Christmas Murder Mystery Game: Who Killed Santa's Elf? (Printable)

WHO KILLED SANTA’S ELF?
A Christmas Murder Mystery Game for Kids & Families. One of our bestselling Christmas games, back for Christmas 2025. Written and play-tested by real-life crime writer Fiona Sherlock, this is a professionally written, story-led Christmas murder mystery designed to actually work in real homes and at festive gatherings.

WHAT THIS IS
Who Killed Santa’s Elf? is a complete, fully scripted Christmas murder mystery game where players become festive characters, uncover clues, interrogate suspects and work together to solve the crime.

It is not a template or auto-generated download. The story, characters and clues have been carefully written and refined so the mystery makes sense, the pacing flows and the ending is genuinely satisfying.
Perfect for families, kids aged 8+, Christmas parties and holiday gatherings. No prior murder mystery experience needed.

SAFE FOR CHRISTMAS BELIEVERS
No Christmas secrets are revealed.
No adult themes.
No references to sex or alcohol.

Suitable for children aged 8 and over and safe for anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas.

GAME DETAILS
Players: 4 to 13
Recommended age: 10+
Playing time: 60 to 90 minutes
Format: Instant download printable PDF files
Tone: Clean, festive, funny and engaging
Also available in Large (13 to 23 players) and Extra Large (23 to 30 players) versions.

THE STORY
Carol St Nicholas, Head Elf at the North Pole, is celebrating her 1000th birthday.

Fiercely protective of her fellow elves and known for being more than a little formidable, Carol has worked alongside Santa and Mrs Claus for centuries. To thank her for a lifetime of service, the Claus family hosts a festive party in her honour.

But just as the first guests arrive, Carol’s body is discovered in the North Pole freezer.

With long memories, hidden grudges and plenty of secrets among the guests, it is up to you to uncover what really happened to Carol St Nicholas on the coldest night of the year.

CHARACTERS INCLUDE:
Santa Claus
Mrs Claus
Ghost of Christmas Past
Holly Scrooge, North Pole accountant
Icicle Shaw, Elf lawyer
Comet, Reindeer and scientist
Sugarplum Tarando, Reindeer advocate
Frank St Nicholas, holder of the longest beard record
Feliz St Nicholas, competitive jock elf
Evergreen Teeny, loyal elf
Bluster O’Dowd, reindeer keeper
Wuff St Nicholas, elf dog

Each character has their own script, secrets and motives.

WHAT’S INCLUDED: Everything you need to run the game smoothly, even if you have never hosted a murder mystery before.
- Comprehensive host guide with step-by-step instructions
- Individual character scripts for up to 13 players
- Invitations
- Evidence and clue guidelines
- Guilty or innocent cards
- Interrogation guide

WHAT YOU NEED
A printer and paper
10 to 15 minutes setup time
A group ready to play and have fun

No awkward booklets and no complicated formatting. Print only what you need.

WHY THIS GAME IS DIFFERENT
This mystery was written by a professional crime writer, not auto-generated or template-based. It has been played and refined at real family gatherings and parties to make sure it flows smoothly, keeps players engaged and delivers a satisfying solution.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Fiona Sherlock is an Irish crime writer and creator of bestselling murder mystery games, with thousands of downloads worldwide. Her work is known for strong storytelling, clever twists and being genuinely enjoyable to host as well as to play.

DELIVERY
Instant digital delivery. Once your order is processed, the full PDF pack is emailed to you immediately.
Perfect for last-minute Christmas planning or gifting.

READY TO HOST A CHRISTMAS MYSTERY?
Assign the roles, let the accusations fly and see if your guests can solve the case before Christmas is ruined.