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New Years Murder Mystery

A printable New Year's Eve murder mystery party game for 6 to 10 players, with video-guided rounds so the host can play along too.

Ring in the new year with a murder. Hand every guest a mask, a secret and a reason to point fingers before the clock strikes twelve.

Ten suspects. One grand hotel ballroom. A blackout at midnight. A body in the Winter Garden.

A party they'll never forget, perfect for New Year's Eve, masquerade parties, Roaring Twenties nights and winter game nights.

Hosting a bigger crowd? The 10-20 player version of this same mystery is also in the shop.

THE STORY

New Year's Eve, 1929. The Meridian Hotel hosts the last masked ball of the decade. Champagne, an orchestra, a great gold clock counting down to midnight. At the stroke of twelve, every light in the ballroom goes out. When they come back on, the hotel's owner, Silas Vale, is found in the Winter Garden. Someone in that ballroom knew exactly when the lights would go out.

THE HOST CAN PLAY TOO

You don't need to know the killer. The solution stays sealed until every vote is in, so the host plays along with everyone else.

VIDEO-GUIDED PLAY: SCAN THE QR. WATCH HOW TO PLAY. NO RULEBOOK.

Scan the QR code in your kit to open a private video page made only for this game. A short "How to Play" video explains the night. Then the narrator runs the party: press play for the welcome, the blackout, each of the three rounds, the vote and the killer's confession.

Playing on a computer or TV instead? Every QR code has a short web address printed beside it. Type it into any browser and the same videos open.

• DETAILS
• Format: printable PDF plus phone invites (instant download)
• Players: 6 to 10 (6 core roles, 4 optional extras)
• Theme: a 1929 masked New Year's Eve ball at a grand old hotel
• Any role can be played by anyone; several roles use they/them
• Host flexibility: the host can play, no need to know the answer
• Time: about 2 to 3 hours
• Rating: teens 13+ and adults. Spooky, not gory. No real-world methods.
• Paper: US Letter (choose "fit to page" for A4)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1. Host guide: 4-step setup, night-of timeline, checklist, clue checklist

2. QR code to the video page: How to Play plus 7 narrated round videos

3. Phone invites: one per guest, ready to text

4. Printable invitations

5. Full character packets with portraits: who I am, my plan, what I'm hiding, personality, outfit idea, fun fact and quote

6. A one-page lite sheet for every character

7. Mixed-format clues across three rounds: cue cards, key registers, ledgers, photographs and more

8. Newspaper, floor plan, room signs and props

9. After-Murder Detective sheet, so the victim keeps playing

10. Voting ballots, the sealed solution and the killer's confession

11. Name tags and awards

THE CHARACTERS

Primary (the 6 core roles): Silas Vale (hotel owner), Evelyn Voss (house manager), Ada Mercer (masked singer), Thomas Bell (night clerk), Bea Langley (Silas's niece), Rowan Finch (hotel auditor)

Secondary (add for 7 to 10 players): Lionel Birch (bandleader), June Ellis (ball photographer), Kit Wynn (elevator operator), Felix Cross (hotel locksmith)

HOW IT WORKS IN 4 STEPS

1. Pick the number of guests and assign roles, primary roles first.

2. Text each guest their phone invite.

3. Print the packets, clues and props. Seal the solution.

4. On the night, scan the QR and let the videos run the party.

FAQ

Can I use it more than once? Yes, for your own personal parties.

Do guests need to prepare? Just read their character sheet and dress the part if they like.

Is anything shipped? No. This is a digital download. Nothing physical is mailed.

Original story and artwork. For personal use only.

HOSTED VIDEO ACCESS

Internet access and a browser-capable phone, computer or TV are needed to stream the hosted videos.

Created with AI assistance under the shop owner’s creative direction.