The 15 Best DnD Christmas One Shots (Updated for 2025)
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The holiday season is upon us once again and if you’re a Dungeons & Dragons fan, it’s the perfect time to gather with your friends to share some festive cheer and enjoy a good old fashioned D&D Christmas one shot.
In fact, there are dozens of Yuletide-themed adventures available on DMsGuild that can be wrapped up in a single silent night. To help you sort which ones are naughty and nice, we’ve put together this list of our favorites. For ease of reference, we’ve included a brief description, the price and how well it’s been received by the community.
So grab your dice and eggnog as we dig into… the 15 best DnD Christmas one shots for 5e.
15. How Strahd Stole Christmas
DMsGuild Sales: Silver Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Cost: Pay What You Want
In this D&D blend of holidays and horror, players returns players to Barovia just as the freed villagers prepare for their first true winter solstice celebration, only for disaster to strike when a sacred artifiact is stolen and undead pour into the streets. Designed as a tight 4–6 hour adventure for a 9th-level party, it’s a festive twist on Curse of Strahd that features, the Krampus, a cursed sleigh ride, terrifying presents and the chance to save Christmas itself.
14. Meal With the Mind Flayer
DMsGuild Sales: Silver Best Seller
Average Rating: 5 out of 5
Cost: $4.95 USD
This standalone Level 4 Christmas-themed murder mystery blends holiday cheer with mind-flaying mayhem as the infamous Illithid “Santac’Laus” invites the players to his mansion for a festive gathering, only to end up dead before the first course is served. Players must sift through clues, compete in bizarre party games, explore the eerie estate and interrogate a bizarre, monstrous cast of suspects to uncover the killer. Packed with custom stat blocks, new magic items and high-resolution Dyson Logos maps, it’s a weird and wonderful blend of comedy, horror and holiday cheer.
13. A Kobold Christmas
DMsGuild Sales: Electrum Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Cost: $7.95 USD
This festive one-shot is a great option if your group is looking for something a little more unusual. Set in the town of Finnick, players take on the role of a group of kobolds who are determined to infiltrate the home of the powerful Sanderklauzen the Red in the pursuit of riches and revenge. It’s designed for Level 3 play and can be werapped up in about 4 to 6 hours, making it a short and sweet seasonal treat.
12. The Nutcracker
DMsGuild Sales: Platinum Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.1 out of 5
Cost: $6.62 USD
A DnD take on the beloved Nutcracker Christmas story, this festive one shot is designed for a group of Level 5 characters and can be wrapped up with a bow in a single 3 to 4 hour session. The story finds the players attending a Royal Midwinter’s Eve party at a local palace, only to learn that the Queen has been kidnapped by the evil Mouse King (an epic BBEG of Yuletide proportions). It’s up to the players to infiltrate the Mouse King’s lair while battling a range of merry monsters and traps along the way. It’s a surprisingly smart and entertaining TTRPG twist on a classic holiday tale.
11. There’s Snow Place Like Home
DMsGuild Sales: Platinum Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Cost: $2.95 USD
If you’re looking for a classic DnD Christmas experience, then this one shot has you covered. Created by Jonathan and Beth Ball (the team behind the popular D&D Duets), the adventure is designed for Level 4 to 5 characters and can be wrapped up in about 3 to 4 hours. The story kicks off in the gnomish town of Cheerington, where players will have to save the holidays from the dreaded humbug-loving demon Belsnickel. The one shot features a range of festive monsters, maps and magical items, in addition to introducing a couple of new rules mechanics (including how to handle Enchanted Mistletoe and Cursed Coal). Featuring a merry medley of combat, exploration and roleplaying, it’s the perfect option if you’re looking for some hack n’ slash to go with your holidays.
10. Not a Creature Was Stirring
DMsGuild Sales: Platinum Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Cost: Pay What You Want
Not only is this one shot a great option for new DnD 5e players and Dungeon Masters, it’s also a fantastic choice for any players looking for a dose of Yuletide action. Designed for Level 1 characters, the adventure can easily be wrapped up in about 1 to 2 hours with minimal prep. The story takes place in the small logging town of Ambershandy on the night of Winter Solstice. The characters soon find themselves facing a malevolent, cloven-hoofed creature that’s stalking through the darkness leaving evil presents in the homes of the locals. It’s up to the players to stop the menace and uncover the dark source behinds its power. It’s a fast, fun and festive blast of DnD Christmasy goodness.
9. Once Upon a Winter’s Eve
DMsGuild Sales: Platinum Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Cost: $3.95 USD
This one shot adventure combines plenty of Christmas cheer with some classic DnD tropes. Designed for Level 5 to 7 characters, it can be wrapped up in about 4 to 6 hours, making it a great option as a one shot, or a side quest for an existing wintery campaign like Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frost Maiden. The story takes place in the village of Pinedale, with the players arriving shortly before a mysterious and magical blizzard strikes the town. Our heroes soon find themselves matching icy wits with a deadly fey known as the Winter Queen. The adventure also features several full-color maps, new monster stat blocks and several Christmas-themed magic items.
