Two new Cold Ledger Games mysteries come out before Halloween. Accident, Drink Involved, a cold case for one or two players, comes out on Monday, October 19, 2026. The Tenth Winter, a murder mystery party game for 8 to 20 players set at a company's year-end party, follows on Monday, October 26, 2026. Each one comes as a printable and a digital edition on the same day, on this site and on Etsy, at the same regular prices as the first pair: $6.99 for Accident, Drink Involved and $34.99 for The Tenth Winter.
They share a story. Ten winters ago a young distillery's co-founder went through the ice of a frozen lake after the company's first year-end party, and the ruling was accident, drink involved. The case file reopens that night, and the party game happens ten winters later, when the company holds its tenth year-end party in the same house. This page covers what each game is, when it comes out and what it costs, and nothing on it names a killer or an answer.
What is The Tenth Winter?
The Tenth Winter is a murder mystery party game for 8 to 20 players, and the host plays too. It is set at the company's tenth year-end party (there was no party the winter after the co-founder died), in the same house, beside the same frozen lake. The Cold Ledger, the true-crime podcast, is halfway through a two-part episode on the co-founder, and its researcher has been calling everyone who was at that first party. The founder has promised an announcement at the toast. She raises her glass, drinks, and never finishes the sentence.
If you have played The Hundredth Episode, the difference is the question you are answering. The Hundredth Episode asks where everyone was in sixty seconds of dark. The Tenth Winter asks who could reach what she drank, and when.
Is it a good murder mystery for an office holiday party?
It is set at one, which is the first thing to know. The Tenth Winter takes place at a company's year-end party: a founder, a toast, and a podcast asking questions about the company's first party. It plays with 8 to 20 people, and the host plays too, so whoever organizes the night doesn't have to sit it out. Like the first pair, it comes as a printable and as a digital edition, and it comes out on October 26, in time for a holiday party.
The other thing to know is that the story is a death at a company's party, played at a company's party. Some teams will enjoy exactly that and some won't, and you know yours.
If your party is before October 26, run The Hundredth Episode, the Cold Ledger party game that is out now: also 8 to 20 players, about three hours, or 90 minutes with the short format for a night with a hard stop, where everyone reads the evidence pack two days ahead. Its digital edition plays on everyone's phones, in one room, on a video call or both, and our article on the digital editions explains how. To run the printable in person, see How to Host a Murder Mystery Party at Home.
What is Accident, Drink Involved?
Accident, Drink Involved is the old case, as a cold case file for one or two detectives. Ten winters ago a young distillery threw its first year-end party at its founder's lake house. After midnight its co-founder went through the ice of the frozen lake. The ruling was accident, drink involved; the insurance on his life paid out, and the company survived on it. The game is The Cold Ledger's research file on the case, every document in it.
It is built like The Orpheum File: seventeen documents and four answers to commit to, for ages 16 and up; allow 60 to 90 minutes. Print it at home or play it in the browser. Content note: a death by drowning, and heavy drinking; no gore.
Do I need to play the case file first?
No. Each is a complete game with its own answer, and The Tenth Winter can be played without the case file. If you mean to play both, though, play Accident, Drink Involved first: the story begins there, and the old case comes up again at the tenth party.
When can I buy them, and what will they cost?
Accident, Drink Involved comes out on Monday, October 19, at a regular price of $6.99, printable or digital. The Tenth Winter follows on Monday, October 26, at a regular price of $34.99, printable or digital. Both will be sold on this site and on Etsy, like the first pair, and neither can be bought before its launch day.
The Hundredth Episode, The Orpheum File and the bundle are 20% off through October 31, and both new games launch inside that sale: Accident, Drink Involved at $5.59 from October 19, and The Tenth Winter at $27.99 from October 26.
What can I play while I wait?
Three Cold Ledger games are out now:
- The Hundredth Episode, a murder mystery party game for 8 to 20 players: about three hours, or 90 minutes with the evidence pack read two days ahead, printable or on everyone's phones, regularly $34.99. Also on Etsy.
- The Orpheum File, a cold case for one or two detectives: 60 to 90 minutes, printable or in the browser, regularly $6.99. Also on Etsy.
- The 90-Second Case, free in your browser: three short cases so far, each one screen: four exhibits, three statements and one lie.
The two paid games also come together as the Cold Ledger bundle, regularly $37.99, printable or as both digital editions, and on Etsy as the printable bundle and the digital bundle.
Frequently asked questions
When does The Tenth Winter come out?
On Monday, October 26, 2026, as a printable and a digital edition, on this site and on Etsy.
How many players is The Tenth Winter for?
8 to 20 players, and the host plays too.
Will The Tenth Winter work for an office holiday party?
It is set at a company's year-end party, for 8 to 20 people, and the host plays too. The story is a death at a company's party, so judge it for your team. If your party is before October 26, The Hundredth Episode is the Cold Ledger party game you can run now.
What is Accident, Drink Involved?
A cold case for one or two players from Cold Ledger Games, out on Monday, October 19, 2026: seventeen documents and four answers to commit to, about a co-founder who went through the ice of a frozen lake after his company's first year-end party, ten winters ago.
Do I need to play Accident, Drink Involved before The Tenth Winter?
No. Each is a complete game with its own answer. If you mean to play both, play Accident, Drink Involved first: the story begins there, and the old case comes up again at the party.
How much will they cost?
The regular price is $6.99 for Accident, Drink Involved and $34.99 for The Tenth Winter, and the digital edition of each costs the same as its printable.
What can I play now?
The Hundredth Episode, a murder mystery party game for 8 to 20; The Orpheum File, a cold case for one or two; the bundle of both; and the free 90-Second Case in your browser.