Summary: A simple party game in which players walk around mingling in a room and stare at each other. One person is secretly the “killer” who must try to eliminate players by winking at them without getting caught!
Ages: All. Recommended # of people: 10-20. Messiness factor: No sweat! Materials required: None! Recommended Setting: Indoors.
Killer Wink (also known as Mystery Winker, Mystery Mingler, Wink Murder Game, etc.)
Rules for Killer Wink
Have everyone stand in a circle. One person must be the moderator (who doesn’t play that round). All players close their eyes and the moderator selects one person by tapping his or her shoulder. This person is now the secret “killer,” or “mystery mingler.”
Now, have all of the group mingle around and through the general space, making sure to look at each other in the eyes. The mystery killer is in the mix and try to wink at other players without being detected by others. If a person is winked at, they must continue mingling for a few seconds and soon “die” a horrible death right there in the general space. Play continues. If a live mingler thinks they know who the killer is, they stop and proclaim “I accuse!” At that point everyone else stops and if one other person wants to accuse, they say the same thing, then both accusers point at their perceived killer. If both accusers point at the same person, and they are the killer; the game is over, if the point to different people, both accusers are dead; if they point to the same person who isn’t the killer, they are both dead as well. The game continues until the killer is identified or there is only one mingler left.
There is NO TALKING or communicating of any kind allowed! This game works with many age levels and can be lots of fun, especially if players act out funny deaths.
(Game contributed by Chris White. Thanks Chris!)