£17.00 – £25.00
Fun Christmas-themed murder mystery game. Easy-to-run and instant download for Face-to-Face or Virtual parties. No commercial use.
Play our Christmas murder mystery game for a great party of festive fun. The game is super easy to run so the host can enjoy playing one of the wonderfully over-the-top characters and sleuthing alongside guests.
Play with 6-12 players. Host plays too.
Age: suitable for adults and most 13+ teens (see Age and Sensibilities tab below).
Flexibly-scripted; play face-to-face.
Price: £17 - £25
Our other great festive game (6-14 players) = Is Santa Slayed?
It's the season of goodwill and residents of Yuletide Mountain gather for an XMAS party at the fun and festive Rizzi Reindeer Hotel.
Then Scrooge Von Miser is killed during the Secret Santa and guests find themselves trapped in a snowstorm with one or more killers.
A Christmas murder mystery party game that's great for office parties but also fun to play with family and friends. Perfect for winter nights and holiday gatherings.
Put on your favourite festive outfit for this Christmas murder mystery dinner party or party.
Yuletide Mountain is the home of all things Christmassy but no one is as nice as they seem. After all, what mean person would kill dear Scrooge? When guests start their own investigation into the homicide, they uncover blackmail, betrayals, rivalries, shady dealings - and murder ...
In this Christmas mystery game, murder and scheming lurk behind the tinsel and mince pies. And there's a murderer (or more) on the loose.
Whether in December or July, host an awesome Christmas mystery party your friends will remember.
This is a new mystery and so we just have one review so far. Some of the 210+ positive reviews for our other games include:
"To say we had a blast would be an understatement! The entire group enjoyed solving the murder mystery. It was one of the liveliest parties we attended."
Rashmi
"A brilliant evening had by my whole family to celebrate my mum’s 70th. We enjoyed dressing up and trying to work out who the murderer was! The script is easy to follow and there are so many suggestions and ideas to make the evening really fun and to be able to get into character. Would definitely recommend it."
Sharon
"Absolutely brilliant evening! Format, files and information provided led to it running really well; even though some us didn’t do any pre-reading before the night, it was still easy to pick up. Suggestions of decorations went down well. Only half of us managed to work out the ‘murderer’… Will definitely do again."
Andrew
Polite notes: please check how many wish to play BEFORE purchase. The two optional/minor characters are fully integrated but have slightly smaller roles.
Gender of 8 essential players: 3 females, 4 males, 1 neutral
Gender of 2 optional/minor players: 2 neutrals
Number of suspects: 8-10
Carol Singer - former hippie who owns the Yuletide Mountain cafe and is engaged to Rudolph.
Believes her Yuletide Mountain Carol Singers Choir will bring fame and fortune.
Peace babe. Mince pies and festive gingerbread, but I …
Rosa Rizzi – Rudolph's daughter and Scrooge's not-so-grieving widow; wannabe actress who some say married old Scrooge for his money.
Uses a fake "sweet little me" act to attract a string of different men.
Sweet little me loved my Scroogie Scrooge; ahi, ahi, ahi I am so upset now he’s dead. He was mio amore; can't you see how upset, how grief-stricken I am?
Sleigh de Crime – half of the best-selling author duo of festive crime novels and whodunnits.
A Goth who hides a creepy nature behind excessive politeness.
Luvvie darlings, how could you think our murder scenes are based on personal experience?
Jolly Holly – Australian private detective with secrets to hide. Loud and brash.
Organiser of the World's Largest Christmas Firework Festival.
Put a sock in it possum; you've got kangaroos loose in the top paddock if ya think ...
Professor Noel Nerdee – inventor of "cool" Christmassy gizmos and games
Takes the role of the mad, eccentric scientist to a whole new level; thinks telling awful jokes is cool.
I have to be innocent as I'm Noel and there’s no L in murder! Ha ha! Some cruel people call me Professor Nerd. I don’t know why as I tell such cool jokes!
Rafe Rizzi – former famous pop star of Italian descent; larger-than-life; now co-owner of the lively and flamboyant Rizzi Reindeer Hotel.
In conflict with Cousin Rudolph.
Ma va’! My singing is superbo – fantastico – way better than Rudolph’s. You all remember my famous Christmastime hit - I'll sing it for you later.
Rudolph Rizzi – former famous pop star of Italian descent; larger-than-life; now co-owner of the lively and flamboyant Rizzi Reindeer Hotel.
Engaged to Carol and in constant conflict with Cousin Rafe.
Mamma mia. I am the great, the superbo, Rudolph Rizzi. Little cousin Rafe was just my backing singer.
Major Von Miser – Scrooge's aunt/uncle; head of the internationally famous and obscenely rich Von Miser Corporation and member of the aristocratic German (or Austrian) Von Miser family.
Even more miserly than Scrooge, even more of a killjoy, even more snooty and disapproves of everything and everyone.
Bah. I am appalled – appalled – to find an aristocrat like myself at this vulgar and common hotel. Bah to you all.
Max Von Miser – Charity Director at the super-rich Von Miser Corporation.
Son/daughter of Major, cousin of Scrooge and as miserly and anti-fun as the rest of the family.
I see to it that those wretched charities don't get a single cent more than we need to give them. Pish to charities.
Snow de Crime – Research assistant for Sleigh's festive crime novels and whodunnits.
A Goth who hides a creepy nature behind excessive politeness.
Little lovey doves, I'm too charming, too polite, to say ...
Gender of 6 essential players: 2 females, 3 males, 1 neutral
Gender of 2 optional/minor players: 2 neutrals
Number of suspects: 6 - 8
Rosa Rizzi – Rudolph's daughter and Scrooge's not-so-grieving widow; wannabe actress who some say married old Scrooge for his money.
Uses a fake "sweet little me" act to attract a string of different men.
Sweet little me loved my Scroogie Scrooge; ahi, ahi, ahi I am so upset now he’s dead. He was mio amore; can't you see how upset, how grief-stricken I am?
Sleigh de Crime – best-selling author of festive crime novels and whodunnits.
A Goth who hides a creepy nature behind excessive politeness.
Luvvie darlings, how could you think my murder scenes are based on personal experience?
Jolly Holly – Australian private detective with secrets to hide. Loud and brash.
Organiser of the World's Largest Christmas Firework Festival.
Put a sock in it possum; you've got kangaroos loose in the top paddock if ya think ...
Professor Noel Nerdee – inventor of "cool" Christmassy gizmos and games
Takes the role of the mad, eccentric scientist to a whole new level; thinks telling awful jokes is cool.
I have to be innocent as I'm Noel and there’s no L in murder! Ha ha! Some cruel people call me Professor Nerd. I don’t know why as I tell such cool jokes!
Rudolph Rizzi – former famous pop star of Italian descent; larger-than-life; now co-owner of the lively and flamboyant Rizzi Reindeer Hotel.
Thinks he's a good chef.
Mamma mia! You all remember my famous Christmastime hit - I'll sing it for you later.
Major Von Miser – Scrooge's aunt/uncle; head of the internationally famous and obscenely rich Von Miser Corporation and member of the aristocratic German (or Austrian) Von Miser family.
Even more miserly than Scrooge, even more snooty and disapproves of everything and everyone.
Bah. I am appalled – appalled – to find an aristocrat like myself at this vulgar and common hotel. Bah to you all.
Max Von Miser – Charity Director at the super-rich Von Miser Corporation.
Son/daughter of Major, cousin of Scrooge and as miserly and anti-fun as the rest of the family.
I see to it that those wretched charities don't get a single cent more than we need to give them. Pish to charities.
Rafe Rizzi – former famous pop star of Italian descent; larger-than-life; now co-owner of the lively and flamboyant Rizzi Reindeer Hotel.
Cousin of Rudolph.
My singing is superbo – fantastico – so much better than Rudolph's. And my cooking is w-a-a-y better than Rudolph's.
This Christmas mystery game is so easy to run as most people already have their homes decorated in time for the big day on December 25th. And the shops are laden with goodies - everything from turkey and cranberry sauce to mince pies and mulled wine.
No additional decorations are needed - just gather friends and family together and have fun.
But the mystery game IS set at an XMAS party inside a "Christmastime-all-year" reindeer-themed hotel on top of the snow-covered Yuletide Mountain! The game lends itself to decorating areas of your home as the run-up to Scrooge's sad homicide features a treasure hunt through the hotel's different rooms. A few of the featured ones are the Reindeer Dining Room, Christmas Tree Lounge, Winter Wonderland Atrium and North Pole Entrance Hall. Each room offers so many possibilities for inventive decorations.
Choose whether to offer a sit-down dinner party or a buffet; choose whether to offer fun party food or an elegant dining experience. Either option can work well.
Think turkey, winter fruits such as cranberries, figs, dates and pomegranates, "Christmas stocking" fruits such as oranges or clementines or roasted chestnuts.
