Before you take the file
Questions, answered plainly.
When do I get it?
Immediately. The download link is emailed to you within a minute of your order. There is no expiry date, so you can open the first file whenever you like.
Do I have to print it?
No. Everything works on a screen. Most people print at least one case and spread it across the table, because moving paper around is half of how you spot a contradiction. A4 and US Letter are both included.
Can we get through all seven in one night?
No, and you shouldn't try. One case is a whole evening: about 90 minutes without the cards, 2 to 2½ hours with them. Pick one for tonight and keep the rest for later.
How many people can play?
One to six, and extra guests can join as detectives. With three or more, everyone plays a suspect. With one or two, skip the cards and work it as a detective file.
How frightening is it, really?
These files are dark, not graphic. Nothing is described for shock and there are no images of injury. What gets to people is the ordinary detail that turns out to matter. Recommended 14+.
Is anything in here actually supernatural?
No. Not once. Every case has a human explanation, and every explanation can be proven from the documents in the file.
Are these real cases?
No. Every case, person, document and location is fictional. Some settings are real places, but nothing in these files describes a real event or a real person.
What if we get it wrong?
Most people get at least one of the three answers wrong on their first case, and that is part of the experience. The sealed solution walks you through every clue, page by page, including every false lead and why it was false.
I've played the other volumes. Is this different?
Yes. These are all new cases, and with three or more players, one of you is the killer.
Do I need the other volumes?
No. The Long Night stands completely on its own. There is no shared story and no required order.
Do I have to play it at Halloween?
No. The stories take place on 31 October, but you can play them on any night of the year.
Can the host play too?
Yes. Just don't read the solution in advance. The Host Guide tells you what to print and when to open each envelope.
Do we need costumes?
No. You can send each guest their character's name in advance if they'd like to dress up, but the game works without it.