Corporate Team Building Activities Des Moines
[Updated: October 2026]
Corporate groups looking for fun team building activities for work and corporate events can enjoy a murder mystery that combines social interaction with problem solving. These team building activities Des Moines prompt colleagues to communicate, investigate clues, and decide who to trust.
Best murder mystery party game kits for a team building event in Des Moines
Poker Poisoning
Star Wars Strangulation
Ronald Frump
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Team Building Quick Guide
- Boxed murder mystery games delivered straight to your office in Des Moines
- Instant downloads
- Corporate team building, staff training, conferences or workplace events
- Run at the office or in any venue
- Get a staff member or professional host to present your game
- See our full list of murder mystery games here
- Small group games 4 to 6, 7 to 10 people
- Medium group games 9 to 15, 16 to 30 people
- Large group games 31 to 60, 61 to 120, 121 to 300, 301 to 600 people
- Any mix of male, female or gender neutral players
What is a murder mystery team building activity?
A murder mystery team building activity brings colleagues together for an interactive fictional investigation. Players share information, uncover clues and work together to identify the culprit while developing communication and collaboration skills.
Google Review
★★★★ Todd North - I ran the game online as a virtual happy hour for my team with great success. There were a few hiccups at the beginning not related to the product, but once we got over that it was good. The team did struggle with the concept of swapping clues in the first round, but it became obvious to them after the first reveal of their theories. We will be looking for another one to do in the future.
Murder mystery games designed for corporate team building
Our games encourage employees to engage with colleagues they may not normally work with closely. The mystery creates reasons to ask questions, exchange information and build temporary alliances. By the end of the game, the team has shared an experience that can create lasting workplace memories.
- Everyone receives a role in the fictional investigation.
- Presenter materials make organizing the activity straightforward.
- Participants do not need previous acting or murder mystery experience.
- The flexible format makes changing player numbers simple.
- Players discover the solution alongside the rest of the team.
Popular team building event activities in Des Moines
Corporate Conferences
Whether you are planning a small business conference or a major corporate gathering in Des Moines, our murder mystery games offer ideal indoor team building activities. Colleagues become part of the story and work together to uncover the culprit.
- Adds an engaging activity to your conference programme
- Gets delegates talking and interacting
- Works for small groups and large conferences
- Encourages teamwork and creative thinking
- Gives colleagues something memorable to enjoy together
Training and Development Events
Give your next staff development event a social dimension with fun team building activities for work. Replacing generic icebreaker games and quick team building games, this interactive investigation prompts participants to communicate with different colleagues and solve the case together.
- Encourages communication and active listening
- Provides a practical teamwork challenge
- Develops collaboration and problem solving
- Gets participants actively involved
- Adds an entertaining element to training and development days
Workplace Team Events
A murder mystery is a great choice when looking for small group team building activities that make your workplace team event in Des Moines more than another meal or meeting. Colleagues have a shared mystery to solve, giving everyone an immediate reason to communicate and get involved.
- Perfect for small work groups right up to huge corporate events and conferences.
- Run the game anywhere in Des Moines, Waterloo or throughout Iowa.
- Play in the office or hire a venue like Hilton Des Moines Downtown.
- Available as a pre-printed boxed game, instant digital download or virtual online event for remote teams.
- Suitable for staff events, team building days and workplace celebrations.
Corporate Retreats
A corporate retreat is a great opportunity for colleagues to get to know each other in an open setting. Incorporating a murder mystery into your outdoor team building activities adds an interactive challenge that encourages people to communicate, collaborate, and have fun together.
- Perfect for company retreats and away days
- Gets colleagues interacting outside the usual workplace
- Creates a shared challenge for the whole team
- Encourages communication and collaboration
- Adds fun and laughter to corporate retreats
Staff Christmas Parties
A murder mystery is one of the most engaging large group team building ideas for a staff Christmas party because it combines festive socialising with interactive entertainment. Colleagues can enjoy food and drinks while becoming characters in a hilarious fictional investigation.
