Once Upon a Crime — Host Guide

A live, location-based whodunit your guests play on their phones.

Once Upon a Crime ("OUAC") turns any venue, neighborhood, or event into a living mystery. You set the stage — pick a story, mark the places, line up the suspects, name the methods — and your guests turn into amateur detectives. They walk, they scan, they accuse, and one lucky sleuth cracks the case.

This guide is for hosts — event organizers, bar managers, tour operators, marketing teams, party throwers. No technical experience required. If you can fill out a form and print a few QR codes, you can run a great mystery.

Table of Contents

  1. What Is Once Upon a Crime?
  2. How a Mystery Plays Out
  3. Anatomy of a Mystery
  4. Setting Up Your First Mystery
  5. Running the Event
  6. Use Cases & Inspiration
  7. Tips for a Memorable Event
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Once Upon a Crime?

Imagine the board game Clue, dropped into a real venue (or several), played live by everyone with a phone.

Each game starts with a story — a setup that hooks players in. From there, three things hide the truth:

  • One real location where the crime happened
  • One real suspect who did it
  • One real method they used

Players don't know which is which. Their job is to figure it out by exploring, reading clues, and making accusations. Behind the scenes, the system has secretly chosen the answer at the start of the game and won't budge from it.

It works equally well for:

  • A two-hour bar crawl with five stops
  • A week-long restaurant tour across a downtown
  • A half-day team building afternoon at a corporate office
  • A two-day festival with vendor booths as the locations
  • A birthday party in someone's house

Anywhere you can stick a printed QR code, you can stage a mystery.

How a Mystery Plays Out

From the player's perspective, here's the experience:

1. Joining the Game

A guest joins by visiting your event link or scanning a join code. They put in their name and they're in. They see a "waiting" screen until you (the host) start the game.

2. Reading the Case File

Once the game begins, players see the prologue — the short story you wrote (or had AI write) that sets the scene. Something like:

Dame Eleanor Whitcombe was found face-down in her own conservatory at the stroke of midnight, a half-finished cocktail beside her. The household has been gathered in the parlor. Each guest has secrets. Find the truth.

This is the hook. It tells players what kind of mystery they're solving and why.

3. The Case Board

Players then see "the case" — a tabbed view on their phone:

  • Locations — the places where the crime might have happened
  • Suspects — the people who might have done it
  • Methods — the weapons or means that might have been used
  • Map — if you set GPS coordinates, a real map showing where to go

Each location, suspect, and method has its own little card with a name, an image, and (for suspects) a motive that hints at why they might be guilty.

4. Going to the Locations

Players physically travel to the locations you've chosen. At each location is a printed QR code representing that spot. They scan it.

The first time a player scans a location's code, two things happen:

  1. They unlock that location's private reveal — a personalized message from the location. This is yours to design. It might be:
    • A coupon ("Show this to the bartender for 10% off")
    • A clue ("The killer was wearing perfume — Lily of the Valley")
    • A flavor passage ("The fountain in the courtyard is dry. Dust collects on the rim.")
    • A video message ("Hello, detective…" delivered by an in-character actor)
  2. The system unlocks the accusation screen for that location.

5. Making an Accusation

After scanning, the player is asked: "Was it ___ at this location, using ___?" They pick one suspect and one method from drop-downs.

Then they hit Accuse:

  • If they're right — about the location, the suspect, AND the method, all three at once — they win the game.
  • If they're wrong — even one piece off — the system eliminates one of the three they just guessed. It might be the location, the suspect, or the method. Whichever it is, that thing is now ruled out for that player and crossed off their case board for the rest of the game.

The system never eliminates anything that's actually correct. So as players accuse, they slowly narrow in on the truth — one wrong guess at a time.

6. The Cooldown

If you've set a re-scan cooldown (more on that below), players who guess wrong at a location must wait a few minutes before they can scan that same QR again. This prevents them from machine-gunning every combination at the easiest spot. They have to think, or go somewhere else and come back.

7. Winning

The first player (or every player who gets there) sees a celebration screen and is named the winner. Their name is announced on the HUD — a big public display you can put on a TV at your venue — for everyone to see.

Anatomy of a Mystery

Every Once Upon a Crime game has the same basic ingredients. You'll fill these in using the host console.

The Prologue (a.k.a. The Case File)

A short opening story — usually 2 to 4 paragraphs — that sets the scene and tells players what they're trying to solve. It's the first thing every player reads.

You can write it yourself or use the AI Story Builder to generate one from a single sentence prompt like "a cocktail party at a 1920s speakeasy" or "a missing prized racehorse in Kentucky." You can also attach a cover image.

