The Field of Screams Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt
- Most Popular
- public
- private
- adults
- indoor
A deadly game of cat and mouse—and dinosaurs
Something strange is afoot at the Field Museum. Staffers involved in acquiring a sacred Egyptian relic have been turning up dead. Is it the work of a serial killer? Or the dreaded Curse of Ahtchu? To solve the mystery and stop the killings, you’ll have to crack a hieroglyphic code, question a suspect, and uncover the museum’s secrets.
Along the way, you might…
- Search an Egyptian tomb for clues
- Interrogate spirits of the dead in the South Pacific
- Scrutinize dinosaurs
- Barge into a cocktail hour at an African watering hole
- Find out what’s wrong with the man-eating lions of Tsavo
Those are just a few of the fun challenges on this hunt that leads you to the best of the museum’s exhibits. No knowledge of the museum or its contents is required—you just need a sharp mind and comfy shoes.
The Whodunit Scavenger Hunt
- Most Popular
- public
- private
- adults
- kids
- indoor
Catch a killer? Get a clue!
There’s a murderer lurking in the halls of the Art Institute, and you’re the only one who can stop him. How? By following the clues and answering the questions in the scavenger hunt that the villain created to taunt the police.
Five of the works of art will reveal his identity, the murder weapon, and the location of the body. But which five? The police are depending on you to find the evidence they need to catch and convict the killer. Are you up to the challenge?
The hunt is great for adults who want to add a murder mystery to their museum visit, but want something a bit less challenging than our Murder at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt. There’s also a Kids Edition, for ages 10 and up, in which kids and adults work together to crack the case.
Contact us to learn more, before the trail runs cold—and find more murder-mystery fun in Chicago!
The Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- kids
- outdoor
Beware: there’s a killer in your midst
Someone playing this game with you is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. His or her good side knows nothing about the evil side—and the evil side has challenged you to prevent your own murder. Everyone in your group has been poisoned, and the clock is ticking down on your time left to live. To reveal the killer’s identity, you’ll have to complete a series of photo challenges, solve interlocking puzzles, decipher coded text messages, and more. If you succeed, you get the antidote. If you fail…well, you know.
If you love escape-room games, you’ll love this murder mystery scavenger hunt. But even better, you won’t be locked in a room for an hour: this game can be played almost anywhere.
An in-person murder mystery for any location!
We have a variety of versions, depending on where you want to play. Such as…
- A city, town, or neighborhood
- A science, history, or entertainment museum
- A zoo or aquarium
- An office building
- A school or campus
- A botanical garden or park
A murder mystery scavenger hunt perfect for team building
Here’s a game that will help you solve the mystery of how to entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for any private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size. Our clients who have enjoyed this game include T-Mobile, TD Bank, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Michigan in Washington, and others too numerous to mention.
The hunt’s afoot! Contact us to learn more—and find more team-building fun anywhere!
The Murder at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt
- public
- private
- adults
- indoor
Dead and loving it
Well, the curator who’s been murdered probably isn’t, but you and your team will enjoy this murder-mystery game. The victim left behind a cryptic trail of clues connected with secrets in the works of art here. As you figure out what they mean, you begin to piece together the sordid details that got him killed—all of which revolve around the museum’s upcoming purchase of a priceless painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
The curator knew too much, and you’ll have to find out what he knew and which of the four suspects killed him. Along the way, you’ll get a whirlwind tour of the Art Institute, starring a pickpocket at a rooster fight, a deadly threat from a tiny rifle, a marching band suitable for the Planet of the Apes, Van Gogh’s telltale tipplers, and a warning to remain silent from a saint who literally holds his tongue.
The Murder at the Brookfield Zoo Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- outdoor
What’s more dangerous than being trapped with tigers?
Being trapped in the zoo with a murderer. A Watson Adventures staffer has been found dead at the Brookfield Zoo, and we need your team’s help to catch his killer. He left a cryptic clue behind: a star that he drew on the ground with his own blood. To solve the mystery—and perhaps save the world—you’ll have to figure out what that macabre clue means and uncover secrets about the victim’s double life.
Along the way, you’ll explore the zoo to find animals related to the puzzle and answer tricky, humorous questions about the strangest aspects of the wild kingdom. The details turn out to be part of a secret code. Can you crack it before time runs out?
What happy clients are saying
“Thank you very much for setting up our event. The team had an amazing time! The Hunt Host was quite lovely and very knowledgeable about the event. She did a fantastic job.” –Jordan Dorich, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
The Murder in the Loop Scavenger Hunt
- public
- private
- adults
- outdoor
The police have made a disturbing discovery…
…and you’re at the center of the crime scene. Help them figure out who killed a Watson Adventures staffer who left behind a startling clue: a star on the ground, drawn with his own blood. As you solve that mystery and many others, you’ll learn the victim’s dangerous secrets and try to head off an international incident that could have deadly and far-reaching consequences.
You’ll also uncover the hidden history of the Loop, as on the Secrets of the Loop Scavenger Hunt, but on this wild whodunit, every answer turns out to be part of a curious code. The world as we know it may depend on your team’s ability to work well together.
Contact us to learn more about this murder mystery in The Loop—and find more fun in Chicago!
The Secrets of Lincoln Park Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- kids
- outdoor
Journey to the center of Oz
Oz Park, that is, with its sculptures saluting Dorothy and her sidekicks. On teams, you’ll explore the charming and quirky heart of this Lincoln Park neighborhood by following a trail of clues and answering fun, funny questions about what you find.
You might investigate…
- Dorothy and friends, who definitely aren’t in Kansas anymore
- Jaw-dropping micro mansions
- Quirky murals almost bursting off walls
- A monstrous cross between a dinosaur and a Corn Puff
- One of Chicago’s oldest houses
- The location of Dillinger’s last stand
No prior knowledge of the neighborhood is needed for this game. Just bring your teamwork skills, your sense of humor, and a pair of comfy shoes.