The murder mystery is set at an XMAS party in the fun and flamboyant Rizzi Reindeer Hotel and features a canape treasure hunt throughout the hotel. Rudolph claims to be a great cook and thinks it amusing to offer such "appetising" starters as Reindeer Poop Drops! As a fun optional start to your party, have a tray or two of aptly-named canapes. For example, The "Reindeer Poop Drops" could be chocolate-covered raisins, crunchie bar pieces or peanuts; savoury alternatives include miniature meatballs with a brown barbecue sauce.
Alternatively, skip the canapes or offer something simple (and more appetising) such as bamboo skewers with cheese squares, mini tomatoes or grapes and then add a seasonal touch with either pitted dates or dried, sweetened cranberries.
Nothing speaks of Christmastide like roasted chestnuts so try a bowl of chestnut soup with fancy bread. Garnish the soup with a swirl of fresh cream and some dried cranberries.
For a cold festive starter, arrange vegetables, cheese cubes, prawns or cold meats in the shape of a Christmas wreath; add a dish of dressing in the middle and garnish with a large bow. Or arrange them in the shape of a Christmas tree or star and use colourful foods such as mini tomatoes or red grapes as decorations; mini red bows can add a further decorative touch.
The traditional roast turkey with trimmings is hard to serve when you're enjoying yourself as a suspect in a murder game! Try a hot meal that can be prepared largely in advance for stress-free catering:
Use vegetables that can be largely pre-cooked and then reheated while guests are playing the initial parts of the murder game - for example, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes or mashed carrots and swede.
Red cabbage dishes are ideal make-ahead party pleasers that can be prepared the day before and then simply reheated. Choose whether to flavour your red cabbage dish with cinnamon, nutmeg, apples and brown sugar or whether to try a seasonal mix with mulled port and pears or red wine, cinnamon and star anise.
Add other vegetables such as peas that are super-quick to cook using pre-boiled water. (Tip: boil the kettle at the end of the starters so that it can reboil and cook the peas in the time it takes your guests to sit back at the dinner table.)
Festive favourite: Brussel sprouts. Tip: if you remove the stalks and outer leaves of Brussel Sprouts and then cut a cross in them to enable the heat to penetrate them quicker, they can boil in 2-5 minutes. Important: to avoid smells, cook quickly and do not overboil.
Turkey: cold sliced turkey served with cranberry and port sauce and cold stuffing. Turkey and cranberry sandwiches. Turkey and cranberry bites, turkey and cranberry pie.
Salad: why not try a large bowl of winter slaw. Or try Nadiya Hussain's unusual brussel sprout slaw. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/brussels_sprout_slaw_67898) Or opt for a zingy and colourful sweet and sour slaw with Nigela Lawson's recipe that you can prepare largely in advance and then toss the dressing through up to two hours before serving. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sweet_and_sour_slaw_07245)
Fruits: cranberry and brie tartlets or pinwheels. Dates stuffed with goat's cheese, blue cheese or Stilton and garnished with pistachios, prosciutto, bacon or good veggie "bacon". Sprinke pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries or clementine segments on top of your preferred salad.
Arrange normal food in a festive way: have tear and share bread in the shape of a Christmas tree, a star or a wreath. Use a festive cookie cutter set to turn sandwiches, melon slices, cookies, cakes etc into seasonal shapes. Turn savoury staples such as mini sandwiches and cheeseballs or sweet treats such as brownies, doughnut pops and mini cupcakes into reindeer finger foods by adding a few easy decorations. Add Pretzels to create reindeer ears and red smarties, raspberries, red grapes or mini tomatoes to create a red nose. For the eyes, either buy googly eyes or else melt white chocolate and drop it into small circle shapes and then put a milk chocolate drop in the middle to create the eyeball.
You can't go wrong with favourites such as yule logs, mince pies, gingerbread cookies, Christmas cake or Christmas pudding. Or try adding a seasonal twist to old favourites with Christmas pudding ice cream or mince pie traybakes.
For a sophisticated and healthy touch that still keeps a seasonal twist, try fruit poached in mulled wine, cinnamon and vanilla. Or a mulled wine jelly topped with pannacotta or ice cream.
Many of your favourite desserts can be made with cranberries for an unusual festive treat: cranberry lemon pound cake, dark chocolate and cranberry bundt cake, cranberry upside down cake, walnut and cranberry pie, cranberry chocolate brownies or homemade cranberry and pomegranate jelly topped with clementine jelly.
Chestnuts can make an unusual mousse or can be mixed with chocolate for a chestnut and chocolate cake.
