Killer or Innocent â The two roles and what each one does
About
OverviewKiller or Innocent is a murder mystery game for up to 12 players where one person is secretly the killer and everyone else must survive or figure out who it is. This guide covers how both roles work, how to read other players, and how to get the most out of a round.
What is on this page
Contents
The two roles and what each one does
Table
At the start of every round, the game assigns one player as the killer at random. Everyone else is innocent. Your screen tells you which role you have, and everything you do from that point should follow from it.
| Killer | hunt other players while blending in so nobody suspects you |
| Innocent | stay alive until the round ends or work out who the killer is |
| Both roles | watch how other players move and talk, because that information matters either way |
| Round length | play continues until the round ends, whether the killer is caught or the innocents are picked off |
Surviving as an innocent
TipsInnocents win by lasting through the round or by correctly identifying the killer before it is too late.
- Learn more than one hiding spot so you have somewhere to fall back to if the killer finds your first position.
- Pay attention to sounds and approaching footsteps â catching the killer's movement early gives you time to run.
- Avoid going off completely alone, because isolated players are easier to target.
- Keep an eye on where other players are rather than staying hidden the whole round.
- Tell your teammates what you have seen â a witness account shared with others is far more useful than one kept to yourself.
Playing as the killer without getting caught
TipsThe killer needs to eliminate other players without being identified. Acting suspicious draws attention, so the goal is blending in with the innocents until a good opportunity appears.
- Act like an innocent â move around naturally and avoid doing anything that would make you stand out from the rest of the group.
- Prepare a cover story â if someone questions why you were in a certain place, have a reasonable explanation ready.
- Target players who are on their own â going after a group raises the risk that a witness identifies you.
- Wait for the right moment rather than rushing in when conditions are not in your favor.
- Mirror what innocents do â cooperate visibly with others so you appear trustworthy.
Narrowing down who the killer is
CheckWhen the killer is not obvious, go back through what you have observed and compare it against what players are claiming.
- Check whether a player's stated location matches where they were actually seen during the round.
- Compare accounts from multiple players if one person's story conflicts with several others, that is worth noting.
- Look for anyone who appeared somewhere unexpected without a clear explanation.
- Notice if someone is consistently avoiding a specific player or a specific area for no obvious reason.
Getting more out of a round with friends
TipsKiller or Innocent supports up to 12 players, and the social back-and-forth between friends is what the game is built around. Active conversation makes it much easier to catch the killer and much harder for the killer to hide.
- Share where you have been and who you were with â this creates an alibi and helps others spot gaps in the killer's story.
- If someone accuses you, explain yourself clearly.
- Call out behavior that looks off â the more people watching the same thing, the harder it is for the killer to act freely.
- Use text or voice chat throughout the round.
Glossary
Glossary- Killer
- The one player chosen randomly each round whose goal is to eliminate the others without being identified.
- Innocent
- Any player who is not the killer; they win by surviving the round or correctly exposing the killer.
- Round
- A single match of the game, running from the moment the killer is assigned until the game declares an outcome.
- Murder mystery
- A game genre where players take on roles and work to uncover which one of them is the hidden culprit.
Common questions
FAQHow many players can join a single game?
Up to 12 players can take part in one round.
Can the innocents all make it to the end?
If the innocents work together and manage to expose the killer, everyone on the innocent side can come out on top.
What happens if you are picked as the killer but do not want to be?
The selection is random every round, so there is no way to avoid it. The killer role is a core part of the game.
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