Want to throw a killer party this New Year’s? Well, what’s more killer than a New Year’s Eve murder mystery party?
This article has everything you need:
- 9 decoration ideas
- 10 menu ideas for a New Year’s Eve murder mystery party
- 5 New Year’s Eve murder mystery party games recommendations
If you’re more interested in a Christmas or holiday themed murder mystery, see our article on exactly that!
However, if you’re in the southern hemisphere for the festive season, you might also want to browse our summer themed murder mystery party guide.
9 New Year’s party decoration ideas
The first thing your guests will notice when they arrive is the venue decorations. You want the decorations to set a fun, vibey atmosphere—your guests must enjoy being in the space. But great decorations don’t have to cost a fortune.
For good ambience that’s affordable, try some of our decoration suggestions:
- Balloons! You can’t go wrong with this party classic. Bright balloons bobbing about are guaranteed to get everyone in a good mood. Try making a decorative balloon garland for bonus points!
- Paper and Foil Fans. You can create a really interesting looking wall display by hanging up paper and foil fans.
- Fairy Lights. Strings of twinkling fairy lights draped down curtains add a magical feeling to any murder mystery party at home.
- Paper Confetti. Paper confetti is an eco-friendly (and usually cheaper) alternative to plastic confetti.
- Paper Lanterns. Paper lanterns add festive cheer to any venue, whether they’re big or small. For extra vibe, place the lanterns over your light fixtures so the light shines through the colored paper.
- Photo Booth & Props. Set up a photo booth in the best-looking part of the venue, and have fun props like fake mustaches, sunglasses, and party hats for guests to pose with in their photos.
- Streamers. Drape streamers over curtain rails and furniture, or hang from the rafters.
- New Year’s Piñatas. A hanging piñata is fun all year round!
- Papel Picado. These sheets of paper cut into funky designs are a traditional Mexican craft. Try hanging a Papel Picado sheet in front of a light so the cut-out design casts bewitching shadows across the room, or against an empty wall.
Now that the venue is dressed for success, it’s time to plan your menu. Keep reading for our New Year’s Eve murder mystery party menu favorites!
10 menu ideas for a New Year’s Eve murder mystery party at home
Puzzling over clues can make your tummy grumble. And seeing as it’s New Year’s, chances are your guests are going to have a few (or a few too many!) drinks. So you better have a good spread of snacks and a hearty meal ready to satisfy those murderous appetites!
Here’s our list of excellent options for a New’s Year’s Eve murder mystery party menu.
- Stuffed Acorn Squash. Cut in half with the seeds scooped out, a squash makes a great little edible bowl. Before baking, fill each squash bowl with a mix of chopped sausage, veg, and rice!
- Stuffed Bell Peppers. Same idea as the entry before, but using green, yellow, or red bell peppers instead of squash.
- Pizza Slices. You can’t go wrong with a selection of pizzas. Let your guests pick ‘n choose, slice by slice.
- Puff-pastry Wrapped Pork. Everything feels more festive when it’s wrapped in puff-pastry! Try serving tender pork in pastry, served with a side of Brussels sprout slaw topped with almond flakes and grated pecorino.
- Kebabs. A tray of grilled kebabs make a quick ‘n easy finger food that can be served by itself or with a side of mash, salad, or rice.
- Slider Burgers. Small burgers are easier to handle and less messy than their big brothers. You can also prepare a few different toppings or sauces for a range of flavors.
- Cheese Platter, Dip, Jams & Crackers. A classic! Simply spread out a selection of gourmet cheeses, crackers, and artisanal bread slices. Serve with dips and jams of every kind!
- Bacon Cheese Ball & Crackers. Instead of a cheese platter with crackers, why not present your guests with a giant cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and sour cream ball studded with crispy bacon bits and spring onions?
- Air Fryer Steak Slices. Bound to be a hit, and quick and easy to make! Serve on its own, or with a crisp green salad and duchess potatoes (mashed potatoes mixed with egg yolks and piped into swirls before being baked).