Locations

The places players physically visit. For each location you provide:

  • Name (e.g., "The Rooftop Bar," "Mariner's Coffee," "The Old Library")
  • Description / Address / Clue — appears before the player scans (a riddle or directions)
  • Latitude & Longitude (optional) — if you set these, players see a real map
  • Image — a photo of the place
  • Check-In Message / Coupon / Reveal — the private message unlocked when the player scans this QR code. This is the killer feature for sponsored events: a coupon, a video, a free-drink code, a personal note from the venue
  • Video (optional) — an MP4 the player can watch when they get there

Once you've added your locations, the console can print QR codes you stick at each spot.

Suspects

The people who might have done it. For each suspect:

  • Name
  • Motive — why this person might be the killer (you can use rich text)
  • Image — a portrait

Five to seven suspects is a sweet spot. Fewer feels too easy; more drags the game out.

Methods of Crime

The means by which the deed could have been done. For each method:

  • Name ("The Candlestick," "Poisoned Wine," "An Anonymous Letter," "A Stolen Microphone")
  • Image

Same guideline: five to seven works well.

Game Rules

A small section on the Control tab where you tweak how the game runs:

  • Re-scan cooldown — how many minutes a player has to wait before scanning the same QR again after a wrong accusation. Setting this to 0 disables it entirely. 2 to 5 minutes is a good default — long enough to make players think before guessing, short enough not to feel punitive.

Setting Up Your First Mystery

The host console is where you build everything. Open it, log in, and you'll see two main panels:

  • Setup panel (left/main) — where you build the case
  • Settings panel (right/sidebar) — where you control game flow, ads, and rules

Step 1 — Open the Console

Open the host console URL in a desktop browser. (Phone works too, but a laptop or tablet is much easier for setup.) You'll see your access code and a QR code players will use to join.

Step 2 — Write the Story

On the "Once Upon a Crime Game Assets" card, the first section is Story Prologue.

You have three options:

  1. Write it yourself. Type or paste your story into the textarea. Markdown formatting works (**bold**, *italic*, # headings, etc.).
  2. Use the AI Story Builder. Click AI Story Builder in the upper right. Give it a one-sentence theme and ask it to generate a story, locations, suspects, methods, or any combination. It does the heavy lifting for you and returns ready-to-use content.
  3. Mix. Start with the AI builder for inspiration, then edit anything that doesn't fit your venue.

Add a cover image — upload one, generate one with AI Assist, or skip it.

💡 Tip: When the AI Story Builder generates content, it also stamps every image with a suggested style prompt so all your images share the same look — a consistent visual mood across the cover, the suspects, the locations, and the methods. When you click "AI Assist" on any item later, that style prompt is the default — just press OK to get a coherent picture.

Step 3 — Build Locations, Suspects, and Methods

Below the story, three tabs let you build the rest:

  • Locations
  • Suspects
  • Methods of Crime

Each tab works the same way. Type a name, click + Add, and the new item appears in the list as an accordion. Click an item to expand and edit its details.

For each item:

  • Add a clue or motive (markdown supported)
  • Upload an image — or click AI Assist to generate one
  • For locations, set GPS coordinates with Get My Coordinates (uses your device's location) or Pick on Map (opens a map you can click)
  • For locations, write a Check-in Message / Coupon — this is the private reveal the player gets when they scan this location's QR

Reorder items with the up/down arrows. Delete with the trash icon.

💡 Tip: Five locations, six suspects, six methods is a great starting point. That's a lot of combinations (180!) but with eliminations it solves in 5–10 accusations on average.

Step 4 — Configure Game Rules

Switch to the Control tab in the right sidebar. Find Game Rules.

Set the Re-scan cooldown (minutes). Recommended starting values:

Event Type Cooldown Why
Bar crawl (3+ stops) 3–5 min Encourages walking; matches drink-pacing
Restaurant week 10–30 min A "meal" of pacing — they'll come back later
Indoor party 1–2 min Room-to-room is fast; don't over-punish
Festival / expo hall 5 min Lots of foot traffic; prevents one booth from camping
Self-guided city tour 0 (off) Players are spread far; they need to be able to retry

Step 5 — Save Your Game Set

Click Save Set and give your scenario a name ("Halloween 2026 — The Ravenwood Affair"). It's now stored. You can load it anytime with Load Set, including for a future event.

The console also autosaves in the background so a stray browser refresh won't cost you your work.

Step 6 — Print Your QR Codes

Click Print Game Items and a print-friendly window opens with one card per location, each with the location's name, image, and clue. Print these on paper, foam board, table tents, or stickers — whatever fits your venue. Stick one at each location.