Choose from mulled wine, eggnog, cranberry cocktail, classic snowball, wassail, hot buttered rum, cranberry Mimosa or a festive punch.
For non-alcoholic drinks, try using cranberry or clementine juice to make a seasonal non-alcoholic punch or mocktail. For example, mix cranberry juice, sparkling white grape juice and orange juice for a cranberry spritz. Or make a clementine, mint and orange-blossom water mock mojito.
Instead of standard teas and coffees, why not finish your dinner party or party with gingerbread hot chocolates - with or without the extra whipped cream and crumbled gingerbread topping?
You don't have to buy costumes to enjoy the game. In the run-up to December 25th, so many festive ornaments are about that a strand or two of tinsel and a bauble or two can transform an ordinary outfit. Many players simply add a seasonal touch to an existing outfit.
But if you want to win the Best Costume award, then the suggestions in the characters' pre-party booklets give you plenty of scope to get creative!
Carol Singer
Mix an XMAS costume of choice with some touches of a hippie.
Lady Ivy Tinsel-Tomkins
Stylish festive outfit as befits an aristocrat. Tinsel strands are an obvious addition.
Jolly Holly and Polly Holly
Any form of Christmassy costume, the more outlandish and colourful the better.
Major Von Miser and Max Von Miser (Scrooge's relatives)
Think of a Scrooge costume: Victorian and dark colours. If a man: black suit and tie with top hat and cane. If a woman: dark evening dress, dark shawl, optional top hat or Victorian bonnet.
Professor Noel Nerdee
Think mad professor meets XMAS. Add an "eccentric" addition or two to a festive costume; a Christmas jumper might be great. A mad professor wig and glasses are fun additions.
Rafe Rizzi and Rudolph Rizzi
Any form of fun, over-the-top Christmassy costume but maybe think reindeer! A homemade reindeer costume is easy using brown sweats and a long-sleeved brown t-shirt or jumper. Optionally add white or cream felt spots to the front and a cord tail to the back of the sweats. Brown antlers can be cut out of cardboard and felt and added to a headband. Optional red nose.
Rosa
Any Christmassy costume – a Mrs Claus outfit, fairy, elf etc. Choose whether to go for the glamorous, fun, tarty or “little innocent me” look.
Sleigh de Crime and Snow de Crime
Mix Goth and XMAS. Goth fashions include black, dark purple and scarlet colours with velvets, leather, lace, fishnets, period or fetish clothes. Long, black hair – purple streaks and bows optional. Pale foundation with dark eyeliner, lipstick and nail varnish. Lace gloves and dangly jewellery. Seasonal additions include an XMAS headband, tinsel or baubles.
The game is written for adults but is suitable for most teens 13+.
Mild Flirting
There are affairs and opportunities to flirt BUT the suggested dialogue is very mild. Several characters are having - or have had - relationships but no explicit dialogue is given.
One character (Scrooge's widow, Rosa) is said to be chasing after different men; she denies this and no explicit details are given.
The Host Instruction booklet gives clear indications as to the relationship between the characters so you can cast your guests in the right roles.
Mild Violence
Scrooge was murdered by a poison spray before the party begins.
One character is an alleged serial killer. (Two characters have this role in larger versions of the party.) There are no gory details and everything is kept light-hearted.
There are allegations (denied) that some characters are trying to kill another character.
Alcohol
There are only mild passing references to alcohol. There are no mentions of drugs.
Language
There is no bad language.
Sensitive Subjects
This is intended as a light-hearted, fun whodunnit game. Scrooge was killed by a poison spray hidden inside a Santa in the Box toy given to him during a Secret Santa. The method of killing was chosen to be far removed from the average homicide and most people will be happy to play along.
If you or one of your guests have lost a loved one due to poisoning, or due to a serial killer, however, this may not be the right game for you.
Create a Christmassy Soundtrack - and Add Seasonal Spirit to your Soirée
Create a lively festive soundtrack to get your guests into the party spirit as soon as they arrive - and also use this as a backdrop to your awards ceremony. Well-known and fun songs include I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday (Wizzard), Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney), Merry XMAS Everybody (Slade) and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Mel & Kim - or Brenda Lee depending on the age of your guests). Then there are the age-old favourites such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Gene Autry), Santa Claus is Coming to Town (numerous singers such as Jackson 5, Bruce Springsteen or Michael Bublé), Frosty the Snowman (Gene Autry and the Cass County) and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (The Ronettes).
