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Crime Time Online
- 5–1.000
- 90 minutes
- Virtual
- Indoor
- Level 1
- Promotes communication, analytical skills and cooperation
- Professional moderation
- High level of participation: everyone can contribute, no one is left out
- A bonding experience that combines excitement and team spirit
The criminal case that brings teams together
In Crime Time, colleagues become investigators, suspects and perhaps even perpetrators. Each person takes on a role, receives their own information and is immersed in a gripping crime story. Bit by bit, statements are compared, alibis are checked and clues are gathered.
What makes it special is that only the culprit is allowed to lie. Everyone else must stick to their role and their script. This is precisely what creates a lively game of observation, questioning, deduction and bluffing.
Event schedule – From the initial suspicion to the resolution
Introduction & Prologue – The Case Begins
To begin with, all participants gather in a joint online meeting or a hybrid plenary session. The facilitator welcomes the group, introduces the story and, step by step, sets the scene for the case.
After just a few minutes, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary meeting. The participants are drawn straight into the criminal case. What happened? Who was at the scene? Which individuals might have a motive?
The characters are introduced, the initial situation is explained and the tension mounts: someone is dead – and the truth lies somewhere between alibis, memories and minor contradictions.
Role phase – Who am I in this case?
The participants are then given their role information. Each role brings its own perspective: personal background, relationships with the victim, memories of the time of the crime, and possible grounds for suspicion.
In small groups, the participants prepare for their roles. They read through their information, clarify any outstanding questions and consider how they would like to present themselves later on.
This is where the first playful moment arises:
What am I allowed to say? What would I be better off keeping to myself? Who do I suspect? And how convincing is my own alibi?
The more fully the participants immerse themselves in their roles, the more lively, fun and exciting the rest of the session becomes.
Investigation phase – asking questions, piecing things together and exposing suspects
Now the actual investigative work begins. The participants come together in new groups, where different roles come into play. There, they ask questions, discuss and piece things together.
Every statement can be important.
Every detail can lead to a new lead.
And sometimes, a small contradiction is enough to make a character suddenly seem very suspicious.
The teams try to identify motives, check alibis and reconstruct the events surrounding the time of the crime. This creates a unique dynamic: some play their roles very calmly, others in a particularly conspicuous way, whilst others appear so innocent that this is precisely what arouses suspicion.
Voting & Resolution – Who was it really?
To round things off, everyone comes back together. Now it’s getting serious: the investigation teams present their assessments. Who had the strongest motive? Whose story was full of contradictions? And who might have managed to wriggle out of the situation a little too skilfully?
The host guides the group through the final round of questioning and summarises the key clues once more. Then comes the big moment: the truth is revealed.
Whoever correctly identified the culprit can celebrate. Those who were wrong will be in for another surprise, if they haven’t already been. It is precisely this finale that often sparks laughter, discussions and talking points long after the event is over.
Crime Time online & hybrid – one case, many possibilities
Crime Time can be run entirely online or as a hybrid team event.
- In the online version, all participants take part via a video conference. The roles, clues and investigation rounds are organised digitally. The group starts together in the main meeting, then works in breakout rooms and reconvenes for the final resolution.
- In the hybrid version, some participants or teams are on site, whilst others join digitally. This allows multiple locations or remote colleagues to be involved in the same criminal case. It is important to have a clear technical set-up so that everyone can hear and speak clearly and work effectively in their investigation groups.
In both formats, the core remains the same:
Everyone is part of the same story, takes on roles, exchanges information and solves the case together – regardless of whether they are sitting in the same room or connected digitally.
Classification within the BITOU 4-level system
Crime Time is part of Level 1 – Classic Team Event – of the BITOU 4-level system.
At this level, the focus is on the shared experience: fun, engagement, connection and a positive sense of togetherness. Crime Time fulfils this role perfectly. The format is accessible, entertaining and gets people talking to one another – without feeling like a training session.
