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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.
Girl Scout Troop Party –
Headline : Thank goodness, our Troop found the presents!
Nickname : Girl Scout Troop Party
It was our Girl Scouts Christmas party and we were finishing off our Detective Badge. It was a little rocky at first, getting 9-10yr old girls to sit down and listen to each read clues. But once we went to our first "crime scene" they were all in and taking notes on who the culprit may be! They loved dressing up in costumes and had a blast reading as if they really were their characters. Thrilled, and I will be back for another mystery in the future!
It took about 30min from start to finish, the perfect amount of time since we had lots of other party games planned. The girls LOVED it and requested we do it again soon. I have to agree, it was an absolute blast!
Delaney –
Headline : Entertaining and Unique!
Nickname : Delaney
Menu Highlights : We wanted our party to be kind of classy to fit the Christmas at the Northpole. So we made cheese/chocolate fondue, pigs in a blanket, meatballs, fruit/veg trays, and a variety of cupcakes/brownies/cookies ! We also made red punch and set up a little Hot coco station for any guest who wanted a warm beverage.
Theme Highlights : We didn't have to decorate since our house was already decorated for the Holidays. We played Christmas music in the background and we utilized some decorations to hide the clues/props (we added some extra clues since we were worried the party would go too fast with only 7 people attending) for example- we put a clue inside the Nutcracker's mouth. One of the characters we created when we orginally thought there was going to be 18 people was the Northpole Postal Worker- that guest actually went all out and looked like a mail man! Another guest dressed like a Peppermint Princess (another add-on) and our Jacky Frost dressed in blue hues and attached snow to her cute boots!
My friend and I planned this party as a unique Christmas party experience for our last year of High School! We invited 16 people to the party so we had to add extra characters (unfortunately, only 7 guests decided to RSVP and go) — but despite this is was still amazing and fun! You really don’t nehaed a whole lot of people to make this party entertaining. Only one guest correctly chose the theif.. We gave out plants as awards to the best costume/best actor/and best detective. It was our first murder party and we are already thinking about the next one!
Doreen Getz –
Headline : Christmas party
Nickname : Doreen Getz
I bought this game and downloaded it. It looked like a lot of fun, but when I downloaded it 4 of the characters did not print out. This was 4 hours before the party and it was very disappointing.
String –
Headline : Entertaining
Nickname : String
Menu Highlights : Our dinner consisted of pot luck with chicken 'n dumplings as the main course.
Theme Highlights : The only decorations or props we used were hats for each of the individual characters.
This was a water garden society Christmas party. The party was great. Lots of food and entertainment from this Mini-Mystery was greatly received. Our 8 contestants were dressed for the part and ad-libed along the way. Our Krampus was the best character of all.
vqfamily –
Headline : Work party
Nickname : vqfamily
Played this game in two different groups at a work party. Both groups were the same size and finished within 5 minutes of each other. Everyone had fun and enjoyed the interactions and role play. We taped "Crime Scene" tape over office doors to keep everyone out of their office and interacting with co-workers throughout the party. Worked right into the theme of Christmas party.
Brenda –
Headline : There Might Not Be Christmas
Nickname : Brenda
We are a group in our 60’s that has been getting together every Christmas since our 20’s. We played the game after dinner and then had dessert following the game. We had a blast! We had simple props and everyone got into the roles. Most of the group of 14 did not know about the game ahead of time so the surprise added to the fun. Thanks
Kathy –
Headline : There might be no Christmas
Nickname : Kathy
It was a great party and everone thoroughly enjoyed it!
Cheryl –
Headline : There Might Be No Christmas
Nickname : Cheryl
Last Christmas we did this mystery with our family. There were 16 of us so we paired two people for every character. It was a hoot!!! WE had a blast with it. Our 43 year old son was the singing Christmas tree & he sang all his answers. Too funny. I went to the Dollar Store & bought character items for each person. Cheap and easy. I highly recommended it. After it was over, I had the guilty one go find Santa’s bag which had a gift for everyone in it.
Lisa Hidalgo –
Headline : Christmas dinner
Nickname : Lisa Hidalgo
We have never done anything like this before and thought we would give it a shot. We had to work out a few kinks as we were all part of the cast/characters. But we managed and we had a good time, laughed at our blunders and finally in the end figured out the who dun it. It was fun and think we will do it again next year. Maybe with a little more advanced planning.
Twila –
Headline : AWSOME
Nickname : Twila
Menu Highlights : Cocktails and finger foods started off the evening followed by shrimp cocktail and cheese stick. Then the main course was lasagna, green salad and garlic bread. We finished the evening with ice cream cake and coffee.
Theme Highlights : Stuffed Mr and Mrs Santa sat in the front yard with a huge sign that announced out home as Santa's toy factory. The house was decorated beautifully for Christmas with the introduction of toys all around. As some of the guests were strangers to each other I provided name laminated name tags for each guest. The costumes were unbelievably good. a true elf and a great singing Christmas tree with ornaments that played Christmas music.
