Wink Murder

What is Wink Murder?

Wink Murder is a free party game for groups sitting in the same room, built on one of the oldest tricks in the book: a secret murderer who "kills" people with a wink. This version adds one thing: a phone that hands out the secret roles for you. Pass it around, everyone peeks at their role in private, and then the phones go away. From that point on it's just you, your friends and a lot of suspicious eye contact. Wink Murder is also known as Murder in the Dark, Killer, Wink Killer and Wink Assassin. Play it free in your browser on slicegames.app.

How Wink Murder works

1. Set up the game on one phone. Enter how many people are playing and how many murderers there will be.
2. Pass the phone around. Each player taps to see their secret role, hides the screen and hands the phone to the next person. You're either an innocent or a murderer.
3. Put the phones away. Sit in a circle or mingle around the room. The rest of the game is played with your eyes only.
4. Murderers wink to eliminate. If you're a murderer, catch an innocent's eye and give them a quick, subtle wink. Don't get caught doing it.
5. Victims go out in style. If someone winks at you, wait a few seconds so you don't give the murderer away, then "die" as dramatically as you like.
6. Innocents hunt the murderers. Watch the room, compare notes and accuse the player you think is winking. A right guess takes out a murderer. A wrong guess costs the accuser.
7. The game ends when one side is gone. The innocents win by unmasking every murderer. The murderers win by taking out all the innocents.

An example round

Eight friends are on the sofa and the floor. The host sets up the game with two murderers, and the phone makes its way around the room. Everyone checks their role, keeps a straight face and the phone disappears into a pocket. For a minute nothing happens. Then Anna suddenly slumps over with a groan. Nobody saw the wink, but everyone looks at everyone else. Mark was staring at the ceiling a little too innocently. Jo accuses Mark, and Mark has to admit he's a murderer. Round one to the innocents, but there's still one murderer in the room, and they just winked at someone.

Tips for winning Wink Murder

If you're a murderer

• Be quick. A wink that lasts a split second is much harder to catch than a slow one.
• Blend it in. Wink as part of normal eye contact, not as a big gesture.
• Don't stare at one person. Look around the room like everybody else, and only wink when nobody else is looking at you.
• Make people wait. Winking at someone who then dies thirty seconds later makes it almost impossible to trace.

If you're an innocent

• Watch the room, not just the person next to you. The best clues are who was looking at the victim a moment before.
• Notice who avoids eye contact. A murderer who is afraid of being caught often gives themselves away.
• Don't accuse on a hunch. A wrong accusation costs you a life, so wait until you're sure.
• Talk to each other. Compare who each victim was looking at before they died.

When to play Wink Murder

Wink Murder works anywhere a group of friends can sit together for a few minutes:

• House parties: a great icebreaker, because it gets strangers making eye contact and laughing within minutes.
• Game nights: a fast filler between longer board games, with rounds that take just a few minutes.
• Family gatherings: a game everyone understands within one minute, from teenagers to grandparents.
• Trips, camps and classrooms: no setup, no cards, no pen and paper. Just a phone for a minute.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players do I need?

Wink Murder works with 4 players and gets better the more people join. For the best mix of suspicion and chaos, play with 6 or more.

Do I need my own phone?

No. Only one phone is needed. It's passed around once so every player can see their secret role in private, and then it's put away for the rest of the game.

Can I play Wink Murder online or on a video call?

Wink Murder is made to be played in person. Winks are easy to miss on a video call, and the whole game depends on catching eye contact across a room. There is no online mode, so gather your friends instead.

How do the murderers eliminate people?

By winking at them without being seen. When you get winked at, wait a few seconds and then "die" in whatever way you like. The longer you wait, the harder it is to catch the murderer.

What happens if I accuse the wrong person?

You're out of the game, so don't accuse until you're confident. A correct accusation takes out a murderer.

What if I can't wink?

No problem. Agree on any other quick, subtle signal before you start, like a fast nod or a raised eyebrow, and play exactly the same way.

How long does a game take?

A round usually takes between 2 and 15 minutes, depending on how many players there are and how sneaky the murderers are.

Is Wink Murder free?

Yes. Wink Murder is free to play in the browser on slicegames.app, with no download and no sign-up.