Games / New Year Games
New Year games
Two kinds of games suit the New Year. On New Year's Eve you want something the whole room can play while you wait for midnight. On January 1 you might want a small daily habit for the year ahead, or a new game to finally learn properly. We have both, free in your browser.
Waiting for midnight
Pass one phone around the room · 5 games
10 minSavesPipfold
Five dice gameRoll five dice up to three times and fill a 13 box scorecard. Expected-value advice, five house players, pass and play, online with a friend and a Daily Tray.
10 minSavesFoxglove Farkle
FarkleRoll six dice, set aside the scorers and push your luck or bank. Real odds on every roll, Classic or Old style rules, five house players, pass and play, online with a friend and a Daily Posy.
10 minSavesMarigold Mini Golf
Mini golfReal 3D mini golf on six hand made courses: windmills, a pirate cove, temple gates, a ski lift, neon bumpers and a volcano. House players, pass and play, online with a friend and a Daily Nine.
10 minSavesPrimrose Paddocks
Dots and BoxesDraw a line, close a box, go again. Dots and boxes on notebook paper with a critter in every paddock: boards 3x3 to 8x8, five house players up to a chain expert, hints, undo and a game review, pass and play for 2 to 4, online with a friend and a Daily Paddocks.
A daily puzzle for the new year
A new one every day, the same for everyone · 7 games
10 minSavesWrenword
Mini CrosswordA fresh 5x5 mini crossword every day and a 7x7 Weekend Grid. Fair clues with no obscure words, our own phone keyboard, check and reveal, streaks and a full archive.
10 minSavesNinebark Sudoku
SudokuClassic sudoku from Easy to Master, rated by the techniques each puzzle needs. Hints that explain the next step, notes, unlimited undo and a daily sudoku with streaks.
2 minInchword
Grow a wordTuck one letter leaf at a time into a little word until it grows long. Every step must be a real word. A new puzzle every day.
Learn a game properly this year
Lessons, hints and reviews built in · 4 games
Long playSavesKingsway Chess
ChessTravel the Kingsway and beat 30 rivals, up to an opponent no human has beaten. Puzzles, hints and game review, all free.
10 minSavesBridge Brook
Contract bridgeContract Bridge with a friendly computer partner. A bidding helper teaches as you play, then cross eight little bridges of lessons and play the Daily Deal against the house tables.
Games for New Year's Eve
The hour before midnight goes fastest with a game everyone can join. Dice games are perfect for it: Pipfold and Foxglove Farkle take two to four players on one phone, and a game fits nicely between snacks. Marigold Mini Golf and Primrose Paddocks work the same way.
From December 31 to January 6, Copper Pot Kitchen has a New Year menu with Confetti Cake and Cheese Puffs, plus a Party Popper keepsake to earn. The dates follow the calendar on your own device.
Start a daily puzzle habit
A New Year's resolution is easier to keep when it takes five minutes. Our daily puzzles are new every day and the same for everyone, so you can compare with friends and family:
- Wrenword: a 5 by 5 mini crossword every day and a bigger 7 by 7 Weekend Grid, with fair clues, streaks and a full archive.
- Letter Lantern: guess the hidden five letter word in six tries.
- Ninebark Sudoku: a Daily Sudoku with streaks for solving on back to back days.
- Inchword: grow a word one letter at a time, with a new puzzle every day.
See them all on our daily puzzles page.
Learn something new
If this is the year you finally learn chess or bridge, these games teach as you go. Kingsway Chess has 30 computer rivals that get stronger along the road, plus puzzles, a daily puzzle and game reviews. Bridge Brook has a bidding helper that explains every call and eight little bridges of short lessons. Bracken Backgammon has hints and a game review, and Crown Jump Checkers has a world tour of checkers rivals.
Winter Lights ends January 4
Our winter event, Winter Lights, runs into the new year. If you're close to a keepsake or the Lantern Owl at the end of the winter path, the first days of January are a good time to finish.
Questions
What games can we play on New Year's Eve?
Pipfold, Foxglove Farkle, Marigold Mini Golf and Primrose Paddocks all take two to four players on one phone. They're quick to learn and easy to play between snacks.
Do you have New Year themed games?
Copper Pot Kitchen has a New Year menu from December 31 to January 6, with Confetti Cake, Cheese Puffs and a Party Popper keepsake. The other picks here are games that suit the season rather than New Year themes.
What's a good daily puzzle to start?
Wrenword's mini crossword takes a few minutes, and Ninebark Sudoku and Wrenword both keep a streak for back to back days.
Are these games free?
Yes. They're free in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer.