Wink Murder

👥 5+ players 📍 Indoor📍 Anywhere ⚡ Calm 🧩 Simple ⏱ 15-45 minutes 🎂 Ages 8+

Quick Pitch

Wink Murder is a social deduction game where a secret Murderer eliminates players by winking at them — and everyone else tries to catch them in the act.

Hook

The Murderer could be anyone. You make eye contact with someone across the circle and — was that a wink? You're not sure. Now you're dead. Wink Murder is tense, silly, and produces some of the best dramatic death performances you'll ever see from a group of ten-year-olds. No equipment needed, five minutes to explain, endlessly replayable.

Equipment Needed

None. Wink Murder requires only players and eyes.

Setup

  • Gather players in a circle, standing or sitting
  • Players should be able to see each other clearly
  • Choose one player to be the "Detective" or "Police" (can be optional)
  • Choose one player to be the "Murderer" (secret role)
  • All other players are "Victims"
  • Assign roles either:
    • Verbally by the moderator
    • By cards drawn from a deck
    • By the Murderer identifying themselves when game starts
  • The Detective (if used) is usually told who they are, but not who the Murderer is
  • The Murderer knows their role
  • All others don't know who the Murderer is

Rules

Objective

  • Murderer: Kill all Victims without being identified
  • Victims/Detective: Identify and accuse the Murderer before being killed
  • Detective (if present): Identify the Murderer correctly

Gameplay

The Murder:

  • Players move around the play area or stand in a circle
  • The Murderer discreetly winks at another player
  • The wink should not be obvious to others
  • When winked at, a player counts silently to 3, then announces they've been "killed"
  • The killed player is out and leaves the game

Accusation Phase:

  • Any remaining player can accuse another of being the Murderer
  • An accusation is made aloud: "I accuse [player] of being the Murderer!"
  • The accused player either:
    • Admits to being the Murderer (if true), OR
    • Denies it (if innocent)
    • If multiple people accuse simultaneously, majority rules
  • If an innocent person is accused and killed (in some variations), they're out
  • If a Murderer is correctly identified, the game ends

Game Flow:

  • Game continues with players moving, winking occurring, accusations being made
  • Players strategically position themselves and watch for winks
  • Suspicion grows as more players are killed
  • Eventually Murderer is identified or all Victims are killed

Victory:

  • Murderer Wins: If all Victims are killed before being identified
  • Victims Win: If the Murderer is identified and accused
  • Detective Wins (if present): If Detective correctly identifies Murderer

Expert Player

Tips

For the Murderer

  • Subtle Winking: Make winks quick and discreet
  • Irregular Targets: Don't target too predictably; vary victims
  • Positioning: Change position frequently to avoid being caught in wink
  • Innocence: Act like a regular player; avoid suspicion
  • Psychological Tactics: Accuse others to throw suspicion elsewhere
  • Misdirection: Kill players who would otherwise be suspected
  • Timing: Wink when attention is elsewhere

For Victims/Detective

  • Observation: Watch carefully for winking movements
  • Position Awareness: Note who is near whom
  • Accusation Strategy: Only accuse when fairly certain
  • Pattern Recognition: Track who is killed and look for patterns
  • Body Language: Watch for nervous behavior or unusual positioning
  • Discussion: In some versions, players can discuss and vote on Murderer together
  • Conservative Play: Better to not accuse than accuse an innocent player

Variations

Detective Mode

Include a Detective who knows they're the Detective but not who the Murderer is

Anonymous Detective

No one knows who the Detective is (including the Detective)

Multiple Murderers

Two Murderers work together; both must be identified

Kill with Touch

Instead of winking, Murderer must touch players (requires proximity)

Voting Version

Instead of direct accusation, players vote on who to eliminate

Quick Round

Very short game; first person killed announces self immediately

Night/Day Phases

Formal day (discussion/voting) and night (winking) phases

Protected Players

Certain players (marked somehow) cannot be killed by winking

Time Limit

Set time limit; if Murderer not identified by then, Murderer wins

Hidden Detective

Detective revealed only if they correctly identify Murderer

Role Cards

Use cards to assign roles; revealed when players are killed

Extreme Drama

Award points for style of winking; judges declare "best murder"

Learn More — History & Origins

History & Origins

Wink Murder is a British party game with origins in traditional parlor games. The game gained popularity in the 20th century as a quick, simple deduction game. The game is played primarily in Britain and Commonwealth countries but has spread globally. Its simplicity and quick play make it ideal for parties and quick game rounds. The game remains popular in British schools and gatherings.

Cultural Context

Wink Murder is a British party game classic, regularly appearing in school icebreaker lists, summer camp activity guides, and youth group programs across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Its spread through Commonwealth countries likely came through schools and youth organizations like Scouts, where simple games that require no equipment and teach social observation were highly valued.

The game is a gentle precursor to more elaborate social deduction games like Mafia — it introduces the same core mechanic (one hidden bad actor in a group) but strips away almost all complexity, making it accessible to very young players while remaining entertaining for adults. The inherent drama of the winking mechanic — the way everyone becomes hyper-aware of every glance and eye movement — creates a different kind of tension than most party games, one that's more about body language and presence than logic.

See Also