You can also print individual QR codes from each location's card if you'd rather customize the layout.

💡 Tip for sponsored events: Print the partner's logo on the QR card, or add their info to the Check-in Message. The "private reveal" is a built-in coupon mechanic — perfect for retail and hospitality partners.

Click Open HUD. A second window opens — this is the public-facing Heads-Up Display. Drop it on a TV, projector, or large monitor at your venue (or on each venue if you have multiple). It shows:

  • A live event feed ("Sally accused Mrs. White at The Library with the Wrench")
  • Win announcements
  • Your event branding
  • A live join QR code so latecomers can hop in

Step 8 — Start the Game

Hit Start Game. The system picks the secret answer (one location + one suspect + one method, chosen randomly from your lists), the prologue is delivered to all connected players, and they can start scanning.

That's it. You're running a live mystery.

Running the Event

Watching Players Live

Switch to the Players sidebar (the column of names on the left). Click any player to see their personal case board: which locations they've ruled out, which suspects, which methods. Click ALL to go back to the full list.

This is also useful for nudging stuck players: if you see someone with three locations ruled out and they haven't visited a fourth in twenty minutes, go give them a real-world hint.

The Live Event Feed

The HUD scrolls through the most recent activity:

  • "Marcus accused Lord Ashbury at The Conservatory with the Letter Opener"
  • "Priya solved the case! Mrs. Holloway at The Wine Cellar with the Decanter"
  • "Jamie ruled out The Stables"

Players love seeing their names up there. Encourage it. Position the HUD where guests gather.

Pausing, Restarting, and Stopping

  • Restart Game — clears all progress, picks a new secret answer, and lets everyone start over with the same scenario. Good for "let's run another round" moments.
  • End Game — closes everything, frees players, and resets the system. Good for end-of-night.

Mid-Event Ads or Announcements

Set up audio or video clips on the Control tab and play them on the HUD when you want to break the action — a sponsor message, a happy-hour reminder, or your venue's signature jingle.

Use Cases & Inspiration

Once Upon a Crime is the same core game whether you're running a 50-person bar crawl or a 1,500-person convention. Only the dressing changes.

🍻 Bar Crawls

The classic. Five to seven bars in a walkable district. Each bar is a location. Suspects are themed to your story. Methods are themed cocktails ("The Stinger," "The Last Word," "The Smoking Pistol").

The check-in message at each bar is the drink special — a $5 well drink with a code word, a free shot for the first ten scanners, a buy-one-get-one. Bars love it because they get foot traffic; players love it because every stop is rewarded; you make a memorable night.

Variant: "Sip & Solve" — Run it as a Saturday-afternoon affair. 4 bars, 90 minutes, light story. Great hook for new venues looking to build awareness.

🍝 Restaurant Weeks

A whole week of mystery. Six to ten restaurants across town. Each one is a location. The case file is shared at the start of the week ("Chef Antoine's signature dish has been stolen…"). Players have all week to visit restaurants, scan QRs, get a small bite or appetizer at a discount, and accuse.

The check-in message is the prix fixe code, a complimentary side, or a tasting menu coupon. Diners feel like they're playing a game. Restaurants get measurable cross-traffic. Local press gets a story to write.

🍺 Brewery / Winery / Distillery Trails

Same as a bar crawl but spread across counties or a region. GPS coordinates and the Map tab shine here — drivers can see the next stop. Methods can be tasting flights or specific brews ("The Hopfather," "The Dark Continental"). Cooldown should be set to 0 since players are driving and may not want to come back to a missed stop.

🛍️ Downtown Shopping Districts

Twelve shops, twelve QR codes in store windows. Players walk the district. Each shop's reveal is a coupon for that store. Run it as a Small Business Saturday promotion. The Business Improvement District sponsors the prizes; merchants split the cost; everyone gets foot traffic.

🎪 Festivals, Expos, & Conferences

Each location is a vendor booth, sponsor activation, or panel hall. Players "investigate" by visiting booths to scan their QR. Booth gets a captive audience for 30 seconds. Player gets a clue. The check-in message is the booth's pitch or a swag-redemption code.

This works especially well for trade shows where exhibitors complain about empty booths in afternoon hours. Drive engagement directly.

🎓 Campus Orientations & Open Houses

Universities use Once Upon a Crime to make orientation tours feel less like a forced march. Each campus building is a location. The "suspects" are professors or student groups. The "method" is a tongue-in-cheek explanation for why a freshman won't graduate. The check-in message tells the student something useful about that building.

Real estate developers do similar things for apartment complex tours and master-planned community open houses.