8. Last Christmas
DMsGuild Sales: Platinum Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Cost: $3.95 USD
In this inspired one shot, players have only one object: kill Santa! Turns out the Man in Red has been corrupted by the forces of darkness and he’s now threatening to spread misery and useless toys to the children of the world. Players take on the role of one of 10 pre-generated characters (including the Easter Bunny, Jack Frost, Ebenezer Scrooge and Hans Gruber himself) to infiltrate Santa’s layer and take on an army of evil elves. The game includes a ticking clock rule (and must be completed in a set number of real-time hours) and includes player handouts, custom maps and new monster statblocks. It’s an epic race to save Christmas that’s perfect for fans of both DnD and Die Hard. Yippee ki yay, monster lovers!
7. Danger in a Midwinter Wonderland
DMsGuild Sales: Mithral Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Cost: $2.99 USD
Created by award-winning comic book writer and RPG designer Asa Wheatley, in this popular DnD Christmas adventure, players must journey to the mysterious Noel Isles where they soon discover that it’s ruler – the Santa-like figure known as Winter’s Father – has gone missing. It’s up to the players to find out what happened the jolly old toy maker. Designed for a party of Level 4 to 5 characters, this wintery wonderland can easily be completed in about 3 to 4 hours. The one shot also features a variety of holiday-themed magic items and a number of new monsters, including an animated Snowman and the bloodthirsty Krampus himself. It’s a seasonal, single-session adventure stocking stuffed with action and mystery.
6. Solstice Shenanigans: A Wintry One Shot
DMsGuild Sales: Mithral Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Cost: $4.49 USD
In this festive adventurer, players find themselves dropped into the icy demiplane ruled by Jack Frost himself during the middle of the annual Winter Games. Designed as a 5-hour module for Levels 5 to 10, it blends humor and action, including a rogue Gingerbread Golem, a rampaging Christmas trees and other holiday-themed threats. The adventure also includes new magic items, monsters and a bundle featuring maps, tokens and paper minis.
5. In the Black Midwinter
DMsGuild Sales: Mithral Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Cost: $2.99 USD
Created by illustrator and RPG designer Simon Perrins, this festive DnD Christmas one shot is designed for Level 2 to 4 characters and can be completed in about 3 to 4 hours. The story takes place in a remote village in the frozen north where players must battle a demonic Krampus-like being that threatens the inhabitants. The adventure features a variety of new holiday-themed monsters and magic items (including the brilliantly named Deck of Merry Things) and even features several new Yuletide alignments! If you’re interested, the creator even put together a bonus holiday gift in the form of a free YouTube video with tips on how to run this amazing adventure from start to finish.
4. The Darkest Night
DMsGuild Sales: Mithral Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Cost: Pay What You Want
A perfect holiday one-shot for new or returning players, The Darkest Night sends a party of four 1st-level adventurers on a festive but perilous quest to save Kringlefest from an ancient evil. The module includes animated snow people, loyal toy soldiers and a climactic showdown with the demonic Krampus himself. Designed to be run with minimal prep, it’s a fast, fun and accessible one adventure that delivers seasonal vibes with just the right amount of danger.
3. Winters Splendor
DMsGuild Sales: Mithral Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Cost: $4.99 USD
An official Wizards of the Coast DnD module released as part of their Adventurers League series, this seasonal one shot also offers a hefty dose of Christmas-themed action. Designed for Level 1 to 4 characters, it can be completed in about 2 hours and takes place in the Forgotten Realms in the city of Waterdeep. The story finds the players invited to the annual Midwinter Gala at Cassalanter Villa, only to learn that demonic forces have interrupted the noble family’s festivities. It’s up to the players to uncover the secret behind the unholy presence and bring back a little holiday cheer to the City of Splendors.
2. How the Lich Stole Christmas
DMsGuild Sales: Adamantine Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Cost: $3.95
Created by the award-winning team at Wizard Sleeve Studios, this amazing Christmas one shot is – as the name suggests – based on the beloved classic The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The adventure (which is scalable for all level tiers) can be wrapped up in about 3 to 4 hours (although you could easily scale it to make it longer). What really makes it shine though, is the use of Dr. Seuss’ iconic rhyming, which both drives the narrative and gameplay. In fact, even the players get in on the action by making up their own rhymes throughout the quest. Featuring demonic snowmen and Santa-hat sporting Kobolds, it’s a hilarious and epic DnD adventure that’ll make your heart grow three sizes.
1. Claus for Concern
DMsGuild Sales: Adamantine Best Seller
Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Cost: $3.95
And our top pick for the best DnD Christmas one shot ever made is the aptly named Claus for Concern. Created by award-winning game designer B.J. Keeton (who also made our list of the best DnD Halloween one shots with his adventure The Liching Hour), this one shot is designed for Level 1 to 5 characters and can be wrapped up in about 3 to 4 hours of play. The story finds Santa’s workshop overrun by the forces of evil, with players recruited by a band of the Big Guy’s faithful elves to take back control. Complete with original maps, magic items, NPCs and monsters, it’s the perfect choice for some holiday gaming. Gruumsh bless us, everyone!
OTHER ONE SHOTS: For more holiday goodness, check out our list of the best DnD Thanksgiving one shots.
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Ollie Delano is a Staff Writer who lives in Chicago, Illinois where he majored in Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He’s been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 10 years and currently plays in a weekly game group where he rolls way too many natural 1s and chugs way too much Mountain Dew. His favorite D&D campaign setting is Eberron and his favorite character to play was a Tiefling rogue named Draxiss who enjoys both literal and figurative backstabbing.
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