Hunt A Killer

Hunt A Killer was founded in 2016 by childhood friends Ryan Hogan and Derrick Smith from the Baltimore area. The company started as an annual immersive thriller event at Camp Ramblewood in Harford County, Maryland, where they staged a homicide scene attracting 600 participants. Realizing their dream of revolutionizing entertainment couldn’t come through once-a-year events, they pivoted in October 2016 to launch a monthly subscription box starting with 56 subscribers.

Company Mission

Hunt A Killer’s mission is to create immersive, episodic murder mystery experiences that transform subscribers into detectives solving real-feeling crimes through physical evidence, audio files, photographs, autopsies, and investigative materials delivered monthly. By blending storytelling with interactive puzzle-solving, they aim to bring crime-thriller entertainment into homes as participatory rather than passive consumption.

Products & Services

Hunt A Killer offers multiple subscription options and standalone games:

• Monthly Subscription: $34.99/month + shipping for episodic mysteries (6-episode seasons)
• Full Season Purchase: $171.30 ($28.55/episode) for complete 6-episode seasons upfront
• Standalone Games: One-time purchase mystery boxes not requiring subscription
• Premium Experiences: Higher-tier mysteries with additional evidence and complexity
• Digital Content: Online components including audio files, databases, and multimedia clues

The company has two offices (Baltimore headquarters and Seattle marketing team) and ships internationally. They’ve expanded from 56 initial subscribers to thousands serving mystery and puzzle enthusiasts worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart

Hunt A Killer differentiates through physical immersion and episodic storytelling. Unlike app-based mystery games, subscribers receive tangible evidence, autopsy reports, witness statements, crime scene photos, physical objects, creating tactile engagement. The 6-episode season structure builds narrative depth and complexity unavailable in single-session games. Derrick Smith handles creative development while Ryan Hogan manages business and marketing, splitting responsibilities between storytelling quality and operational execution.

However, the company’s Trustpilot rating declined from 4.6-4.7 stars (2018-2024) to 3.5 stars (2026) following an ownership change. Multiple reviewers describe customer service as “atrocious” with unresponsive support, billing issues including charges for years without product delivery, and broken “contact us” links on the website. The ownership transition appears to have compromised operational integrity while product quality (when received) remains praised by mystery enthusiasts who successfully receive their boxes and engage with the puzzles.