Murder Mystery Case Files UK · Reviewed & Compared

Print Mysteries review: budget case files you print at home

Print Mysteries sells instant-download murder mystery case files — objective-driven PDFs full of interrogations, ciphers and clippings — including a free starter case. Here's how they stack up against boxed rivals.

By the Murder Mystery Case Files UK team · Updated September 2026

3.5 / 5

Our verdict: well-constructed, puzzle-dense printable cases at pocket-money prices, with a genuinely useful free case to try first. The trade-offs are the ones that come with every printable: home-printed evidence never feels like the real thing, and you supply the paper, ink and prep time.

What is Print Mysteries?

Print Mysteries is a small studio (printmysteries.com) that designs downloadable murder mystery case files. You buy a PDF, print it at home, and get to work: each case includes police reports, suspect interrogations, coded documents, newspaper clippings, access logs and other evidence, structured around a series of objectives — build the timeline, break the cipher, eliminate the alibis — rather than a single "name the killer" question. Optional clues are provided so nobody gets stuck, and answers can be checked against an online verification system.

The catalogue at the time of writing includes Murder at Evercroft Manor, Murder at Tulip King Hotel, A Fatal Ruse, Hiking Trails of Betrayal, Harmony Seascape, Hell at the Restaurant and its biggest case, Catalog of Suspicion — a 35-page, one-to-six-player mystery with six objectives and a stepped-up difficulty level. There's also a free entry case, Deceptive Demise, a beginner-friendly 45–60 minute investigation into the death of a Hollywood actress. Cases are sold through the brand's own site as well as Etsy, itch.io and DriveThruRPG.

What it's like to play

Structurally, these are smart little cases. The objective system is the highlight: instead of shuffling paper until inspiration strikes, you're always working towards a concrete next question, which suits mixed groups where some players love ciphers and others prefer reading witness statements. Etsy buyers describe the cases as fun and interactive, and popular for date nights and small groups. Pages are dense — evidence is packed in with little wasted space — so a 30-odd-page case holds more game than the page count suggests.

Player count is flexible. Everything works solo or as a pair, and the bigger cases stretch to around six — though as with all shared-evidence games, two to four around one table is the sweet spot.

Try before you buy The free case, Deceptive Demise, is the cheapest possible way to learn whether printable case files are your thing. If an hour with it flies by, the paid cases are a safe bet; if the printing and paper-shuffling grates, no money lost. We list it in our free case files hub too.

A note on that "top 10" ranking

For transparency when you research this brand: Print Mysteries also runs the review site murdermysterycasefiles.com, where its own cases are ranked #1 — worth keeping in mind when weighing rankings you find there, just as you should keep this site's ownership in mind here (the editorial policy explains how that conflict is handled).

What we like, and what to know

What we like

  • Objective-based structure keeps groups moving and shares the work around
  • Genuinely free starter case to test the format
  • Dense, no-filler case design with ciphers, interrogations and coded documents
  • Instant download — playable tonight, no shipping to the UK to wait for
  • Optional clue system and online answer checking stop dead ends

What to know

  • You do the printing: paper, ink and prep time are on you, and home-printed sheets lack the tactile "real evidence" feel of boxed games
  • Small catalogue from a small studio — a handful of cases, so veterans will run out
  • Single-play stories: once solved, a case is spent
  • Public review footprint is thin compared with the big brands, and the brand's own review site ranks its cases first (see above)

Who should buy Print Mysteries?

Pick Print Mysteries if you want a low-cost, play-tonight case and don't mind being your own print shop — it's one of the better structured printables we've looked at, and the free case makes trying it risk-free. If you'd rather unbox aged, ready-made evidence and skip the printer entirely, boxed games are the upgrade: see Unsolved Case Files, Cryptic Killers, or the Cases & Clues House pick case file folders at around £25, which pair the paper evidence with digital extras like unlockable phones and real websites. Our printable vs boxed guide walks through the trade-off in detail.

FAQs

Is there a free Print Mysteries case?

Yes — Deceptive Demise, the case of Hollywood actress Olivia Bennett, is a free beginner-friendly download taking roughly 45–60 minutes. It is a sensible way to find out whether the printable format suits you before paying for a bigger case.

How do Print Mysteries games work?

You buy a PDF, print it at home, and work through the evidence — police reports, suspect interviews, coded documents, newspaper clippings — completing a series of objectives rather than just naming the killer. Answers can be checked with an online verification system, and optional clues stop you getting stuck.

How many players do Print Mysteries cases support?

The cases are flexible: they work solo, as a date night for two, or with a small group. The larger Catalog of Suspicion case, for example, is billed for one to six players. Everyone shares one printed set of evidence, so around six is a practical ceiling.

Browse Print Mysteries cases →

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