🎂 Private Parties

Birthdays, retirement parties, anniversaries. Single venue, 6–10 "stations" around the house or hall. The story is custom-written about the guest of honor. Suspects are friends and family. Methods are inside jokes.

Plays in 30–45 minutes. Gets remembered for a decade.

🎃 Holiday-Themed One-Nighters

Halloween (haunted house mystery). Valentine's Day (the case of the missing chocolates). New Year's Eve (who ruined the countdown?). St. Patrick's Day (the lost crown of the Pub Crawl King). The themed-night version works because the game gives the night structure — guests don't just stand around drinking, they're hunting.

🌆 Tourism / Self-Guided City Tours

Partner with a Convention & Visitors Bureau. Locations are landmarks (statues, fountains, plaques). The check-in messages are mini history lessons. Suspects are figures from local lore. Players get a guided tour with a game wrapper, takes 2 hours, and they finish with a story to tell at dinner.

🏢 Corporate Team Building

A locked-room style mystery in your office. Conference rooms become locations. Employees are suspects. Methods are office paraphernalia. HR loves it because everyone participates and nobody has to fall backwards into someone's arms.

Tips for a Memorable Event

Story Beats Mechanics

The game is mechanically simple. What players remember is the story. Spend more time on the prologue, the suspect motives, and the check-in messages than on anything else.

Make Locations Worth Visiting

Don't just slap a QR code on a wall. Use the check-in message to give the player a reason to be at that location — a coupon, a video monologue, a clue, a riddle. Sponsors love this. Players love this. It's the whole magic trick.

Use the AI Story Builder First, Edit Always

The AI Story Builder is excellent for getting from blank page to draft in 30 seconds. It is not a replacement for editing. Read every line. Tweak. Add inside jokes. Add references to your venue. The AI version will be 80% there; the last 20% is what makes guests laugh.

Test Before You Launch

Run a "soft test" with two or three friends an hour before doors. Walk to a couple of locations, scan, accuse, win, lose. Make sure the QR codes scan from a distance and in the actual lighting of the venue. Check that the cooldown feels right. Adjust.

Match Cooldown to the Event Pace

A 1-minute cooldown at a 6-person dinner party is too short — they'll trade phones and brute-force it. A 30-minute cooldown at a 90-minute bar crawl is too long — they'll never finish. Match the cooldown to roughly the time it takes a player to walk to a different spot and consider their options.

Phones don't always scan tiny codes. Print at minimum 2 inches square, ideally 3+. Use high-contrast paper. Avoid glossy laminate (it glares). Mount above eye level if you can — easier to scan and harder to vandalize.

Have a Real-World Tiebreaker

Two players solve the case at the same instant. The HUD names the first by milliseconds, but if you want a tiebreaker (door prize, bottle of champagne) make it something physical — quickest to the bar, fastest to recite the prologue, etc.

Acknowledge the Last-Place Sleuth

Most fun games ride on the worst player having a great time. Have a "Most Stylishly Wrong" prize. The person who confidently accused the wrong suspect six times in a row deserves a sticker.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can play at once? There's no hard cap on the number of players. The game scales fine to crowds of hundreds. The bottleneck is usually how crowded your physical venue is, not the technology.

Do players need to install an app? No. Players join with a link or join code in any modern phone browser. Nothing to install, no accounts to create.

What if a player loses signal at a location? The system reconnects automatically when they're back online. Their progress (which items they've ruled out, which reveals they've seen) is saved.

Can players cheat by sharing answers? A little, yes. Two friends can compare what they've ruled out and effectively pool guesses. The cooldown setting blunts this; the per-player elimination model means every individual still has to earn it. If you're worried, set a higher cooldown and award based on speed.

Can I run multiple games in parallel? Each game session is independent. Run a different mystery in the bar district while another runs at the brewery trail. Players don't see each other's games unless you connect them on the same join code.

Can I edit a mystery while a game is running? You can open another browser tab on the console and tweak text or images, but changes don't affect a running game. The secret answer was locked in at start-of-game. End the current game, save, and restart for changes to take effect.

What if no one solves the case? End the game and read the answer aloud at closing time. The HUD will show the truth (or you can look at it on the console). A "no-winner" mystery is also fine — it makes guests want to come back next time.

How do I get sponsors involved? Three ways: as locations (their venue is the QR stop), as suspects (their mascot is in the lineup), or as ad spots (their video plays on the HUD between events). The check-in messages are also a built-in coupon distribution channel.

Where can I get help? Reach out to your Gig Game representative or check the live support chat from inside the console.

Have fun, write good motives, and don't be afraid to be a little dramatic. The best mysteries are the ones where guests still argue about the killer over breakfast the next morning.