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There Might Be No Christmas
$39.95
Add intrigue to your next party with this mystery game, set at a the North Pole.
Format:
30 Minute Mystery
Setting:
The North Pole
Time:
30+ minutes
Ages:
Family / Children
Players:
Play with Printed Sheets or the App
Hosts have the choice of playing the game with printable documents or using the PWM Party Assistant app
View app gameplay guide
Play In-Person or Over Video Chat
You can host this game in-person or over video chat. The game is built to be run either way!
Santa’s presents are gone! We need them back tonight!
Backstory
Your guests will play the roles of various inhabitants of the North Pole, including elves, reindeer, snowmen, and other creatures from Christmas folklore. Santa Claus has summoned everyone to his workshop. The normally jolly old man has a stern look on his bearded face as he solemnly tells us that his workshop has been broken into and his magic sack of Christmas presents has been stolen! Without the sack, there can be no Christmas.
Solving the Mystery
Santa has called everyone to gather because they are under suspicion of theft! One of the helpers is responsible, and the group needs to find out who. There’s no time to spare; it’s Christmas Eve, and if the sack of toys isn’t recovered soon, Santa won’t be able to deliver presents to all the good little boys and girls!
There are 8 primary characters in this game. Read the "How to Play" section for instructions on how to play this game with more than 8 people.
* = Optional character
- Donner: One of Santa's eight tiny reindeer, Donner is well known for his frequent complaints regarding the difficulty of the Christmas sleigh flight.
- Ivan Blizzard: Lead Foreman at the Toy Factory, Ivan is an enthusiastic go-getter whose utter devotion to Christmas has never been questioned.
- Ernest Winters: One of Santa's elves, Ernest's enthusiasm for Christmas has notably waned in the past six months.
- Kristina Kringle: Also known as the Christmas Fairy, Kristina Kringle was once a famous holiday icon; some suspect that she is bitter that Santa Claus has stolen her glory.
- Caroline Claus: Mrs. Claus is Santa's wife and second-in-command; she is one of the most beloved inhabitants of the North Pole.
- Tonya Baum: A beautifully decorated singing Christmas tree planted outside the Toy Factory, Tonya is a gentle soul who always has a kind word and a Christmas carol for any passersby.
- Jacky Frost: An animated snowwoman brought to life by an enchanted hat, Jacky Frost is responsible for imbuing all of Santa's toys with a dash of Christmas magic.
- The Krampus: Santa's least-beloved helper, the Krampus is the monster who brings coal and switches to the children on Santa's "naughty" list.
Extra Players
- *Investigator: If you have more than 8 players, additional players have the option of playing the role of "Investigators". In this role the players are not suspects and do not have character backgrounds but can question the suspects and try to solve the mystery along with the other players.
This game kit includes:
- Hosting guide – Guidebook that takes you through all the steps for running the game
- Character sheets – Information sheets for eight unique characters and one generic “Investigator” character
- Name cards – Printable name cards that can be placed in front of players for in-person games (optional)
- Introductory Handout – A brief description of the game that can be sent to your guests ahead of the event (optional)
- Invitation template – Printable template that can be used to send paper invitations to your guests (optional)
Our line of 30 Minute Mysteries is specially designed for fast setup and easy play, whether your playing in-person or virtually over video chat.
All you need to do is:
- Gather a group of players
- Distribute character sheets
- Follow the party guide instructions
If you’re playing in person, you have the option of printing out the hosting script and character sheets, or you and your guests may view them on your electronic devices.
Best of all, the party facilitator can choose whether they join in the game and solve the mystery along with the other guests!
Playing the Game
While this mystery has 8 primary characters, it is designed to accommodate any number of additional players. See the “Expanded Game for Large Groups” section below if you have more than 8 players.
Each of the players will be assigned a character and given a character sheet that explains who or what their character is, what information their character knows, and how their character should respond to events that occur during the game.
