A Killer Cup of Cocoa: 1970s Holiday Murder Mystery Party Game for 8–20 Players (Instant Download)

A cozy 1978 Minnesota murder mystery for your holiday party. Run the whole game from one screen, with no prep binder and no reading ahead.

Vesper Lake, Minnesota, December 16, 1978. At the Winter Festival Committee's holiday party, chair Lolly Gustafson raises her red mitten mug for her annual toast. An hour later she collapses, twenty minutes before her big announcement. The sheriff calls it heart failure.

Your guests were in the room. Everyone has something to hide. One of them is a killer.

How it works

• The Host Console runs the night. Open one file in any browser, on a laptop, tablet or TV. It casts your guests, makes their character cards, runs a timer for each round, puts the evidence on screen, counts the votes, and reveals the solution one proof at a time. It works offline and uploads nothing.
• You can play too. Tick "I'm playing too," and the console hides every role from you, including the killer.
• No reading ahead. Each guest gets their own card file, and Rounds 2 and 3 stay locked until you unlock them.
• It scales. 8 core characters, plus witness roles for guests 9–20. Uncast witness statements appear on screen automatically, so a small group still gets every clue.
• About 75 minutes in party mode, or a full evening with supper and dessert breaks.

What's included

• Host Console (single HTML file, works offline)
• Host Guide (PDF)
• Evidence Pack: a printable backup of every clue, plus accusation ballots and a sealed solution (PDF)
• Name tags, award certificates and Detective's Cards (PDF). Every guest goes home with a free 10-minute mystery.

Good to know

• Cozy, not gory. No alcohol (it's cocoa), no romance, nothing graphic. The death happens offstage.
• Characters work for any gender. Costumes optional.
• A digital download. Nothing ships, and you can print at home.
• Groups over 20, or playing at work? Get the Office / Team edition.

Fiction. Story, characters, puzzles and host instructions written with AI, then tested for one fair solution.