200 games & activity packs. A whole lot of together time. Newsletter signup: 20% off your eligible first order
The Midnight Express original artwork
PLAYDAYVAULT ORIGINAL

The Midnight Express

A PRINT-AND-PLAY ADVENTURE

MYSTERY · AGES 12+

The Midnight Express

One night train. Ten connected discoveries.

40–60 minutes2–6 playersModerate

Ten connected clues turn station records, a carriage plan, coded letters and a music box into a warm night-train mystery.

$29USD · digital download

Household and private, non-paid gatherings. License details

Instant accessStripe checkout

English language. No physical product. Applicable tax added at checkout.

THE STORY BEGINS

You’ve just stepped into something extraordinary.

Conductor Nico has a surprise to prepare before the night train welcomes its guests: a sealed celebration chest, a silent music box and a trail of misplaced preparation notes. Explore a fictional station, an empty carriage and a lantern workshop. Recover ten connected discoveries to restore the welcome. Every clue is provided; no railway knowledge is needed.

Work through 10 connected puzzles: record deduction, cargo arithmetic, elapsed time, grid navigation, ordering, coordinate cipher, intervals, letter indexing, logic conditions, linked final code, and bring the clues together for a final answer. Play at your own pace, with two progressive hints for every puzzle.

Play times are estimates and vary by group. Ages are guidance; younger players may need an adult.

Inside your download

  • Original, connected paper puzzles
  • Player booklet and printable clue cards
  • Separate host guide with full solutions
  • Two progressive hints per puzzle
  • Printable invitation and escape certificate
  • A4 and US Letter PDF editions
Try our free mini mystery
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS · ILLUSTRATED 2026.9

A welcome worth solving.

Ten connected station discoveries lead through baggage records, a carriage plan and a music box to a celebration chest.

Read the station records
Read the station records
Explore the carriage
Explore the carriage
Restore the welcome
Restore the welcome

Colour and ink-saving PDFs in A4 and US Letter, separate host answers, and matching online play. Every page includes an illustration; repeated scenes keep each round visually consistent.

Original AI-assisted illustrations and writing created for PlaydayVault. Automated checks completed; human playtesting is pending. Fixed puzzles and quiz answers repeat on replay.

BEFORE EVERYONE ARRIVES

Your first play, step by step.

Have ready: Player booklet, pencils, separate host guide and a screen if you want online hints.

  1. Print one player kit for the team in your chosen paper size. Keep the host answers separate.
  2. Read the opening story together, then tackle the numbered puzzles in order.
  3. Let the team request hints. Read the first hint before the second, and leave the solution until they want it.

Start with the included host guide for the complete rules. Game times are estimates; allow preparation time separately.

MAKE A FEW NIGHTS OF IT

This story has good company.

The Adventure Collection3 games · home licenses from $49The After Dark Pack3 games · home licenses from $69Choose your own collection3 individual games: save 15% · 5+: save 25%
BEFORE YOU PLAY

A little help
getting started.

Your next chapter?

Explore game packs