How to Play Who Did It?

Complete guide to the mystery social deduction party game for 4-10 players.

1. Choose a Play Mode

2. Game Setup

Before starting, configure the following settings in the setup screen:

• Player Names: Enter 4 to 10 player names. Each player will receive a character with a random name, profession, and relationship to the case.
• Crime Category: Choose from 13 different categories (Murder, Theft, Kidnapping, Espionage, etc.) or select RANDOM for a surprise.
• Difficulty: Normal mode provides balanced clue difficulty. Hard mode may include more complex clues and deeper misdirection.
• Language: Switch between Arabic and English at any time. The language selection affects story text, character descriptions, clues, and all game UI.
• Discussion Timer: Set how much time players have to discuss each clue before voting begins. Configurable between 1 and 10 minutes per round.

3. Player Count and Criminals

The number of criminals depends on the number of players for fair game balance:

• 4 to 6 players: 1 criminal.
• 7 to 8 players: 2 criminals.
• 9 to 10 players: 3 criminals.

This scaling ensures that investigators always have a fighting chance while criminals have enough support to create confusion and suspense. The criminals know who each other are and must work together to avoid detection.

4. Roles and Characters

Each player receives a secret character card containing:

• A name (randomly assigned, not the player's real name).
• A profession that connects them to the case (doctor, journalist, security guard, lawyer, scientist, etc.).
• A relationship description explaining how they are connected to the victim, the location, or other suspects.
• A secret role: Criminal or Investigator (Citizen).

Criminals know who the other criminals are. Investigators only know their own identity. Innocent characters may still have suspicious professions or relationships that make them look guilty. This is by design — it creates doubt and forces players to rely on discussion rather than assumptions.

5. The Story

At the start of the game, a crime story is revealed to all players. The story introduces:

• The crime that was committed (murder, theft, kidnapping, etc.).
• The location where the crime took place.
• The circumstances surrounding the discovery of the crime.
• The characters present at or connected to the scene.

The story provides context and background but does not reveal the criminals. Every player starts with the same information about the crime itself.

6. Clues and Investigation Rounds

The game progresses through a series of investigation rounds. In each round, a new clue is revealed. The number of clues depends on the player count:

• 4 players: 2 clues.
• 5 to 6 players: 3 clues.
• 7 or more players: 4 clues.

Clues fall into five categories:

• Material Evidence: Physical objects found at the scene — a torn piece of fabric, a broken lock, a discarded item.
• Witness Observation: Something someone saw or heard — a door opening, footsteps, muffled voices.
• Document or Record: Written evidence — letters, emails, phone records, receipts, medical reports.
• Circumstantial Fact: A fact that creates suspicion — someone was seen near the scene, someone had access to restricted areas.
• Relationship Trace: A connection between characters — a past dispute, a shared secret, a financial arrangement.

Every clue is designed to have two interpretations: one that points toward an innocent player (misleading) and one that contributes to the truth when combined with other clues. No single clue can identify the criminal on its own.

7. Discussion Phase

After each clue is revealed, players discuss:

• Who had the strongest motive based on their character's relationship?
• Who had the opportunity or means to commit the crime?
• Which players could be lying about their role?
• Which clue could be misleading or misinterpreted?
• Who is defending themselves too aggressively or staying too quiet?
• How do the clues connect with the story and character information?

The game includes a built-in discussion timer that can be configured during setup. Players can pause the timer if needed. The host manages the discussion flow in Classic Mode, while in Room Mode each player controls their own experience.

8. Voting Phase

After discussion, all players vote to eliminate one suspect. Voting is secret — players select their choice on their device without showing others. The player with the most votes is eliminated from the case.

Key voting rules:

• Players cannot vote for themselves.
• If there is a tie for the most votes, a tie-breaker round begins with additional discussion and a new vote.
• Eliminating an innocent player helps the criminals. Eliminating a criminal helps the investigators.
• After elimination, the eliminated player's role is revealed to everyone.

9. Tie-Breaker Phase

When two or more players receive the same number of votes, a tie-breaker phase begins. The tied players briefly defend themselves or answer questions from the group. Then a new vote is held — but only between the tied players. The player with the most votes in the tie-breaker is eliminated.

10. Reveal and Game Over

After the eliminated player's role is revealed, the game checks win conditions:

• Investigators (Citizens) win if all criminals have been eliminated.
• Criminals win if they survive until the end of the game OR if the number of criminals equals or exceeds the number of remaining investigators.

When the game ends, the Modus Operandi (the full story of how the crime happened) is revealed to all players. This story connects all clues, character roles, and story elements into a complete narrative that explains what really happened.

11. Modus Operandi (The Big Reveal)

At the end of each game, a detailed Modus Operandi story is presented. This 3-5 sentence narrative reveals:

• The hidden backstory and motive of the criminal(s).
• How the crime was actually committed step by step.
• How each clue connects to the true sequence of events.
• For games with multiple criminals: how they coordinated and worked together.

The Modus Operandi is written as a flowing story rather than a clue-by-clue breakdown. It gives players the satisfaction of seeing how all the pieces fit together.

12. AI Stories vs. Offline Stories

Who Did It? offers two story sources:

• AI-Generated Stories: When you provide a Gemini API key in the settings, the game generates unique stories using artificial intelligence. The AI creates custom characters, clues, and Modus Operandi for every session.
• Offline Stories: Over 40 pre-written mystery stories are included with the game. These stories cover all crime categories and player counts. They rotate so you rarely see the same story twice. Offline stories work without any internet connection.

13. Tips for Better Games

• Do not treat a single clue as proof of guilt. Every clue has a misleading interpretation.
• Ask players to explain their character's relationship to the crime and other characters.
• Compare how players vote across multiple rounds — voting patterns can reveal criminal behavior.
• Criminals should avoid looking too calm or too defensive. Blend in naturally.
• Investigators should pay attention to players who change their voting strategy suddenly.
• Keep the discussion fair and fun — the goal is an enjoyable mystery experience for everyone.
• Use the vote history feature after the game to analyze how each player voted in every round.

14. Winning Conditions Summary