Who Killed Gagan: India’s Hit Murder Mystery Game

Who Killed Gagan: A New Era of Detective Gaming Hits Indian Homes

For every lover of thrillers, detective fiction, and mystery novels, the thought remains constant: “I wish I could solve a murder mystery like a detective.” Crimailed, an Indian startup founded by Jayashree Birje, has answered that call with the launch of ‘Who Killed Gagan’, India’s first immersive murder mystery tabletop game designed for solo or group play — an experience that promises to challenge your intellect like never before.

Blending realistic crime-solving with engaging gameplay, this tabletop detective game delivers authentic case files straight to your doorstep. From post-mortem reports to suspect profiles, court documents, mobile chats, and 50+ pieces of evidence, players must sift through every detail to unmask the killer, the motive, and the sequence of events — just like a real investigator.

A Market Gap Solved by Passion and Vision

Founder Jayashree Birje, a BSc graduate in Accounting and Finance from the University of London (under the academic direction of the London School of Economics) and an MBA holder from York St John University, was driven to create this game after her long-standing frustration with predictable mystery novels. “After reading hundreds of books, the twists became easy to guess. There was no real challenge left,” says Jayashree, a lifelong CID fan and mystery enthusiast.

Her exploration led her to detective case file games abroad, but their import price of

₹5,000 or more made them impractical for Indian fans. Determined to create an affordable

yet challenging alternative, she conceptualized ‘Who Killed Gagan’, priced from ₹999 to ₹1999 — making interactive, crime-solving entertainment finally accessible to the Indian market.

What Makes ‘Who Killed Gagan’ Unique?

Playable Solo or in Groups: Whether you’re enjoying a quiet evening alone or throwing a detective-themed party with friends, the game adapts Its party edition enhances group interaction through debates, theories, and deductive discussions.
No Apps or Screens: In an era of overstimulation, this game proudly stands as a

screen-free mental exercise, designed to offer pure, distraction-free cognitive fun.

Realistic Evidence: Every box contains official-looking documents, photographs, forensic reports, text transcripts, bank statements, and other clues — giving players an immersive “detective on the case”
Intellectual Stimulation: The game demands reasoning, patience, deduction, and debate — everything that’s lacking in today’s casual entertainment
Two Editions for Different Purposes: The original document-based edition is priced at ₹1999 for immersive detective experience, whereas the new evidence board-based edition is priced at ₹999 for more visual & party experience.

From Frustration to Creation: The Founder’s Journey

Jayashree’s background in forensic-style thinking from finance and auditing deeply influenced the structure of the game. Her training in spotting inconsistencies, analyzing data, and deducing logical connections — all skills honed in accounting and MBA courses

seamlessly translated into game

Even as a teenager, she designed treasure hunts and mystery games for friends, unknowingly sowing the seeds of Crimailed. “Mystery solving has a lot in common with auditing — piecing together clues, identifying red flags, and solving the bigger picture,” Jayashree shares.

Challenges on the Road to Success

Creating an engaging mystery that is neither too simple nor impossibly complex was

Crimailed’s biggest design challenge. “The clue had to be obvious but not visible at first glance,” says Jayashree. It took six months of testing across diverse professions — lawyers, marketers, bankers, authors — to strike this balance. The result? A game equally enjoyed by 18-year-olds and 55-year-olds alike.

Growing Popularity and Achievements

Since April 2024, ‘Who Killed Gagan’ has started redefining tabletop gaming in India:

Loved by solo sleuths and party enthusiasts alike
Affordable pricing between ₹999 to ₹1999, breaking barriers for first-time mystery gamers
Gaining attention from mystery lovers, Netflix thriller bingers, and escape room fans across the country

Crimailed is India’s first mover in a booming market segment, offering what no digital app or board game has delivered so far — real detective immersion at home.

The Bigger Mission

For Jayashree and Crimailed, this is just the beginning. “There’s a scarcity of intellectual, stimulating entertainment today,” she says. “We’re solving that problem, one mystery at a time.” The startup aims to become the world’s ultimate destination for murder mystery experiences, expanding into more case files, thematic games, and even corporate and event-based detective challenges.