The game will progress in rounds.
Round One will start with the party’s host or hostess reading a script that explains the nature of the mystery that is afoot. After the introduction is read, each player at the table will share a piece of information from their character sheet, which will often be met by a response from another player.
Round Two begins with the host sharing a clue that should shed further light on the mystery. After the clue is revealed, the players will once again go around, providing another piece of information.
Round Three, the final round, begins with the host sharing the last clue. The players then go around the table a final time, sharing their last piece of information.
By this point, the players should have enough information to piece together a theory about who was responsible for the crime. Everyone will vote for the culprit, which the host will then reveal. Any player or couple who correctly guessed the identity of the killer is declared a winner.
From start to finish, the game typically requires half an hour to complete.
What Do I Need in Order to Play?
Our 30 Minute Mysteries are specifically designed to not require very much in the way of supplies. All you need is:
- Playing area
- In-person – Table to sit around or large playing area where the guests can sit in a circle
- Virtual – Video chat room (links to 3rd-party providers like Zoom included in game)
- A group of players (minimum 8 people)
- Access to a printer or electronic device (so you can distribute game materials)
Expanded Game For Large Groups
If you have more than 8 players, there are three ways that you can accommodate everyone:
- Investigator Role – Using this method, eight guests play the primary characters while the remainder of the guests each play the Investigator role. Players in this role are not suspects and do not have character backgrounds but can question the suspects and try to solve the mystery along with the other players.
- Teams – Each primary character can be played by 2 or more people that work together as a team. This works well if you’ve invited several couples to your event, but also works if you break up your guests into eight larger teams of 3 or more guests.
- Multiple Groups – If you have 16 or more guests, you can break them up into groups of 8 players and run multiple instances of the game on their own. This method is best for large events (e.g. fundraisers) where each table of people can play through the game independently. This method goes well with the Investigator method, which allows you the flexibility to add more than 8 people to any group.
Both the standard and expanded games are included with the purchase of any game kit.
Folly Gal –
Headline : Best Covid Family Zoom Fun!
Nickname : Folly Gal
Menu Highlights : Everyone was on their own
Our mystery party was great! We’ve been playing family trivia via online meeting as a get together through Covid … 9 months later (who knew) we really needed a new game to shake things up a bit. This Christmas mystery that we could play in less than an hour was perfect. Characters were emailed out in advance, we played over Zoom and everyone (including our son in England) got into character. They were so funny with voice, costumes and ad libs! I wish I had photos. We had family from England to New York to Austin to Denver to Sacramento and more … it was perfect and everyone is ready for our next mystery.
Maria –
Headline : Solving a mystery virtually adds fun to a party
Nickname : Maria
Menu Highlights : I am not much of a cook so this worked great. I hosted the party virtually so there was no food involved and no cleaning either:)
Theme Highlights : I emailed everyone the sheet with their character before the party. Some people did wear fun Christmas themed hats.
My family couldn’t meet for our usual Christmas party due to Covid. I hosted a virtual party using Zoom. I did not purchase the virtual mystery, but it still work fine for me to email everyone his or her separate part. I had around 12 people participating from the ages of 9 to 82. All of us enjoyed it. People really got into their parts and asking questions. I was very pleased with how well it worked and my family including a sibling that never is able to come because she lives in Australia was able to celebrated Christmas virtually together.
Lauren R –
Headline : Christmas Eve was a Blast!!
Nickname : Lauren R
Menu Highlights : Each role is quite interesting and the clues the characters share as well as the other clues really help you figure out who the culprit is.
Theme Highlights : We dressed up and wore festive Christmas hats to match our characters. I gave everyone their character sheets in advance so they could get into character. We used our Christmas gifts as prompts.
My family loved this game! We played this game on Christmas Eve for a family game night. There were 8 of us so it was perfect. It was fun, interactive and wasn’t too hard to figure out so the kids (ages 13 and 14) were able to play too. My only suggestion would be to have possible alternate endings so we can play with the same group multiple times because they lined it soo much they wanted to play again but since we already know the ending we can’t.