Gentler classics to play while waiting for food to be ready include Mistletoe and Wine (Cliff Richard), Mary's Boy Child (Boney M), A Winter's Tale (David Essex), Hallelujah (Alexander Burke), Winter Wonderland (Tony Bennett), It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams), Santa Baby (Madonna), Walking in the Air (Aled Jones) and the ever-famous White Christmas (Bing Crosby).
Optional Alternative Festive Singing
The game is supplied as a standalone mystery game that will keep your guests engaged and amused throughout the evening. For those who wish to extend the fun - or for those wishing to play the game on Boxing Day or New Year's Eve when guests are expecting to stay longer - we provide a totally optional "alternative" version of The Twelve Days of Christmas that you can sing in teams or as individuals as you wish.
Full host instructions to throw a wonderful Christmas murder game. The instructions come in an attractive booklet and there are separate host instructions for face-to-face and virtual games. Instructions include pre-party planning and admin, notes on casting players as different characters, the format of the evening with the host's actions highlighted in red, a suggested Crimbo playlist with ideas for seasonal decorations and food.
View Host Instructions For Face-to-Face Party
View Host Instructions for Virtual Party
Included in your party pack are printouts that will help transform your home into the Christmastime-all-year Rizzi Reindeer Hotel. Also posters for some of the party themes such as campaigns to protect Yuletide Mountain - and other posters aimed at promoting the mountain as a tourist resort.
Just one fold and you have an attractive A5 booklet with borders and an easy-to-read font. The front page, a copy of Yuletide Mountain News, gives a bite-sized introduction to the murder mystery background.
View Sample Invitation for Face-to-Face Parties
The specially themed festive Party Invitation is supplied as a Word document with editable fields and a Christmassy frame.
A short MP3 audio introduction to set the scene; a short MP3 audio solution in addition to the optional Whodunnit round. Should you have any problems, there is a printed backup.
These are suitable for both beginners and experienced crime-solvers! The round prompts CAN be read like a script (ideal for those who find ad-libs difficult). More out-going guests, however, can use their own words and ad-lib as much as they wish.
These neat A5 booklets include the game instructions specially tailored for this mystery, map, round prompts, accusation sheet and optional interactive whodunnit round in one easy-to-print booklet for each character. They are attractive to look at with a Christmassy font, colours and small images.
Clues enable evidence to be presented in bite-sized chunks. They are referenced in the party booklets so players know when to read them.
Certificates for the best actor, best costume, best solution and best food are in the mystery's festive style. Optionally, you can provide prizes as well - festive baubles, tinsel strands, fancy chocolates, a bottle of mulled wine or festive artisan soaps are just some ideas.
These all follow the game's attractive Christmassy theme.
Themes: Christmas, party.
Murder Mid-Party?: No
Host Plays a Character?: Yes
Format: optional initial mingling session, 6 rounds (flexible "script" where players can substitute own words, ad-lib and don't know what others will say) optional interactive whodunnit
Availability: instant download on payment receipt (pdfs + 2 audio MP3 files with a printed fallback + editable Word invitations & menus); supplied in zip files
Essential Printing Required by host or guests (unless players use a device to read): invites, pre-party booklets and party booklets = 6 A4 pages per player (if double-sided) or 12 A4 pages per player (if single-sided). There are also 8 pages of essential clues. We provide other optional files that players and hosts can if they wish print.
File Sizes: 3 essential zip files (2100-2700KB, 3500-4100KB, 7400-8600KB) two audios plus two optional zip files (11000KB and 4300KB)
Time: 1.75 - 3+ hours (depends on party size and number of ad-libs); food and chatting breaks in addition
Age: Adult; most Teenagers 13+ (See Age & Sensitivities above).
Type: face-to-face or virtual.
Dinner Party: 6 - 8 Players - 2 females, 3 males, 1 - 3 neutrals (£17)
Dinner Party: 8 - 10 Players - 3 females, 4 males, 1 - 3 neutrals (£21)
Party: 10 - 12 Players - 5 females, 5 males, 2 neutrals (£25)
Cost: £17 - £25 (payment via PayPal)
Discount for an additional version (different number of players) of THIS mystery: 40% discount. (Please email us via our contact form if this is required.)
Adrian Balaam –
What a hoot, a fantastic evening of fun and murder…
Best one yet, be ready to don your Christmas outfits and solve the murder of Scrooge.
Get into the whole scene and try new accents, even if like me you’re rubbish at them, it makes it soo much more fun.
Thanks to Maple Mystery Games for yet another brilliant, well-written and easy-to-follow mystery…