The 10 Best DnD Christmas One Shots
We unwrap our picks for the best holiday-themed Dungeons & Dragons adventures
Ah, Christmas. That magical time of the year when gifts are given, stockings are stuffed and eggnog is chugged. If you’re a Dungeons & Dragons player, it’s also the perfect time to kick back, relax and celebrate the season by digging into some Yuletide RPG goodness.
Fortunately, you don’t have to have made Santa’s Nice List to enjoy a good holiday-themed DnD adventure. In fact, there are a ton of amazing one shots that are packed full of festive cheer and can be wrapped up in a single silent night.
So slap on your +3 Christmas Sweater of Ugliness and hold onto your chestnuts as we dig into… the 10 best DnD Christmas one shots for 5e.
10. There’s Snow Place Like Home
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.
9. Once Upon a Winter’s Eve
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. It’s an epic one shot that will have you jingling all the way to the end.
8. Danger In A Midwinter Wonderland
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.
7. The Nutcracker
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.
6. Last Christmas
In this inspired DnD 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!
5. In the Black Midwinter
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. Winter’s Splendor
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.
3. Not a Creature Was Stirring
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.
2. How the Lich Stole Christmas
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
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!
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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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