Murder Noir Case File – 1930s Detective Mystery to Solve
Murder at Tulip King Hotel is a game designed for 1-4 players. Once the document has been printed, you’ll need to work together through the objectives to find the killer. These objectives get progressively harder as you continue. This is a case file, not a dinner party game, so there’s no characters to dress up as, no scripts, no host required. There’s just a big mystery to solve, and you’re the detective.
I built this case specifically around the 1930s setting because it’s when forensic science existed but was still quite limited. It makes sense to be manually comparing fingerprint and writing styles in these types of games, whereas in modern cases, this type of stuff is all handled by software. This case is available as a printable digital download – here’s how the two formats compare if you’re deciding which suits your setup.
The Crime
Dr. Harold Fulbright is an American scientist who’s supposed to attend a research symposium in Istanbul. He’s on the verge of a breakthrough in synthetic fuel technology and eager to announce his finding. Unfortunately, he’s found dead before he can do so.
Five other symposium attendee are staying at the same hotel as he was. Being at the same hotel and in close proximity to him give them all opportunity, but what could be the motive? Could it be financial, personal, or maybe political? You’ll need to read through all of the evidence and piece the full story together in order to find out.
What You Get in the Download
The 43-page PDF has a ton of evidence to help you along. There are maps, fingerprints, coded notes, shredded fragments of documents, and other clues that you’ll need to investigate fully. There are also seven witness statements from hotel guests and staff to assist you. the objectives will take you through the case and the story, with additional evidence becoming available to you after you complete each objective.
How the 6 Objectives Work
You start with a limited amount of information and evidence at the start of the game. It’s just enough to complete your first objective. As soon as you move to the second objective, you’re given an update to the story and unlock additional evidence. This new evidence is usually something that the police (who are assisting you) have just found, or perhaps a new witness has come forward.
The Balance
Every case file is completely different from the last one. This case is a pretty good mix of both deduction using evidence and puzzles/codes. The interrogations might have clues to help you confirm alibis or help you to complete a puzzle. It’s a very well-balanced case.
The Online Hint System
Every objective has multiple hints to help you if you get stuck. Hints start quite narrow, by maybe telling you which documents might be good to read, but slowly get narrower if you’re still unable to solve the objective. We want you to enjoy the case as much as possible, so we’ll nudge you in the right direction without outright giving you the answer.
This game is estimated to take 2-4 hours, but it could take longer if it’s your first case. There’s a lot of information to read and a lot of puzzles to solve, so it can run longer than planned. Plan for a longer solving session than most case files require – perhaps even a full evening – just to be safe.
Playing It Solo vs With a Group
Most guides say that playing alone takes longer as you don’t have people to bounce ideas off of. This is only half true. Yes, games can take longer if you’re newer to these types of games, but experienced players can actually go much faster. I tend to play most case files alone, as I find it easier to concentrate without any noise from friends in the background. It’s also faster to read in my head than out loud. If you’re planning a night in alone, you’ll have a blast with this case. You definitely don’t need a group of friends to play any murder mystery case files.
Groups of two to four are great when you’re inexperienced with these cases. With more eyes on the investigation and puzzles, you can bounce ideas off each other until whenver you get stuck. It’s especially fun as a date night activity. It’s a way more fun experience than watching a movie, as you’re actually a part of the investigation – not just simply watching it unfold on-screen.
Here’s how timing plays out across different group sizes:
| Group Size | Typical Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (First-Timer) | 3.5-5 hours | Longer on coded objectives, clues will be helpful |
| Solo (Experienced) | 2-4 hours | Can read faster |
| 2 players (date night) | 2.5-4 hours | Can bounce ideas off each other |
| 3-4 players | 3-4 hours | More minds to solve puzzles, active debate |
What Players Have Said
We played Murder at Tulip King Hotel on a rainy Saturday and it took us over four hours. The coded messages in objective three and four were really tricky – we had to use the hints. Absolutely worth every cent.
We played with a group of four friends. It took just under three hours. Everyone was convinced of a different suspect right up until the final reveal. Brilliant writing, and brilliant clues.
I bought this as a solo activity on a long weekend and was completely hooked. I got the killer wrong the first time but it gives you chances to go back through all the evidence again and figure out the right one.
Not too easy, not too hard.
Printing and Setup
Download the PDF after purchase – it’s available immediately. Print on standard A4 or US Letter paper. Color is recommended just to make image pop, but black and white will work just fine with this case, as the 1930s evidence is super colorful.
The setup takes about five minutes. Normally, it just takes a minute to print out and start playing, but this case has evidence that needs to be cut out. This doesn’t take very long, but if you’re planning an event with your friends – give yourself five minutes preparation time to ensure you cut safely. You’ll need some pens/pencils and a pair of scissors. It’s optional, but I like having some highlighters to mark off important bits while I’m reading through interrogations.
The QR codes for the online hint and answer system is printed on your PDF. You simply scan them, or type in the website address given, to view hints or check if your answers are correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Murder at Tulip King Hotel?
Murder at Tulip King Hotel is a printable 1930s noir murder mystery case file. It’s set in Istanbul in 1934, and follows the investigation into the death of an American scientist. Players have to solve six objectives that include coded notes, shredded documents, fingerprints, and maps, in order to narrow down the killer from the five suspects. It’s available as an instant PDF download and is for one to four players.
Is this the same as the University Games “Murder Noir” case file?
No. Murder at Tulip King Hotel is an original Print Mysteries case file – a digital download designed for home printing. The University Games “Murder Noir” is a separate physical product from a different company. They share a noir setting and era but are entirely unrelated products.
What happens if you get an objective wrong?
The answer sheet is shown to you in multiple choice format. When you get an answer wrong, you’re told that you’re incorrect and to try again. You don’t receive the correct answer automatically. The case always gives you the chance to figure it out yourself. If you’re stuck, the tiered online clue system gives you progressively more specific hints without ever revealing the answer outright.
Does this case file need to be printed in color?
No, you can play in black and white. Color printing is recommended for all our games to make them look nicer, but this case does not have any color-based puzzles like some of the other cases.
Can this case file be played online without printing?
I wouldn’t recommend it. There are a lot of pages of content to go through and you’ll be scrolling back and forth so often, that it’ll surely ruin the experience. This case also has document fragments that need to be reassembled.
