Questions, answered.

No. Every case is a PDF you can read on a tablet or computer. If you like paper (most people do), they print on ordinary US letter-size paper at home.

Nothing is required. The Host Console runs the game on screen. Print the name tags and Detective’s Cards on card stock if you like, plus ballots and the Evidence Pack as a backup.

The cases are PDFs. The party kit adds the Host Console, which runs in your browser at thedahlfiles.com/host on a laptop, tablet or phone. Use the same device for setup and party night. An offline version is included in the download.

Instantly. After checkout, Payhip emails you a download link. Nothing ships.

Not yet. The cases are print-ready PDFs. You can read them on a phone, but a tablet or paper is much easier.

These are digital files, so we can’t take them back. But if a file won’t open or something’s broken, email us and we’ll fix it or refund you. The refund policy.

The Lantern Room: 1 to 6, solo or with friends. A Killer Cup of Cocoa: 8 to 20 with the Home edition, up to 40 with the Office / Team edition.

The party game needs at least 8. For smaller groups, The Lantern Room plays with 1–6.

Yes. For the party kit, share the Host Console on screen in Zoom, Teams or Meet, email cards beforehand, and use breakout rooms. For the cases, share the PDF and solve together.

Yes. The stories, characters and puzzles are written with AI. A script then checks the logic, so exactly one suspect fits all the evidence. More about how they’re made.

No. Vesper Lake, Ostrander County, Sheriff Ray Dahl and Wren Lindahl are all fictional. Any resemblance to real people is coincidental.

Give the Case Club: three cold cases for $36 (Case 1 now, Case 2 on Dec 15, Case 3 on Jan 15), delivered instantly by email with your note. Nothing renews. Gift orders close December 20, 2026. How the gift works.

To send the party kit or The Lantern Room to someone else, tick “Give as a gift” at checkout and enter their email.

Anything else, email [email protected].