Bring that ‘I’m here to carry you’ energy. It’s a face-to-face game, after all,” suggests player Ball Lightning.

“Silence is golden” doesn’t work in script games when you’re under fire. Maybe you can’t spin a whole new story or control the rhythm. But a calm, fearless attitude still helps others trust you.

In the end, no matter what happens, always remember that the goal is to have fun. 

We sometimes hear complaints about players who self-expose as the killer because they can’t handle the pressure.

Playing the killer builds your tolerance for pressure and your improvisation skills. Not everyone knows how to handle the role at first, but if you can reflect and grow from each failure, that’s a kind of experience you can't get from other roles.

In some ways, the killer is the centre position. If you play it well, you’ll shine. So next time you draw the killer, don’t panic. Think back to what you or others did before, adapt it to your style, and make the role your own.

Have you got a killer strategy that works for you? Then share it with us!