Thurston Herons –
Headline : Best Virtual Party of 2020!
Nickname : Thurston Herons
Playing with Murder truly helped bring our staff together for a wonderful holiday event. With limited opportunities to be able to come together for celebrations, this allowed our team an opportunity bond as a staff while enjoying each other’s company (Their Might Be No Christmas). Each member not only decorated their backgrounds with a fun themed connection but also went as far as dressing up and creating fun voices. I would highly recommend a Murder Mystery to anyone seeking a way to not only connect with staff during covid-19 but also engage in an exciting activity that brings a new twist a an old game (Clue). Thank you so much for this wonderful resource. We will be purchasing another mystery in the very near future!
Christmas Hostess –
Headline : Taking Christmas to a whole new level of fun!
Nickname : Christmas Hostess
Menu Highlights : Add a few Dress up items for each character to wear! We had 9 people which I worried about, but we added the investigator as another player and made up three improv rounds for her to add to the fun and throw people off. I added a story description too for this character!
Theme Highlights : See above!
AWESOME! Christmas with COVID was concerning to make it a fun time for our family while keeping the day safe. Playing With Murder definitely contributed to a wonderful time making memories of the day! I added a few “Dress up” pieces so each person could get into character even more! Even if it was not a time of COVID I would highly recommend this game for a really great time!
AngieM –
Headline : Family fun
Nickname : AngieM
It was a family Christmas party. Paired up a few kids with the adults. 16 of us played. We had fun. As the hostess I played also but In playing my partner did the speaking and note taking and I felt more like the “hostess” than an actual player. I didn’t mind tho it was fun trying to figure it out. Next time I will probably read ahead and add to the game knowing things ahead of time. This was our first mystery game and I’m sure the next will be easier for and more fun. Thank you!
Laura –
Headline : Awesome Christmas Party for All Ages!
Nickname : Laura
What a fun activity to do on Christmas Eve! We had guests ages 8 – 60 and everyone LOVED this fun party mystery. The characters were well described and so much fun! The company was awesome with customer service, answering my questions quickly via email. We will be talking about this wonderful party for a long time!
grandma –
Headline : cancelled
Nickname : grandma
Sorry to say, too much COVID-19. Will look at the new version and try next year.
Christy –
Headline : Perfect for extended family events
Nickname : Christy
Thanksgiving with extended family
Shellyc –
Headline : Boring and complicated - not an engaging game
Nickname : Shellyc
Staff event, virtual, included aprox 40 staff
Kitkat –
Headline : Easy to use, loads of fun!
Nickname : Kitkat
We had a lovely time playing this game for a work event. It was straight forward, simple to execute and a lot of fun! This is our second event through Playing with Murder and we will definitely do it again!
Queen Leaf –
Headline : Fun Times for Family
Nickname : Queen Leaf
My family played this game over a video call and everyone seemed to have a great time. We’ve played mystery games from other places before, and even though I was the host I also wanted to play, so I wasn’t sure entirely what the structure would be. Not all mystery games let the villain know they are the villain – in this one they did. Almost everyone dressed up somehow which really added to the fun. We plan on doing another mystery party for New Year’s Eve. I think I may have accidentally bought the original, rather than virtual, version of this mystery so it will be interesting to learn what the differences are.
ENGC –
Headline : A Fun Alternative to a Live Holiday Party!
Nickname : ENGC
The Emerald Necklace Garden Club’s Holiday Party on December 10, 2020 included the virtual “There Might Be No Christmas” mystery game. It was a big hit with both members who played the characters and the “investigator” audience! The players created their own “costumes” to portray their character’s persona. It was great to have a fun alternative to the club’s traditional holiday luncheon to wrap up a difficult year of programming!
