10 Best Murder Mystery Games for Your Next Party

10 Best Murder Mystery Games for Your Next Party

Planning a holiday party, company gathering, family get-together, or big group celebration? A murder mystery game can turn a regular party into an interactive experience where guests aren't just sitting around talking—they're part of the story.

The best murder mystery games give everyone a character, clues to uncover, secrets to reveal, and a reason to interact with the people around them. That makes them especially useful for holiday parties, corporate events, birthdays, family gatherings, and other celebrations where you want an activity that gets the whole group involved.

Broadway Murder Mysteries offers more than 30 themed mysteries, with digital downloads and physical game kits available for different types of groups and occasions.

If you're looking for the murder mystery games that are particularly well suited to the upcoming holiday season, here are 10 worth considering.

1. Holiday Horror: Murder at the Ugly Sweater Office Holiday Party

If you're planning a company holiday party, this one practically comes with its own theme.

Holiday Horror: Murder at the Ugly Sweater Office Holiday Party takes place during an office holiday celebration where employees are competing in an ugly sweater contest. The party takes an unexpected turn when Nepo Tasty, the owner's nephew, is found strangled with the sleeves of his own sweater.

The game is designed for 4–20+ characters, with additional guests able to participate as detectives. It takes approximately 1–2 hours to play and is available as both a digital download and physical game kit.

Best for: Office holiday parties, company celebrations, workplace gatherings, and groups that want a Christmas party theme with plenty of room for costumes and laughs.

Format: Digital and physical

If you're organizing a workplace event, this is also one of the easiest themes to build a full party around because the ugly sweater concept naturally gives guests something to wear and talk about before the mystery even begins.

2. Nutcracker Nightmare: Murder at the Ballet

For a holiday party with a theatrical twist, Nutcracker Nightmare: Murder at the Ballet brings the classic holiday ballet setting into a murder mystery.

The story takes place on opening night of a production of The Nutcracker. Just before the curtain rises, the show's star is found dead. Guests take on roles connected to the ballet company and work through the clues to figure out who is responsible.

The game takes approximately 1–2 hours to play and can be played in person or virtually. It includes character booklets, host guides, question materials, evidence, award certificates, invitations, and Zoom backgrounds.

Best for: Christmas gatherings, theater fans, family celebrations, and holiday parties looking for a more theatrical theme.

Format: Digital

Because the game is built around a ballet production, it's also easy to turn the party into a themed event with costumes, formalwear, music, or a holiday dinner.

3. Operation Save Santa

Want something more playful for a family gathering?

Operation Save Santa moves the mystery to the North Pole. It's December 23rd, Santa has disappeared, and everyone from elves and reindeer to Mrs. Claus is suddenly a suspect.

Instead of trying to solve a traditional murder, players work together to uncover who kidnapped Santa and save Christmas. The game is designed for 4–20+ characters, with extra guests able to participate as detectives. It takes approximately 1–2 hours to play and can be played virtually or in person.

Best for: Family gatherings, mixed-age groups, Christmas parties, and groups looking for a festive holiday activity.

Format: Digital

The North Pole setting also makes this one particularly easy to incorporate into a Christmas celebration. Add holiday decorations, Christmas music, and character costumes to make the mystery part of the larger party.

4. Murder By Midnight: A New Year's Eve Mystery

If your celebration continues all the way to December 31, Murder By Midnight: A New Year's Eve Mystery is built specifically for the occasion.

The story takes place on New Year's Eve at a vineyard and distillery in Champagne, France. Just as the celebration is getting underway, the patriarch of the DeBubbles family fortune turns up dead.

Players take on characters connected to the family, winery, and surrounding guests while trying to uncover who is responsible.

The game is designed for 4–20+ characters, takes approximately 1–2 hours, and includes materials for both in-person and virtual play.

Best for: New Year's Eve parties, family gatherings, friend groups, and holiday parties that continue between Christmas and New Year's.

Format: Digital and physical

It's also a natural fit for a dinner-party format, where the mystery can become the main activity between dinner and the midnight countdown.

5. Masquerade & Murder

If your holiday party calls for costumes, formalwear, and a little mystery, Masquerade & Murder offers a built-in reason for guests to dress up.

The story takes place at a mysterious masquerade party inside Retribution Manor. Guests arrive wearing masks without knowing exactly why they've been invited. As the night progresses, secrets begin coming to light—and eventually, someone turns up dead.

The game is available as both a digital download and physical game kit and can be played in person or virtually.

Best for: Adult holiday parties, formal celebrations, company events, costume parties, and groups that enjoy theatrical themes.

Format: Digital and physical

A masquerade theme can also give your event a strong visual identity. Encourage guests to wear masks, formal outfits, or character-inspired costumes to make the mystery feel like a complete event rather than simply a game.

6. Roaring 20's: Death By Bathtub Gin

For groups that want a vintage party atmosphere, Roaring 20's: Death By Bathtub Gin takes guests back to a 1923 speakeasy.

The occasion is a birthday party for bootlegger and ice cream tycoon Al Spumoni. After the lights go out, Al takes a sip of his drink and dies. The guests must determine which gangster, flapper, silent-film star, or other character could be responsible.

The game is designed for 4–20+ characters and takes approximately 1–2 hours. It is available as both a physical game kit and digital download.

Best for: Holiday parties, company celebrations, themed dinners, milestone celebrations, and groups that want an excuse to dress up.

