Whodonut? A Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle Game

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Overview

This was my first major project for Hunt a Killer where I had the opportunity to take the lead on design throughout the entire development process. This experience is part physical puzzle and part mystery where visual and written clues build off each other as the entire picture comes together. I had the ability to bring the story to life by giving it a visual aesthetic. Combining a murder mystery with elements of comedy led to a very vibrant donut shop that smeared the lines between blood and jelly.

The full Whodonut puzzle is not pictured on this page as to avoid story spoilers. It is a photograph of the crime scene that features a heavily branded interior theme of the in-world donut shop Do Not Not Donut.

Setting

Fred Jackson, Jr., the beloved owner of the Do Not Not Donut Shop, was murdered. Homicide Detective Ralph Frage was six questions away from figuring out who killed him until a fritter-induced tummy ache sent him to the hospital. Now, he needs your help to put the pieces together and track down whoever sent the Donut Man to a hole in the ground.

Objective

Your mission in Whodonut? A Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle Game is to identify the killer of Fred Jackson, Jr. Working alone, or as part of a team, you will need to discover clear means, motive, and opportunity to find the killer. Only one suspect will fit all three categories, and discovering who it is will allow you to identify them as the murderer. To accomplish this, you’ll need to carefully read the Detective’s notes, put the pieces together to see the scene of the crime, and answer the Detective’s remaining questions to reveal key clues — pieces of the puzzle that will complete the picture.

Puzzle Snapshots

Components

(A) Game Manual
(B) 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle (994 pieces + 6 blank pieces)
(C) Detective’s Notebook
(D) Answer Board (24 pieces inside)
(E) Solution Envelope
(F) Box and Lid