Wendy –
Headline : Excellent family fun!
Nickname : Wendy
The party went great! Used it at a family Christmas event with multi-ages. (7 – 68)
tracyd –
Headline : Great game!
Nickname : tracyd
We played this with our girl scout group during our winter cabin camp out and it was a hit!
Debby –
Headline : Girl Scout party
Nickname : Debby
Menu Highlights : Christmas cookies
Theme Highlights : I purchased a Santa sack, fake snow, and tree trimmings for clues.
My Girl Scout Troop of 5th graders used this for their Christmas party. They all seemed to enjoy it. The readings were easily worded and no spoilers with the holiday.
Ole –
Headline : Pre-Christmas party event at the office
Nickname : Ole
I was looking for a new activity for 10-15 people, could be done sitting down, required no prior knowledge/preparation from participants, a minimum of components and relatively short.
This scenario both promised and delivered on all of the above!
Our boss’s name is Claus, so I just had to tinker with the scenario to give him the role of Santa Claus by extracting parts of the facilitation/narration. Worked pretty well.
We had two investigators and in hindsight I should have handed them the “observations” as the clues were revealed. That should make the investigators more.. sherlocky?
A couple of weeks later there are still people who occasionally refer to each other by the name of their role.
Chrisy2 –
Headline : A Fun "Who-Done-It"
Nickname : Chrisy2
We played “There Might Be No Christmas” on Christmas Eve. I was looking for a new Christmas activity that would be fun for our grandchildren ages 5 -13. Age range for all players was 5-72. The kids loved it. Players got into their characters with hilarious voices, a lot off ad libbing, and lots of laughter. The hats added to the fun.
Christmas Merriment –
Headline : Great time at our family Christmas gathering!
Nickname : Christmas Merriment
We had a great time playing “There might be no Christmas” at our family Christmas gathering. We had ages from 5 to 75 and everyone enjoyed getting dressed up in costumes to represent their character. We had 14 people so some characters were represented as teams and we had one inspector.
Catherine –
Headline : A great opportunity to be naughty.
Nickname : Catherine
We ran There Might Not Be Christmas as a Toastmasters meeting. Everyone knew in advance to come in a Christmas themed outfit. It was our end of year Christmas meeting so was a great opportunity to just relax – I was the only one who had to do any preparation.
Ms. Johnson –
Headline : Holiday Fun in the Gifted Classroom
Nickname : Ms. Johnson
My 4th grade students absolutely love these 30 minute Mysteries! We can’t get enough.
Experienced Big Event Theatre Producer –
Headline : A Complete Flop!
Nickname : Experienced Big Event Theatre Producer
I am sorry to say that this was the worst mystery dinner party material I have ever used. Our family had had a VERY rough year and I wanted something fun for everyone. Without fail everyone in attendance thought it was awful and we had a room full of fun loving people of every age. It was a complete waste of my money. I am sorry to sound so harsh but there is nothing else to say. It was awful. I have thrown several full costume mystery dinner events and we had a great time. The material in this one was just awful and given the year our family had made it through it was very disappointing.
Ms. Marple –
Headline : A wonderful family Christmas Party
Nickname : Ms. Marple
We did the “There Might Be No Christmas “. It was supposed to happen on Christmas Eve and that is when we played it. It was a family thing and we had ages 9 to 74. We needed 3 more parts so I decided on Ms. Marple, Lieutenant Columbo, and Jacque Closeau the 3 detectives. Our son played Inspector Closeau ( from the Pink Panther) so well that we all laughed historically. We loved the way our parts were written out for us to know what to say. It was great fun!!
Iwus –
Headline : We saved the Christmas!
Nickname : Iwus
Menu Highlights : Ms Santa baked some of her best Christmas themed cakes. And we also had some Christmas Eggnog :)
Theme Highlights : Costumes and some basic decorations bought from a local shop.