So much fun. There was 12 of us and we did it in 3 parts with food courses in between the parts. Since the script was for 8 people I added 4 more characters. I as Host played Santa and interrogated the cast of party goers. My Husband was the Sheriff with his official shirt and badges and hand cuffs. His name was Sheriff Gogetum. One of the extras was a news reporter for the North Pole paper and her name was Wanna Story. The last person was the photographer for the news paper and he wore cameras around his neck and was a good investigator. His name was Smiley Snapit. The occasion for the party was that it is Christmas time. Every one had a wonderful time. The costumes were awsome and everyone really go into their part.
Kaiser –
Headline : Population Care Management tea,
Nickname : Kaiser
Menu Highlights : We had a wonderful menu that had several choices for everyone. Have at a restuarant that people like the food. That works well.
Theme Highlights : As I said earlier, all the charters had costumes and we totally into their characer. Unfortanately, no one took pics. But this worked out well fo all of us.
This was the best hoiday party our depatment has had so far. the staff loved the story line and the characters were a hoot. we all dressed our part and made it very fun. There were just a couple of lines that we had figure out, because they didnt go with the character part, but we improvised. We had this at a off site restaurannt and the accomodations made it fun.We had 30 people in total and after all the great acting only one person picked the right person. Thanksch a great story line.
Steven Williams –
Headline : Mystery Night at West Valley Music and Drama
Nickname : Steven Williams
Menu Highlights : Coffee and hot chocolate
Theme Highlights : Started with my young Grandaughter She was the singing Christmas Tree... All of the adults had a great time. Everyone did their best to take on the charecters....
I have got to tell you, my little group of people got together Monday night and we had more fun than I can remember in awhile. We have started a small community group with the intention of bringing theater to our small community and I introduced this to them as an idea for a type of workshop that we might provide. Sort of a Reader’s Theater. There were exactly 8 people present (including my 8 year old GrandDaughter playing the part of Tonya Baum). The group was loose and played a long fabulously reading the lines in character. Everyone laughed and everyone had a great time. Thanks very much. I am sure that I will be reaching out to PWM again very soon.
Sherry Rogers –
Headline : There Might Be No Christmas
Nickname : Sherry Rogers
This was a work group breakfast Christmas Party. We met for 2 hours, exchanged Secret Santa gifts and ate delicious food.
The game was a quick fun ice breaker. The guilty party kept the secret until the end.
Thanks for the quick version of a mystery party.
Mary B –
Headline : We decked the Hall with laughter
Nickname : Mary B
Menu Highlights : Everyone brought either a soup, a bread or dessert. Kept it simple to alleviate any stress.
Theme Highlights : With just caps or headpieces and taking on the accents of our characters was more that enough for the theme.
Our church’s ladies guild has a party for members in December. Everyone was thrilled with the play. My husband -who becomes Santa for schools and non-profits in December was our host. We didn’t practice or study lines. We were told our characters before hand in order to find a hat or something to become our character. It made it easier for the audience. The more mistakes made for more laughter, for both characters and audience.
Kerry –
Headline : Fun and a good ice breaker
Nickname : Kerry
I did this party with 13 year old girls and boys. It took appx. a 1/2 hour. It was fun and it was nice to have something to break the ice and get everyone interacting. At every party there they come in so quiet and awkward so this was great. Most of the kids figured out who the thief was and they had a great time. I would purchase this type of product again. It was well worth the money.
James –
Headline : It was great
Nickname : James
Guests particularly appreciated the fact that it was short and simple, and that no-one died!
I played as Santa, which required changing the speeches to the first person, but was easy enough
Shirley –
Headline : Memorable family party
Nickname : Shirley
Menu Highlights : We started our evening with a Mystery Appetizer Menu, where guests had to select based on mystery descriptions and then we enjoyed the Mystery story.
Theme Highlights : We had costume props for each character which made it more fun (a top hat and scarf for Jacky Frost, Christmas apron and glasses for Caroline Claus, garland and a bird ornamemt for Tonya Baum, and so forth). It really added to the fun.
We played the game, There Might Be No Christmas with another family. It was the activity for our daughter’s 15th b-day party and being so close to Christmas, we were able to use the Christmas mystery. There were 4 adults and 4 girls aged 11 – 15 years. The instructions were very clear and I was glad for the spoiler alerts; as hostess, I did want to also play the game so I was very thankful for the alerts.
I was quite surprised to see how involved the dads were…they completely got into character! We ended our evening with a mystery gift game.
Being able to enjoy an activity with our kids was especially memorable. We are a family that likes to invlove our kids and I truly appreciated the family appropriate story line. We will DEFINATLEY be ordering more Mystery kits from your company.
Jessica –
Headline : Fun time for group of elderly people
Nickname : Jessica
I used it for a group of elderly people and it went very well. I just wish the response section was a little more clear. It seemed like we had to go back over everyone’s sheet to make sure everyone had responded and said what they were supposed to. It was fun and I would do it again. I am planning on getting another one to do with a group of friends in the near future.
Melannie –
Headline : Good cap to the end of the school year
Nickname : Melannie
I just finished doing the mystery with my 8th graders on Tuesday. They loved it, and had a really good time listening to all the quirks of every character.
Web video –
Headline : ECCC Christmas Party 2013
Nickname : Web video
See video.