Murder at the Midnight Sleigh: a Christmas murder mystery party game for 8-15 players
Christmas Eve, 1927. Beneath a toy shop, behind a stockroom bookcase and a whispered password, the Midnight Sleigh is throwing the party of the year. At 10:06 the club's owner is found dead in his office, his safe open and his red folder of secrets gone. One of your guests did it, and the rest have until midnight to work out who.
Murder at the Midnight Sleigh is a printable murder mystery party game for adults and teens, built for a Christmas party, an office get-together or a big family night. It plays with 8 to 15 guests: 8 core roles are needed for every game, and up to 7 optional roles let you add more players without changing the solution.
What's in the download
- Host Guide (15 pages): quick-start checklist, casting for 8-15 players, 3-hour and 2-hour running orders, a read-aloud script, a printing guide, and menu and decoration ideas
- 15 Character Booklets, one per guest, with costume ideas, opening lines, a secret, a motive, an alibi and goals for each round
- Clue Cards: 15 core clues over 3 rounds, plus 7 clues for optional roles
- A Sealed Solution with a read-aloud reveal, the step-by-step proof and the full timeline
- Invitations, name tags, play money, accusation slips, award certificates, a menu card and a door sign
- 82 pages per size, in two complete sets: US Letter and A4, each laid out for its own paper
How the evening runs
Guests arrive in character for cocktails, then three rounds of clues lead to accusations and the reveal. Allow about 3 hours, or use the 2-hour running order. The host doesn't need to know the answer, so the host can play too. The game is written to be fair: the clues prove who did it, so sharp detectives can solve it without guessing. Every drink on the menu has an alcohol-free version.
Print at home or at a print shop at 100% ("Actual size"). Covers are in colour; everything else prints well in black and white. Content: an off-stage murder with no gore, plus 1920s drinking, smoking, gambling and a secret romance. Best for ages 13 and up.
Buy Murder at the Midnight Sleigh for A$23.99. You get the zip of PDFs right after checkout.
Looking for something smaller? See all our mystery party games.
FAQ
How many players do I need? At least 8 (the core roles). Add up to 7 optional roles for 9 to 15 players; they never change the solution.
How long does it take to play? About 3 hours with cocktails and three rounds, or about 2 hours with the short running order in the Host Guide.
Can the host play? Yes. The host doesn't need to know the answer. The solution stays sealed until the reveal.
How much preparation is there? Print the files, send the invitations a week or two ahead, and follow the quick-start checklist in the Host Guide.
What paper size is it? Both: complete US Letter and A4 sets are included, each laid out for its own paper rather than scaled.
Is it suitable for teenagers? It's best for ages 13 and up. The murder happens off stage, with no gore, and every drink has an alcohol-free version.
Is anything shipped? No. It's an instant digital download (a zip of PDFs). Print as many copies as you need for your own parties.
How we made it: the story, characters and clues are original to this game. They were written with the help of AI tools, then checked and edited by us, including a step-by-step check of every clue, alibi and timeline. All artwork is drawn by code, not AI image tools.
Questions or refund requests: contact us.