Christmas Murder Mystery Games
The turkey's in the oven, the sherry's flowing, and someone in a paper crown has just been accused of murder. A Christmas murder mystery game turns an ordinary festive gathering into the evening everyone talks about until next December — part whodunit, part panto, entirely yours to host at the dining table.
Whether you're wrangling a rowdy work do, a full extended-family Christmas, or a cosy night for four, there's a case here to fit the guest list. Each game hands your guests a character, a costume steer and a secret, then lets the accusations fly over dinner. No acting experience required — just a willingness to point the finger at your own mother-in-law.
Which Christmas murder mystery is right for your party?
The trick to a brilliant night is matching the game to the crowd. Here's how our festive cases break down.
By occasion
- The office Christmas party — reach for the Ugly Christmas Jumper Office Party. It's built for colleagues who don't all know each other well, leans into the naff-knitwear dress code, and gives even the quietest member of the team an easy way in.
- Family Christmas at home — A Christmas Carol (the Bob Scratchitt whodunit) wraps the mystery in a Dickensian setting the whole table will recognise, from grandparents to teenagers.
- Something with a twist — Santa's Workshop Heist (A Christmas Crime) swaps the corpse for a caper at the North Pole, and the Polar Express Christmas train mystery sets the whole affair in motion aboard a snowbound sleeper. Both are crowd-pleasers when you want festive without the funeral.
By player count
Our festive titles come in editions sized for different headcounts, so nobody's left without a character:
- 4–8 players — the intimate dinner. Ideal for a close family meal or a small gathering of friends where everyone gets a meaty role.
- 4–14 players — the classic Christmas dinner party, with room for the in-laws and the neighbours.
- 4–20 players — the big one. Perfect for a sprawling office do or a full extended-family Christmas where the guest list keeps growing.
Pick the edition that matches your maximum expected turnout — extra characters can sit out gracefully, but you can't conjure roles you didn't print.
How a Christmas murder mystery party actually runs
You don't need to be a director to pull this off. In practice, hosting looks like this:
- Send the invites. Each guest learns their character and a costume nudge in advance — a Santa hat and a smug expression will usually do.
- Set the scene. Print the materials, pour the mulled wine, and let people arrive in character (or not — nobody's marking you).
- Play over dinner. The mystery unfolds in rounds between courses, so the game paces itself around the food rather than competing with it.
- Make the accusation. Everyone names their suspect before the culprit is revealed — and the arguing over who missed the obvious clue lasts well into the Baileys.
Most games run a comfortable two to three hours, which slots neatly around a Christmas meal.
More festive mysteries to explore
If a full host-led dinner party isn't quite the vibe, the range stretches further:
- Christmas cold case files — solo or small-group sleuthing through evidence at your own pace, no hosting required.
- Games for winter — the wider seasonal collection for the whole cold-and-cosy stretch, not just the 25th.
- New Year's Eve murder mystery games — keep the party going and see out the year with one last case to crack.
New to hosting? Our guide to how to host a murder mystery party walks you through every step.
Frequently asked questions
How many people do I need for a Christmas murder mystery game?
As few as four and as many as twenty, depending on the title. Each game is sold in editions sized for different crowds — typically 4–8, 4–14 and 4–20 players — so you choose the one that fits your guest list. Aim for your maximum likely turnout: spare characters can sit out, but you can't add roles that weren't included.
Which game is best for a work Christmas do?
The Ugly Christmas Jumper Office Party is purpose-built for the office. It suits colleagues who don't all know each other, uses the festive-jumper dress code as an easy icebreaker, and scales up to larger editions for a full team. It keeps things light and inclusive rather than putting anyone on the spot.
What's a good murder mystery for a family Christmas?
A Christmas Carol — the Bob Scratchitt whodunit — is the go-to for a mixed-age family table, with a Dickensian setting everyone recognises. For a lighter, more caper-style evening, Santa's Workshop Heist (A Christmas Crime) and the Polar Express Christmas train mystery both bring festive fun without a grisly tone.
How long does a Christmas murder mystery party last?
Most games run around two to three hours. Because the mystery plays out in rounds between courses, it paces itself naturally around a Christmas dinner rather than demanding a separate block of the evening.
Can I play a Christmas murder mystery over Zoom?
Yes. These games work well for remote and hybrid gatherings, so a family spread across the country or a distributed team can still solve the case together over a video call.
Do I need acting experience to host or play?
Not at all. Every guest gets a clear character brief and their lines are guided throughout, so confident performers and shy first-timers both have an easy way in. Your job as host is to pour the drinks and keep the rounds moving — the game does the heavy lifting.
Are these instant games or physical kits?
Both. Some titles are available to start straight away, while physical game kits are dispatched locally for your market — the USA, the UK and beyond — so you can pick whichever format suits your Christmas plans.
What if I want something other than a hosted dinner party?
The festive range goes wider than the dining table. Try the Christmas cold case files for self-guided sleuthing, browse games for winter for the whole season, or roll straight into New Year's Eve murder mystery games to see out the year.