As Taskmaster has proven, sometimes the most memorable games are ones with a simple setup and plenty of room for players to take things in unique directions. The same is true of TTRPG improv games, as the best ones give players just enough framework to keep everyone on the same page while also leaving enough space for creativity to shine. A fantastic example of this is Mistorical Museum, as its well-defined setup leads to a chaotic game that the entire family is sure to enjoy.
In Mistorical Museum, players are appointed as the new curators of the titular (but as yet unopened) museum. However, players soon learn that the Mistorical Museum isn’t like most museums. Unlike most museums, the Mistorical Museum has a loose relationship with things like “facts” and “the truth.” In fact, the museum is so keen to showcase the weird and wacky that it doesn’t mind if the curators make things up.
Curators Making A Mad Museum
The flow of a Mistorical Museum game is simple. At the start of the game, players get two minutes to explore the space and find three objects to act as their museum exhibits. Once the players have chosen their objects and returned them to the table, the next phase of the game begins.
Each player puts forward one of their items and then rolls two D6s. The numbers on these dice are combined, and the player consults the included table to find what era their artifact is meant to be from. Once the players have done this for all the collected items, the next phase begins.
In this phase, each player is asked to explain what their artifact is and why they believe it should be added to the museum. While they do this, the other players are encouraged to ask questions about the artifact and the player’s information.
Once all the players have had a chance to explain all their artifacts, the next phase begins. All of the items are put in the center of the table, and players decide which item will be the centerpiece of the museum’s newest exhibition. When a consensus is reached, the players put the chosen artifact on display and write a small display tag that is displayed next to it.
If there is space, the players repeat this process for several more artifacts, creating a complete museum exhibit. After this, the players can play the game again and create a new exhibit to complement the one made previously.
However, this is still not the end, as the game includes another phase called The Heist. During this phase, the players are tasked with stealing items from the museum without the other players noticing them and calling them on it. If a player can leave the building with the museum’s star attraction, they instantly win the phase.
Structured To Help Newcomers
Mistorical Museum is a delightfully fun improv party game. It strikes the perfect balance between structure and freedom, so experienced improv game players and those new to the medium will have a good time without feeling overwhelmed or overly constrained.
In fact, the game goes out of its way to ensure that players new to improv games can have a fun but comfortable time. Most notably, having the player pick which items they want to use means that more nervous players can select items that are easier to pitch and have some time to come up with general ideas before the talking phase begins, avoiding the stress of being put on the spot. Additionally, Mistorical Museum also features some extra rolltables that players can use to get inspiration if they get stuck, meaning that players have something to fall back on if their mind goes blank, removing even more pressure from newer roleplayers.
One really nice element of Mistorical Museum is how often the text goes out of its way to explain how to make the experience fun and welcoming. For example, the game notes that players should guarantee their questions are aimed at helping the player flesh out their artifact’s story rather than tearing them down. However, the Mistorical Museum weaves these into the text in a natural way, meaning that they never feel preachy nor do they become annoying for players more familiar with TTRPGs and safety tools.
The same is true of the book’s dedicated tips and safety tools section. While this is slightly more overt (as it’s a dedicated section), it maintains a fun and clear tone that makes the section feel like part of the game, rather than a separate document stapled onto the game for the sake of covering bases.
I also appreciate the variety the game offers. Building the game around objects means that each game is unique, and the multiple phases of gameplay ensure the game maintains a good pace throughout. The game also includes an alternative rolltable that allows players to play a variant of Mistorical Museum, where Curators roll prompts and then attempt to create art based on the result. The game also includes a blank rolltable that allows players to add their own prompts, meaning Curators can come up with their own unique themed museums. Because of this, Mistorical Museum is a game you’re going to come back to time and time again.
One recommendation I would give to others hoping to run this game is to encourage players to bring interesting objects from their homes and scatter them around the play space before the game starts. With a larger group, the average house likely won’t have enough random items lying around to allow every player to pick three unique objects that have good comedic potential. So, having players bring some items to supplement the number helps make the game flow smoother and leads to funnier scenes. Plus, it also acts as a great icebreaker before the game begins, as everyone gets to show off the random thing they brought along with them.
Mistorical Museum is a fantastic party game. The game is simple enough that everyone, regardless of age or TTRPG experience, can easily pick up the rules and have a great time, making it an excellent game for parties. In fact, due to the game’s various stages, you could easily build an entire party around the Mistorical Museum, with players spending the first half of the night making several wings of the museum and the second half trying to pull off the heist.
