Guides · By occasion

Christmas Murder Mystery Party

A Christmas murder mystery solves the problem every December gathering has: a room full of people who have run out of things to say by the second drink. Give everyone a character and a secret, and the cousins who never talk are suddenly interrogating each other over the mulled wine.

It works for a family Christmas Eve, a friends’ Christmas dinner, or the office party where you need something better than Secret Santa. Set it up free, send the links, and run the rounds from your phone.

Set up this party, freePay $29 once, when you press Start. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Recommended mystery

Silent Night, Deadly Night

present day · 6–14 players · about 2 hours

Silent Night, Deadly Night is a Christmas Eve story: a family snowed in at Hollybrook Lodge, a fortune to inherit, and a Secret Santa that gives half the room an alibi. Ugly sweaters count as costumes.

Read the full mystery page

✓ 14 characters, choose 6–14 on the night
✓ Each guest gets a private link: character, secret, objectives
✓ Host runs three rounds from a phone; TV shows the clues
✓ Everyone votes on their phone; reveal on the screen
✓ Print view included as a backup

What the night looks like

Christmas Eve at Hollybrook Lodge. The Ashworth family is snowed in with a few guests, a will is about to be read, and the man playing Santa does not make it to the tree. Everyone has a reason to be glad, and everyone was somewhere during the Secret Santa.

Three rounds, then a vote, then the reveal on the TV. Fourteen characters, six of them core, so it plays with anything from six to fourteen people.

Plan two hours. It fits between dinner and dessert, or run a round per course.

Tips for a christmas murder mystery

Mixed ages? Pick the cast

You choose which characters are in play when you set the player count. Give the sharper roles to the people who will enjoy lying, and the gentler ones to relatives who just want to join in.

Tree lights on, overhead lights off

That is the whole décor plan. The Party Pack adds themed invitations, name tags, awards and a playlist if you want more.

Use the Secret Santa hat

The story has a Secret Santa exchange. If you run a real one on the night, do it between round one and round two. It is the best cover for a murder anyone has ever had.

Office party? Send links from one account

The host sets up the party and adds every guest. Nobody else needs an account or a download. It works in a meeting room with a screen just as well as in a living room.

Questions hosts ask

Is the Christmas mystery family-friendly?

It is written for adults and older teens. There is a death, some drinking, and a family affair in the backstory. No gore, no bad language.

Can we play it at the office Christmas party?

Yes. One host sets it up and adds the guests. Use a meeting-room screen for the clues. It runs about two hours, or shorter if you keep rounds to 15 minutes.

How many players?

Six to fourteen. Change the count on the night if someone cancels.

When should I set it up?

Any time. Setting up is free. You are only charged when you press Start on the night, so set it up now and stop worrying about it.

Set up your christmas party, free.

Two minutes to set up. Pay $29 once, when you press Start.

Set up a party, free