Hunt A Killer Game – Solve a Murder Mystery

Hunt A Killer: The Company

Hunt A Killer is a company that seeks to change the entertainment industry by delivering interactive and immersive experiences. They are the #6 fastest-growing company on the Inc. 500 list. They have shipped well over two million boxes of the Hunt A Killer game to people worldwide.

Their service allows you to participate as a character in a murder mystery. You play the role of a detective working with the Gray Investigations agency. In this role, you review the evidence, decide which suspects to eliminate and track down the real killer.

Each month, you’ll receive a box with clues, and it’s up to you to piece it all together. During each episode, you’ll use the contents of the box and the website to determine which character to eliminate. Each month, the plot thickens, and you get closer to revealing the murderer.

Ways to Experience the Mystery Game

There are several ways to enjoy the experience and satisfaction of solving crimes. Of course, any of the games can be worked independently. So, if you’re the type that likes to roll up your sleeves and do your sleuthing, have at it. Or, here are a few ideas on how to make it a group effort:

• Host a mystery gaming party and invite your family, friends, or neighbors.
• Bring an episode box, or an entire season’s worth of boxes with you on vacation. The company recently released a “no digital components” version. So, you don’t even need an internet connection to start solving cases.
• Make it a couple’s night. Pour some wine, unpack the boxes, and snuggle in for an intimate night of case-solving. Plus, it’s the couple’s night that keeps giving, as you can pick it up repeatedly until you solve the crime.
• Share the fun! Once you’re finished and ready to order another, consider gifting your boxes to someone.
• Participate in a Hunt A Killer game in person. Recently, the company opened an immersive “dinner theatre” experience in San Francisco.

The Game: Ordering and Delivery Process

I opted to purchase one of the boxed sets, the Class of ’98 Complete Season Box Set. Normally, when you purchase a subscription, they ship you one new box each month, and it usually takes six months to solve the crime. However, I’m just not that patient. When you purchase a box set, you get all six boxes at once. On average, this equates to 10 to 15 hours of gameplay, maybe longer, depending on how long it takes you to solve the crime.

How Much Does the Hunt A Killer Game Cost?

In my case, the cost of the box was $180, plus $15.95 shipping, for a total of $195.95. At this point, I consider this to be expensive. But, my wife and I were looking for something new and exciting to do during the quarantine, so I splurged. According to the website, this is one of the most popular seasons, so I thought it would be a good place to start.

Discount Codes and Coupons

The company sent me a discount code via email, but it was only good for the monthly subscription model, not the boxed set. So, before signing up, I quickly searched for discount codes and coupons. I found plenty of codes, but none worked, which was a little frustrating.

After completing the payment process, I received two confirmation emails. First, I received a confirmation that my order was received. Second, I received an introductory email about the box set itself. Then, two days later I received an email confirming that the order had shipped. I ordered the box on the 22nd and received it on the 26th. Not bad, considering the postal system is under assault.

What’s In the Full Season Box?

We received one large box with six individual boxes inside, one for each episode of the season. Everything was neatly packed and the individual boxes were even stacked in order from one to six.

At this point, we had to make a decision. Do we open one box at a time and complete the episodes in order, one at a time? Or, do we open up all of the boxes and tackle the investigation as one big project. Of course, if this were a real investigation we would open all of the boxes. However, since this was our first time, we decided to complete the boxes one at a time. So, we opened up the contents of the first box and found:

What’s In Each Episode Box?

I don’t want to spoil any of the fun, so I won’t share exactly what’s in each box. Instead, I’ll explain the types of information, content, and pieces of evidence you’ll find in each. Honestly, I’m impressed not only by the amount of information and materials but the attention to detail.

• Letter from the Gray Investigations Detective Agency. Each set includes a letter from Michelle Gray, the owner of the Gray Investigations Detective Agency, which is leading the case. Primarily, the purpose of the letter is to provide you with an update on where the case stands. Additionally, the letter includes important user names and passwords for accessing content on the investigative website.
• Episode recap card. This card provides a list of the contents within each box. You’ll use this to determine if anything is missing from your package. Also, the card provides a website link and a password. You’ll use these when you’re ready to solve the episode.
• Witness interviews. You’ll use these to put together the overall story and timeline. The interviews help you gather key information about suspect whereabouts, movements, timing, and more.
• Transcripts of 911 calls. This is a written transcription of the 911 call, although some portions may be labeled as inaudible. Often, you’ll also receive an audio file of the call. This will be accessible on the detective’s website.
• Autopsy report. The autopsy report provides a wealth of information about how the victim died. Data points include the suspected cause of death and the approximate time. In addition, it contains internal and external observations of the body. These observations include information on abrasions, bruising, cuts, marking, etc.
• Photos of suspects. Use the photos of the suspect to create your own “murder board”.
• Physical evidence. In each box, there are pieces of physical evidence related to the case. In some cases, there are hidden messages or items that you must uncover.
• Copies of emails between suspects. Get further insight into communications between the victim and/or suspects.
• Blacklight to check for hidden messages. Our mystery game came with a small black light. We used it to uncover some hidden text on one of the pieces of evidence. We may need to use it later in the game.
• Handwritten notes. Some episodes include handwritten notes, love letters, reminders, etc.
• Map of the town. The map helps you understand the location of certain events and the distance between locations.
• Newspaper articles. Articles in the local newspaper can add background to the overall story. And, they can help you make connections between events and suspects.
• Other materials relevant to the case

Additional Evidence, Resources, and Tools

In addition to the materials in the box, there is a website available with each case that is run by the detective agency. The investigator’s website has a wealth of password-protected information such as:

• Images, photos, screenshots
• Evidence checklists
• Case documents
• Databases
• Audio files such as 911 calls
• Video files
• To-do lists to help you keep organized
• Decryption tools to decode ciphers

How to Sign Up and Get Your Own Hunt A Killer Game

Currently, there are two methods to sign up, via the company website or purchase the game at Target. I recommend signing up via the website. There, you’ll have access to a much larger variety of mystery games. Note: These prices may change, so please visit the website for the most recent prices.

• Website Method – If you’re ready to sign up and get started solving your first mystery, use this link and get 30% off your first month’s subscription. If you sign up via the website, there are three different subscription plans:
  • Monthly Plan – With this plan, you receive one of the six episodes each month. Therefore, you solve the murder over a six-month period. Currently, the price of this plan is $30.00 per month, plus shipping.
  • Season Pass (6-Month Plan) – With this plan, you pay for the entire six-month season upfront, which saves you money compared to the monthly approach. Currently priced at $27.50 per month, you’ll pay $165 upfront, but the shipping is free. Paying this way saves you $38.
  • Double Season Pass (12-Month Plan) – If you purchase this plan, you’ll be paying for two seasons. Currently, the price is $25 per month, or $300, with free shipping, which saves you $100.

Occasionally, bundled packages with multiple seasons are available at a discount. In some cases, HAK will include a free gift with your order. Gifts include such items as notebooks, recipe books, drink mugs, etc.

• Buy the Hunt A Killer game at Target. Recently, the company began distributing the murder mystery boxes via Target stores. However, the last time I checked, they only had one version of the game available in stores. The full line of seasons and episodes is only available via the Huntakiller.com website.

Please note: Pricing may change so please refer to the Hunt A Killer website for the latest rates. The rates shown above are accurate as of the date I wrote this article.

List of Seasons

HAK Horror and Lionsgate Games teamed up to offer a tabletop horror game set in the Blair Witch universe. In this immersive and terrifying game, it’s your responsibility as a detective to find a boy who was lost in the Black Hills Forest. Rosemary Kent’s son Liam disappeared months ago, and the police aren’t doing much to help find him. To solve this mystery, you’ll have to review maps, police reports, letters, solve supernatural puzzles, and more. Can you survive the curse and uncover the truth? Now available as a boxed set that provides 10-15 hours of gameplay.