At the same time, the first small signs of team dynamics can become apparent: Who asks specific questions? Who listens attentively? Who is particularly good at piecing information together? Who approaches their role creatively?
If this sparks a desire for greater depth, the next step is to move on to Level 2 or Level 3. There, the focus shifts more strongly towards collaboration, communication and team dynamics.
The benefits of Crime Time at a glance:
✔ A shared experience despite the distance: Crime Time brings teams together, even if they don’t work in the same place. Through roles, investigation teams and working together to solve cases, a real sense of togetherness is created.
✔ High level of audience participation: No one is left out. Everyone is given a role, their own information and an active task within the scenario.
✔ Promotes communication and active listening: If you want to solve the case, you have to ask questions, compare statements and listen carefully. That is precisely what leads to a lot of discussion within the team.
✔ Enhances the ability to work in a team and fosters a team-oriented mindset: Participants must piece together clues, identify contradictions and decide together which suspicion is actually plausible.
✔ A change of perspective through role-play: Colleagues get to see a completely different side of each other to what they experience in their day-to-day work. This creates a light-hearted atmosphere, brings out a sense of humour and provides new topics of conversation.
✔ Ideal for online and hybrid teams: The format remains lively and interactive even when conducted remotely. This makes it particularly suitable for teams working from home, those with multiple locations, or those with international structures.
✔ Plenty to talk about after the event: Whether someone has told a convincing lie, come up with a particularly clever solution or got it completely wrong, they often remain a talking point for a long time. It is precisely these shared stories that bring people together.
What our customers say
Crime Time as part of the BITOU event tour
Crime Time is a Level 1 format. It creates a shared experience, engages the group and brings people together through suspense, humour and interaction.
From here, the team’s journey can continue in various ways:
- Level 1 – Classic team event:
Crime Time delivers fun, excitement and shared memories. Those wishing to stay within a similar theme can follow on with other crime or puzzle formats such as Get the Code or Code Crackers. - Level 2 – Intelligent team building:
If, following the experience, the team wishes to delve deeper into collaboration, roles and processes, the Cake Factory is a suitable option. There, roles, procedures and team dynamics are revealed in a playful way. - Level 3 – Team development:
If communication, trust or role behaviour are to be examined in greater depth, formats such as Adventure Everest, Before Mars or On Thin Ice can follow on from this. - Level 4 – Team coaching:
For teams facing specific challenges, conflicts or a need for deeper clarification, bespoke team coaching can be the next logical step.
In this way, an exciting crime thriller evening can serve as the starting point for a more in-depth team journey.
Frequently Asked Questions about Crime Time – FAQs
How does Crime Time work online?
How does Crime Time Hybrid work?
Do participants need to be able to act?
How many rolls are there?
Do participants need to prepare?
Which teams is Crime Time particularly suitable for?
At a glance
General services provided by BITOU
- Professional hosting by BITOU
- Introduction to the storyline, characters and game mechanics
- Support throughout all stages of the game
- Organisation of the role-playing and investigation rounds
- Organising the online or hybrid setting
- Joint resolution of the criminal case
- Adaptation to group size, format and technical requirements
- Support with planning and implementation
Product-specific services:
- A fully developed crime case with characters, motives and a backstory
- Up to eight different roles per round of investigation
- Role descriptions and reflection sheets for participants
- Allocation of digital roles in advance or at the start of the event
- Brainstorming sessions in breakout rooms or hybrid small groups
- Clues, hints and story prompts provided by the presenter
- Final discussion and joint resolution
- Flexible implementation for remote teams, hybrid groups and multiple locations
Facts
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5–1.000
-
90 minutes
-
Virtual
-
Worldwide
-
Year round
-
German English
Suitable for…
- Remote-Teams
- Hybrid-Teams
- international or cross-site groups
- virtual team evenings
- digital corporate events
- Christmas parties, summer parties or end-of-year celebrations
- Teams who want to get to know each other better in a relaxed way
- Groups who enjoy puzzles, role-play and storytelling
- Companies looking to organise an interactive online event with high attendance