Format: Digital and physical

A Roaring '20s theme works particularly well for holiday events because guests can turn the mystery into a full dress-up experience with flapper-inspired outfits, suits, jazz music, and vintage-inspired decorations.

7. 80s Mall Murder Madness

For a holiday party that doesn't feel like a traditional holiday party, take the group back to 1985.

80s Mall Murder Madness is set inside the Wiley Waterside Galleria Mall in Malibu. The mall's owner has been found dead in the fountain, and the suspects include shoppers, employees, a fashion designer, and other colorful characters.

The mystery is designed for 4–20+ characters, takes approximately 1–2 hours, and is available in both digital and physical formats.

Best for: Company parties, friend groups, holiday gatherings, retro-themed events, and groups that enjoy costumes.

Format: Digital and physical

The 80s setting also gives guests an easy costume prompt. Think big hair, bright colors, mall fashion, and vintage accessories.

8. Bullets On Broadway

For groups that love theater, Bullets On Broadway puts the mystery backstage at a Broadway production.

It's opening night of Murder in the First, but instead of celebrating a successful performance, the cast and crew discover that a Broadway producer has been shot backstage.

Guests take on characters connected to the production and work through the mystery while uncovering motives and secrets.

The game is designed for 4–20+ characters, takes approximately 1–2 hours, and can be played in person or virtually.

Best for: Company parties, theater fans, adult gatherings, Broadway-themed events, and groups that enjoy character-driven mysteries.

Format: Digital and physical

It's particularly fitting for a holiday event in a theater-loving group because the setting itself creates plenty of opportunities for costumes, dramatic character choices, and theatrical party décor.

9. Murder At The Roller Rink: An 80s Teen Murder Mystery

For a family gathering with older kids, teens, and adults, Murder At The Roller Rink offers a lighter retro setting.

The mystery takes place in 1988 at the Podunk Roller Rink, where teens, employees, former roller derby professionals, and other characters have all been brought together.

The game is available as a digital download and physical game kit and is designed around an 80s teen setting.

Best for: Family gatherings, mixed-age groups, retro-themed parties, and holiday gatherings where you want younger guests to participate.

Format: Digital and physical

The roller-rink theme can easily become a complete party concept with 80s music, retro snacks, costumes, and decorations.

10. Horror on the Haunted House Tour

For groups celebrating Halloween or hosting a holiday season that starts with a spooky October event, Horror on the Haunted House Tour is a natural choice.

The story follows a group of thrill-seeking tourists on a Halloween-night ghost tour. The group visits historic houses connected to mysterious murders while costumed actors recreate the crimes.

The game is available as a digital download, takes approximately 1–2 hours depending on group size, and is designed as an interactive mystery for groups.

Best for: Halloween parties, October gatherings, spooky corporate events, groups, and families looking for a Halloween activity.

Format: Digital

If your holiday party calendar begins with Halloween and continues through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, this gives you a themed option for the first major celebration of the season.

How to Choose the Right Murder Mystery Game for Your Party

With so many themes available, choosing a murder mystery game doesn't have to be complicated. Start with the type of event you're planning.

Consider Your Guests

Think about who will be attending and choose a mystery that matches the overall atmosphere you want to create. A family Christmas gathering might work well with a festive North Pole mystery, while a company holiday party could be a better fit for an office-themed or theatrical mystery.

Think About Your Group Size

Group size is another important factor. Many Broadway Murder Mysteries games use up to 20 scripted characters, while additional guests can participate as detectives.

That makes the format useful for larger holiday gatherings where not everyone necessarily needs a full character role.

Choose a Theme Your Guests Will Enjoy

The theme can make or break the party atmosphere.

For a Christmas gathering, consider Holiday Horror, Nutcracker Nightmare, or Operation Save Santa.

For New Year's Eve, Murder By Midnight naturally fits the occasion.

For a company party where costumes are encouraged, Roaring 20's, Masquerade & Murder, or 80s Mall Murder Madness can give guests a clear theme to play with.

Decide Between Digital and Physical

Broadway Murder Mysteries offers both digital downloads and physical game kits.

With a digital game, you can download the materials and prepare them yourself. Physical kits provide printed game materials for hosts who prefer having everything ready in physical form.

Many of the games can also be played either in person or virtually, making the format useful for groups that aren't all in the same location.

Explore the available digital murder mystery games if you want a downloadable option, or browse the physical murder mystery game kits if you'd rather host with printed materials.

Planning a Larger Holiday Party?

For larger company celebrations, office holiday parties, corporate events, or groups that don't want one of the guests to be responsible for hosting, there's another option.

Broadway Murder Mysteries offers private murder mystery events with professional hosts and actors. Guests become suspects and detectives while the host guides the group through the experience.

The private party experience is designed for events including corporate team building, office holiday parties, birthdays, and other special occasions.

If you want someone else to handle the entertainment, you can learn more about Broadway's hosted murder mystery experience.

Make Your Next Holiday Party a Mystery

A holiday party doesn't have to be another dinner, cocktail hour, or gift exchange.

A murder mystery gives your guests something to do together. They get characters to play, clues to investigate, secrets to uncover, and a reason to interact with people they might not normally spend time with.

Whether you're planning an office holiday party, a Christmas gathering with family, a New Year's Eve celebration, or a themed event with friends, the right murder mystery can turn the evening into an experience everyone remembers.

Browse Broadway Murder Mysteries' collection of murder mystery party games and find a theme that fits your group, your guests, and your upcoming celebration.