- Pigs in a Blanket. A finger food favorite, these sausages wrapped in baked dough go really well with a mustard-butter dipping sauce.
When the menu is just right and the venue is bursting with ambience, all that’s left to do is choose the right game for your group of players. Keep reading to see our favorites.
New Year’s Eve murder mystery party game recommendations
We bet that by the end of the year you’re short on time, and in no mood to scour the internet for the perfect murder mystery game. No worries, we’ve got you covered!
Please note: We love Murder Mystery Parties. Besides giving advice we also write and sell games. In this article we feature our own games from our company Mysterando. If you want to help fund this site, please check out our games.
Simply choose one of these New Year’s Eve murder mystery party games. Browse ‘em all, they’re not arranged in any particular order, and there a wide range of themes to pick from.
Sin City Slayer (by My Mystery Party)
Las Vegas, baby! Celebrities, VIPs, media, and everyone who’s anyone will be at the Cosmo Casino and Resort tonight for a party like no other. And that’s exactly why the organizers are worried sick—there’s a serial killer stalking the Strip, and this Sin City Slayer targets events just like the one the Cosmo is hosting. And that’s where your story starts…
Players: 8-18 (can expand to 38, or expand again to 53+)
Price: From $48.95
Link:
mymysteryparty.com/sin-city-slayer-casino-murder-mystery/
Lights, Camera, Murder! (by Night of Mystery)
Millionaire Vanity Affair is hosting an exclusive party after the Academy Awards—and you’re invited! The afterparty is packed with acclaimed showbiz folk, and it promises to be a night of gossip, deals, schmoozing, and fun! But when a VIP guest is murdered, everyone present becomes a suspect—it’s up to you and the other party guests to decipher the clues and figure out whodunnit!
Players: 8-20 or 20-80
Price: From $60.00
Link:
nightofmystery.com/product/lights-camera-murder/
Gatsby’s Last Secret (by Mysterando)
New York City, 1925—smack bang in the middle of the Roaring Twenties! In the smoky interior of the legendary Flying Flapper speakeasy, it’s another Jazz Age wild weekend. Glittering guests dance to the riveting house band and business at the bar is booming—thanks to mafia connections and the chief of police turning a blind eye! Midnight comes and goes. But then a piercing scream freezes the dancers. Frank Fitz, the infamous owner, has just been found dead!
Players: 5-9
Price: From $19.90
Link:
mysterando.com/product/gatsbys-last-secret/
Last Stop: Murder (by Playing With Murder)
All aboard the lavish Oriental Express! But looking about, your fellow travelers all seem to be hiding something…and some are openly up to no good! Can any of them be trusted? When the train is snowed in and one of the passengers is found murdered, it’s up to you (and infamous inspector Pardot!) to crack the case.
Players: 10-15 or 15-100+
Price: From $49.95
Link:
playingwithmurder.com/last-stop-murder-p-788.html
Hatter’s Ball – A Murder Mystery (by My Mystery Party)
The mayor is hosting the Hatter’s Ball (the social event of the year) in the hopes of easing the tensions gripping this isolated town…and to guarantee herself more support in the upcoming mayoral election! Everyone’s attending, but not everyone is going in good faith…there are townsfolk with grudges to settle and a big event like this is the perfect setting for revenge…
Players: 8-18 or up to 130
Price: From $48.95
Link:
mymysteryparty.com/hatters-ball-a-murder-mystery-game/
You might also enjoy some of our other articles:
- The ULTIMATE guide to hosting a murder mystery party
- Host a Chocolate/Wine themed murder mystery party
Disclaimer: We haven’t played every single one of the games discussed. However, after being murder mystery party fans, players, and hosts for many years, we’ve gathered heaps of helpful advice and tips on how to play. In writing this article, we’ve conducted internet research to put together our top choices. We use affiliate links to Amazon, etc. This is how we help fund the site.