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Christmas 2026 · Nights in and presents

Christmas Murder Mystery Games for a Night In

Once the plates are cleared, open a police file and see who can work out what really happened. Online murder mystery cases for Christmas game nights, couples and families of grown-ups, played around one screen. Or wrap one up as a present.

Pick a Christmas case Give a case as a gift

Plays in your browser · No hosting or acting · Gift emails delivered on the day you choose

Black Friday: every case £4.99 from Friday 27 November →

Love, Aisle and Murder investigation interface with the opening report, case files and notebook
Inside Love, Aisle & Murder: the records are on screen, and the detective work is yours.

A Christmas evening around a case file

Put a mystery in the middle of the room.

Once the plates are cleared, open a fictional police investigation and see what your group makes of the evidence. Read the accounts, compare the records and discuss the details that do not quite fit.

This suits adults who enjoy spotting clues and building a theory together. You play as investigators sharing a case; there are no character parts or scripted accusations to perform. If your ideal Christmas party is everyone dressing up and acting as a suspect, choose a roleplay format for that evening.

For a quieter Christmas night in, you can investigate as a couple or work through a case on your own.

Watch the opening detective work

Good cases for a Christmas night in

Easy and Medium: room for dinner, presents and an argument about the timeline.

Choose for the people around the screen

Match the case to your evening.

Start with the playing time, difficulty and evidence shown on the case page. If the evening also includes dinner, presents and other games, give yourselves room to read and discuss instead of trying to squeeze a demanding investigation into the last half-hour.

The stories have their own settings; these are cases to enjoy over Christmas, rather than a collection of Christmas-themed plots.

01 / NEW TO CASE FILES

The Stonewood Mystery

Start with a village murder and the accounts of people connected to it. This is listed as an Easy investigation, making it a useful starting point when the group is new to the format.

Check the case details
02 / ALIBIS TO DISCUSS

The Elite Grand Enigma

Investigate a death at London’s Elite Grand Hotel, with private arrangements and conflicting alibis to examine. Compare its estimated playing time with the space you have in the evening.

Explore the hotel investigation
03 / DIGITAL EVIDENCE

The Final Fare

If your group likes exploring digital clues, look inside The Final Fare and its phone evidence. Read the product page for the full evidence list and difficulty before choosing.

Look inside The Final Fare

Compare all the case files →

The Final Fare phone evidence interface showing the recovered phone
The Final Fare includes phone evidence. Each case has its own mix of records and tools.

Get the room ready

A little preparation keeps everyone in the case.

  • Choose a screen everyone can read. Set up a laptop or computer where the group can see it comfortably. If you connect it to a television, test the size of the evidence text from the seats.
  • Open the game before the gathering. Check your sign-in and internet connection so you can spend the evening investigating.
  • Check the sound. Where your chosen case includes audio or video evidence, make sure the group can hear it clearly.
  • Keep a notebook nearby. Use it for times, questions and theories. Check the case description before planning around printable materials.
Read the full How to Play guide

Buying it as a Christmas present?

Choose their case in the gift builder, add your message and pick the day it arrives. Choose 25 December and the email lands at 9am on Christmas morning, or send it to yourself first and print it into a card. The voucher code has no expiry date.

More ideas in the last-minute Christmas gift guide, or see how gift vouchers work.

Build a Christmas gift

Give everyone something to investigate

A simple plan for your Christmas game night.

01 / OPEN THE FILE

Read the starting point together.

Agree what you know before naming a suspect. One person can manage the screen while someone else notes the people, places and times. Swap those jobs as you go.

02 / FOLLOW THE LEADS

Let the theories compete.

Ask each person which detail they would investigate next, and why. Compare accounts with records so the loudest theory still has to stand up to the evidence.

03 / MAKE YOUR CASE

Check the gaps before deciding.

Return to the points your explanation does not yet cover. Give everyone a chance to challenge the theory before the group submits its conclusion.

For a quick warm-up before the main investigation, try the two free detective puzzles. If you want to sample a short case first, start with the free Flat 33 investigation.

Before everyone arrives

Planning the Christmas investigation.

A few practical answers to help you choose the right evening.

Does someone need to host or play the murderer?

You work together as investigators examining a fictional case. The format does not require a friend to perform a suspect or learn the solution in advance. You can share the reading and discussion around one screen.

Are these Christmas-themed murder mysteries?

The games are suitable for planning a Christmas case-solving evening, but each story has its own setting. Read the individual case description to choose the premise that interests your group.

Is this a game for children?

This guide is written for an adult gathering. The investigations deal with fictional crimes, including murder. Check the individual case description and any content guidance when deciding who will take part.

What if we only have a short gap between Christmas activities?

Check the estimated playing time before choosing a full case. The free detective puzzles focus on one deduction each, while Flat 33 offers a short free investigation.

Can we play as a couple instead of a group?

Yes. Compare your theories and share the evidence between the two of you. The couples guide has more ideas for a shared-screen evening. You can also investigate on your own.

Do we need to print a pack or install anything?

The investigations run in your browser. A notebook is useful for theories and timelines. Some cases offer optional printable materials; check the individual case page for exactly what is included.

Giving the evening as a present?

Make it their next investigation.

The gift voucher builder lets you choose the cases, add a personal message and schedule the gift email. Delivery dates start from tomorrow, with emails sent at 9am on the chosen date in the Europe/London time zone.

If you want to play together today, choose a case for your own account rather than planning around a same-day gift email.

Choose your Christmas investigation →

Every case, newest first

Each one a standalone story with its own victim, suspects and evidence.

This Christmas, someone has to work out who did it.

Choose your case Give a case as a gift