Care to add a little more suspense? Test your teamwork with the Murder Mystery Edition.
The Kids Edition is great for school groups on field trips, scout outings, birthdays and just about any other occasion you can think of.
Contact us to learn more—and find more fun in Chicago!
The Sherlock Holmes at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- indoor
Can you solve the mystery of the dancing figures?
At the outset of this game based on a Sherlock Holmes story, wealthy businessman Hilton Cubitt and his wife, Elsie, have been shot in their elegant home. Hilton is dead, and Elsie has been seriously wounded. Police think she killed her husband and then turned the gun on herself. If she recovers, she’ll be tried for murder!
But wait—there’s more to this mystery than meets the eye. A week earlier, Hilton had asked Watson Adventures’ code-breaking experts to decipher e-mails that Elsie had received. They contained strange images of dancing stick figures. They seemed to upset her, but she insisted to her husband that they were meaningless.
The crime scene included a crumpled copy of a scavenger hunt involving works of art at the AIC. We believe that the scavenger hunt is connected to the e-mails—and that completing it and revealing its secrets will prove Elsie’s innocence.
See if your band of sleuths can figure out who dunnit by working together to answer tricky questions and piece together the puzzle. The hunt’s afoot!
The Killer Trivia Quiz: A Murder Mystery Game
- private
- adults
- indoor
Solving a murder is not a trivial pursuit
We need your help to catch a killer. Shortly after writing a trivia quiz, a Watson Adventures staffer was murdered. Before he died, he drew a star on the ground with his own blood. What does this mean? It turns out that he lived a dangerous double life. Can your team of sleuths piece together the puzzle he left behind in time to head off an international incident with catastrophic consequences?
To crack the case, you’ll need to get into teams and work your way through the dead man’s trivia quiz. Our entertaining host will guide you through several rounds of captivating questions, which often have ways for you to figure out the answer even if you don’t know it at first. The unusual array of challenges includes a music round, a movie-stills challenge, and even a scavenger hunt.
Along the way, you’ll discover how the answers point to a cryptic code. You won’t just solve a crime—the fate of the free world might depend on your ability to work together!
This devilish trivia game can be played pretty much everywhere—conference rooms, special-event spaces, private rooms in restaurants or bars, even your home. You just need enough chairs for participants to sit together in teams. Leave the rest to us.
What players are saying about this murder mystery trivia game
“Thank you so much for the incredible work you all did in making and hosting this trivia game for our retreat. I have been getting compliments all weekend about how much fun Watson Adventures was. [Game hosts] Andy, Greg, and Serena were the BEST! It was a truly engaging and fun experience. It’s not easy to get a room full of 150+ prosecutors and detectives interested in a team building exercise, and you guys nailed it with this murder mystery. Thank you for your inspired professionalism and patience with us while working out the details. I am truly grateful for you all, and I’m sure we will work with you all again soon!”
Have any non-trivial questions about the Killer Trivia Game? Contact us to learn more—and find more fun wherever you need a bit of mystery!
The Murder by Team Building Game
- private
- adults
- teens
- indoor
The murder-mystery game you can play anywhere
Terrible news! A Watson Adventures host, David Park, was on his way to lead your team-building activity today, but he was found dead in the parking lot. We need you to go through David’s backpack of game materials and see if you can figure out who would want him dead and why.
On teams, you’ll play the game that David created, answering trivia questions, solving fun puzzles, and—spoiler alert!—uncovering secret messages that reveal that David was leading a double life. There might even be a spy in your group!
We’ll send you the backpack full of game materials, and a Watson Adventures host will get the game started, then answer questions (and offer hints) as you go along.
You can choose whether you would like our Host to lead your group remotely, via Zoom or a similar platform, or you can opt for an in-person host, live in your office.
The game requires one hour and can be played in any room where you need to provide a break for your group, ramp up the fun, and get people to bond and work together in a whole new way.
Do you need a hybrid solution to bring together players working from home and in the office? Check out the Murder by Team Building Game: Virtual Edition.
A Teens Edition is also available.
What players are saying about the murder mystery game
A 5-star review on Google: “What fun we had! Josh was an amazing guide and I would recommend Watson Adventures!!”
Contact us to learn more about this murder mystery game—and find more fun!
Puzzled to Death: A Virtual Game of Murder Mystery Puzzles
- private
- adults
- indoor
You can escape a room, but can you escape a vintage game store?
As part of his acclaimed new book, The Puzzler, best-selling author A.J. Jacobs (The Year of Living Biblically, The Year of Living Constitutionally) partnered with Watson Adventures to create a devilishly fun murder mystery game packed with puzzles. In his book he describes the experience of creating the game—now it’s your turn to play the game! But first…
Shocking news! The owner of a local board-game store has been murdered! Authorities are baffled by the mysterious killing, and they have called in you and your team of expert puzzle-solvers to crack the case.
The killer has hidden clues to their identity in games scattered around the store. It’s up to you to solve a series of puzzles and piece together the name of the murderer. Clearly the murderer loves to play games—but in a gaming store, that doesn’t narrow things down much!
On teams, you’ll tackle up to 10 mini-games that are inspired by classic games—but with humorous twists. Each challenge you solve will lead you a step closer to unmasking the murderer. Can your team unravel this mystery, catch the culprit, and show the villain that they toyed with the wrong people?
What players are saying about the virtual puzzles game
A 5-star review on Google: “Fun and engaging game for our remote team. The host was energetic and kept everyone participating. I will definitely book them again for another corporate event.”
Contact us to learn more about this online murder mystery game—and find more virtual fun!