- Makes staff Christmas parties more interactive
- Gets colleagues involved rather than simply watching
- Works alongside Christmas food and celebrations
- Creates plenty of laughs and memorable moments
- Suitable for workplace teams of different sizes
Customer Testimonial
We did the 1980s Back to the Future event. The package was well planned and detailed. All the provided materials were super helpful. David
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The mystery unfolds for the host just as it does for the other guests, creating a shared experience for everyone involved.
Murder mystery games work well for intimate gatherings, medium-sized celebrations and larger occasions.
Delivery Options
You can access your games in 2 main formats:
- Boxed: A beautifully printed boxed game is delivered direct to your door in Des Moines in 8 to 10 days.
- Downloadable: Get instant access to our digital murder mystery game engine and begin playing today.
Why choose murder mystery corporate team building in Des Moines?
- Gets colleagues talking from the moment the investigation begins.
- Creates a relaxed environment where teams can interact outside their normal work roles.
- Requires participants to share clues and piece together information.
- Encourages creative thinking, discussion and problem solving.
- Keeps the whole group involved as new information changes the investigation.
- Creates an entertaining team experience rather than another workplace meeting.
How do I host a murder mystery team building event in Des Moines?
Want to organize a murder mystery team building activity in Des Moines? Start with the game and work through these six steps to create a fun event that encourages your colleagues to interact.
- Order your game – Find an exciting murder mystery that suits your workplace team.
- Decide who runs it – Host it yourself, ask a colleague to present or hire a professional.
- Choose where to play – Use your office or find a suitable private event venue.
- Invite your team – Get everyone involved and ready for an unusual team challenge.
- Plan the extras – Sort out food, drinks and any decorations or costumes you want to use.
- Run the event – Let the investigation begin and encourage everyone to share clues and solve the crime together.
Ready to plan your murderous team building event in Des Moines?
Choose one of our murder mystery games below and start planning an unforgettable team building event experience for your guests.
Disney Disaster
Redneck Bride and the Billionaire
Hippie Homicide 1960s
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FAQ
What age group are murder mystery parties suitable for?
Murder mystery games are typically suitable for adults and teenagers, though some versions are specifically designed for kids or family-friendly events. For the younger ones (and the older ones that need glasses) reading is an essential part of the game so kids need to be old enough to read.
What murder mystery game themes are available?
Popular themes include 1920s, Hollywood and cruise ships. Many games offer a wide range of settings to suit different occasions.
Our murder mystery game range:
How many people do I need for a murder mystery team building event?
Boxed games are for 9 to 60 or 61 to 120 people.
Downloadable games are for 4 to 6, 7 to 10, 9 to 15, 16 to 30, 31 to 60 and 61 to 120 people.
How long does a murder mystery party take?
A typical team building murder mystery party lasts between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the game format, number of players, and how quickly guests engage with the mystery. Smaller groups often finish closer to 2 hours, while larger groups may take up to 3 hours as more players interact and share clues.
Do staff have to act?
Absolutely not! No acting experience is required. Players can participate at their own comfort level. The murder mystery places participants in groups and this is even better. The more gregarious players can take the spotlight while the more reserved players can share clues or sleuth away in the background.
Can we use our own venue?
Because murder mysteries involve playing games and your guests doing lots of fun and silly things, they need a quiet venue with lots of space.
You can hold a murder mystery at home or in a function venue. Try any venue which:
- Is completely private i.e.: not a restaurant or public spaces.
- Is very quiet i.e. no bands, piped music or DJ's next door.
- Has lots of room to move around. Imagine all your guests standing in a circle.
- You need one central area big enough for all guests at one time.
Should we hire a professional murder mystery presenter?
A professional host brings experience, structure, and energy to your event. They help get all guests involved, guide the game, and ensure everything runs smoothly so you can relax and enjoy the party.
However it could be a really fun aspect of your team building event that one of your staff runs it.
Can remote staff join?
Absolutely! You can either host a fully online murder mystery or have a hybrid approach where some staff are in the room and some are remote.
Are murder mystery parties good for team building in Des Moines?
Yes, they encourage communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, making them ideal for corporate events and team-building activities. They can be played at the office or in any venue of your choice.