An excellent choice for date night! In this game, someone gets murdered at a local bar. One of the bar’s employees suspects that foul play was involved. It’s up to you to use your investigative skills to find out who did it. Use your deductive reasoning skills to solve puzzles, crack ciphers, and assemble the pieces to find the culprit.

Death at the Dive Bar is a one-time purchase, rather than a monthly subscription. Currently, this is the only game available through Amazon.com. Order yours today.

It’s up to you to solve puzzles and ciphers to figure out if Toby Mendia’s death was a freak accident or a murder. Toby was a graduate student who was found dead during a wildlife expedition in Alaska. Initially, his death was blamed on the dangerous wildlife. However, information comes to light that suggests otherwise. Put your critical thinking skills to work to solve the crime.

1973 Remastered

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• Baker’s Dozen – This game is different than the others. In Baker’s Dozen, someone plans to poison one of the judges on a popular baking show. It’s your responsibility to follow the clues, decode ciphers, and solve puzzles to stop the murder before it happens. Do you have what it takes?
• Body of the Boardwalk – New! – An employee at an amusement park dies on a popular ride.
• Hawthorn Junction – This series is about to be retired.
• Just Desserts –
• Main Street Murder –
• Space Madness – Space Madness is positioned as a “family-friendly” version of the game. Actually, it feels more like an “escape-the-room” type of game, rather than a murder mystery. In this season, you and you’re team are stuck on Mars and you have to figure out how to get home.

List of Complete Season Boxed Sets

Hunt A Killer game boxed sets allow you to get all of the season’s episodes simultaneously, rather than via a monthly subscription. Currently, here is a list of the available murder mystery sets:

• Earth Break: Omega Protocol – Complete Season Box Set – A sci-fi adventure.
• Earth Break: Frequency – A post-apocalyptic, sci-fi adventure. It is playable as its own story or as the continuation of Earth Break: Omega Protocol.
• Empty Faces: The Mine – In this series, supernatural forces are haunting the town of Cooper’s Rock. It’s up to you to use your skills and expertise to solve this paranormal case.
• Empty Faces: The Mountain
• Empty Faces: The Woods – A young woman falls ill in the West Virginia forest. In this experience, you’ll review her items and review correspondence. To create a timeline, you must tap into your best research skills and deductive reasoning. Can you reconstruct her life and determine how she became so sick?
• Initiation
• Vindication

List of games that don’t require an internet connection

Sometimes, you really want to disconnect. However, do you ever really disconnect when you are constantly looking at your phone, tablet, or computer? For those times when you travel to a place without an internet connection, Hunt A Killer has you covered. Here is a list of games that you can solve without needing an internet connection (see episode descriptions above):

• Dead on the Vine
• Whodonut?
• Agatha Christie
• Body on the Boardwalk
• Death at the Dive Bar
• Ghastly Manor
• Fine Art of Foul Play

Get Help and Connect with other Players via Facebook Groups

There are numerous official Facebook groups available to help game players learn more about the company, the various murder mystery games, and even individual Hunt A Killer game episodes. For example, there is a group associated with all six episodes included in the Class of ’98 Complete Season Box Set that I purchased. To be honest, we checked out the groups but didn’t participate because we wanted to solve the mystery on our own. However, I do think they are a great companion resource, especially if you are stuck. The group’s moderators ensure there are no spoilers.

Visit the main HAK Facebook group.

Things to note

• Due to the subject matter, most of the games are definitely not for children. While there are no gory photos or videos, the descriptions can sometimes be disturbing. The website states, “Due to the graphic nature of some of the content, the game is not for the faint of heart.” However, I haven’t seen anything that is over the top. They recommend ages 14 and up to play the game. If you’re looking for a family-friendly version, try Space Madness.
• Do I recommend this for private investigators? Actually, yes I do. Not only is it fun to play, but it also mimics a real case in a number of ways. It makes for good practice.

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Or, visit the Hunt a Killer Game website. And, while you’re here, check out our list of true crime podcasts.