We had a really great time during our Christmas Party at work. There Might be no Christmas is easy to prepare and also it’s simple to introduce new players to rules and atmosphere of a mystery party. It’s definitely not the hardest and most complicated mystery scenario but it still provides a lot of fun 🙂
Glenda –
Headline : Awesome!
Nickname : Glenda
Menu Highlights : It was a potluck
Theme Highlights : I obtained some fun "costume" pieces for each character which helped everyone get into their roles.
We played this game for our office holiday party. It was awesome! We had so many laughs. Instead of inviting everyone ahead of time, this was sprung on everyone, and they each had to pick and play a character from a raffle bowl. They were all great sports and really enjoyed the game!
Kim C. –
Headline : Very fun and totally different than our usual
Nickname : Kim C.
Menu Highlights : Wē had breakfast before Playing The game
Theme Highlights : I bought outfits For All The children to match The character they were playing.
We played this with small children ages 1-7. We dressed them up as the characters but the adults read the parts. It was very fun and the kids enjoyed it but definitely would’ve been better if the kids were older. We will definitely be doing this again!
elinettevb –
Headline : A super fun and easy to host mystery!
Nickname : elinettevb
I hosted this mystery for our church’s small group Christmas party and it made for a super funny and enjoyable night for all. It was so easy to host as everything is scripted and explained step by step. The script was hilarious and we all enjoyed the format of the mystery, better than other traditional mystery formats we have done in the past. To get everyone excited about their roles, I announced we would be having prices for best actor and actress. This made for a little extra competition and lots of laughter. At the end of the mystery, everyone voted and awards were given to best actor/actress, as well as those who guessed correctly. The mystery was a bit easy to solve in our opinion but no one mind at all since we had so much fun. We can’t wait to try another mystery!
Roundtownbarbie –
Headline : Best Office Holiday Party Ever :)
Nickname : Roundtownbarbie
Menu Highlights : Since it was our office holiday party we had a carry in/pot luck: the management staff furnished the meat/cheese trays while staff provided soups, fruits and other sides. Yummy and we had enough to snack the next day too!!
Theme Highlights : I put together costumes for each of us-ordered through Oriental Trading so not so costly but excellent. Had a snowman, X-mas tree, elves, Mrs. Claus and a fairy. Found other costume ideas on sale at Kohl's, Goodwill, etc. Ben our narrator/investigator wore a suit/tie (from his closet) and he was wonderful at his part. The costumes really brought it to life and folks ad libbed which surprised everyone so it didn't appear scripted. Since we couldn't build sets I put together areas in the break room to make it look like Santa's Workshop--Cookie/Cocoa station, Gift Wrap Table, Toy Building area, etc. Fantastic party is all I can say!!!!!!
This event was held as part of our holiday celebration at work-office of more than 65 people. It was a rip-roaring success! Everyone commented on how fun it was and that it was the best party we have had in a long time! I had a part as one of the characters and my co-workers volunteered willingly and we all had a super time (I even had folks attend that usually do not participate)!!
Suzan –
Headline : Loved the Mystery!!
Nickname : Suzan
Menu Highlights : snacks to share and pizza
Played with 16, they partnered up. It was a huge hit. High School Girls loved it. They want to do another one and dress up for the part.
Diana Vasquez –
Headline : Fun and laughter!!
Nickname : Diana Vasquez
Menu Highlights : It was in December so we had a Christmas theme and wore Santa hats to keep it simple but fun.
Theme Highlights : Since it was December, I had my Christmas decorations out and people wore Santa hats.
My boyfriend and I hosted a murder mystery dinner and in out case it was a missing Santa toy bag!! We had a blast, we laughed so much as some of the characters were like kindergardener’s reading the wrong lines!! I would definitely host another one. The only thing I would change is that we would eat all dinner courses except the dessert, play the game, then eat the dessert instead of eating one course and playing one part of the game, then eating another course and playing another part, etc.