New Year's Eve Murder Mystery: Solve It Before Midnight
Here is a plan for the hour before the countdown that beats watching the TV special: a murder mystery your guests solve together in the browser. The Midnight Countdown takes about 45-55 min, so start by 11 and you will have a verdict before the ball drops. One person hosts and pays once, everyone else joins with a room code, and nothing gets downloaded.
Play The Midnight Countdown Try a free case first
The case: The Midnight Countdown
The Midnight Countdown
The countdown to midnight had barely begun when mogul Victor Slade, who'd promised a life-changing announcement to his handpicked guests at the most exclusive New Year's Eve gala in the city, was found dead on the rooftop terrace as confetti began to fall. The blow was masked by fireworks.
Medium · 2-8 players · 45-55 min
Individual case · $4.99
2-8 players, about 45-55 min, Medium difficulty.
The Midnight CountdownA New Year's Eve run of show
- 9:00. Guests arrive. Food, drinks, catching up.
- 10:45. Open the room and share the code. Everyone joins on their phone.
- 11:00. Start the case. Read the briefing out loud for drama.
- 11:50. Lock in accusations. No changing votes.
- 11:55. Reveal the killer, then get to the window for the countdown.
Friends in different time zones?
Pick one midnight and play to it. Everyone joins the same room from wherever they are, so the group on the East Coast can finish the case right as the West Coast pours the first glass. Then do it again three hours later if you are feeling ambitious.
Prefer paper? Crossfade
Crossfade is a printable murder mystery set on New Year's Eve 1977 in an Atlantic City disco, with two clocks in the building that do not agree. Five suspects, a sealed solution, and a countdown nobody can account for. $19.99, instant PDF.
CrossfadeFrequently asked questions
What is a good murder mystery game for New Year's Eve?
The Midnight Countdown is built for it: a New Year's Eve rooftop gala where the host dies during the countdown and every clock was set wrong. It plays in the browser with 2 to 8 people and takes under an hour.
Will we finish before midnight?
Yes, if you start by 11. The case takes about 45-55 min.
How many people can play?
2-8 per room. For a bigger party, open a second room and see which group gets it first.
Can we play with friends in other cities?
Yes. Everyone joins the same room from their own device, so you can play over a video call.
Is there a printable New Year's Eve murder mystery?
Yes. Crossfade is a printable kit set at a 1977 New Year's Eve disco. It downloads as a PDF as soon as you pay.
How much does it cost?
The host pays $4.99 for The Midnight Countdown, and guests play free. The printable Crossfade kit is $19.99.