Cluedo Advent Calendar: A Mystery A Day Keeps The Family At Play

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Cluedo Advent Calendar: A Mystery A Day Keeps The Family At Play

The Cluedo Advent Calendar turns December into an interactive whodunit for the whole family. It’s one puzzle a day, 24 days of clues, and a big reveal on Christmas Eve.

If you’d rather unwrap a ready-made countdown than create your own (some years the only thing I can DIY is a cup of tea), the Cluedo Advent Calendar is a great choice for families with primary school kids and older. It’s a whodunit that the whole family can work to solve together, one puzzle at a time, all the way to Christmas.

What Is the Cluedo Advent Calendar?

The game starts with a narrative setting the scene of the murder mystery. Six guests arrive at a Tudor manor all hiding something. The next thing you know, the host has been murdered and you’re off on your mysterious adventure. Your family has 24 days to work out who did it, where, and with what.

Each day (and door) hides a new puzzle to solve. Each puzzle has a slightly different format so the clues maintain their intrigue rather than feeling repetitive. You also have a guidebook that tells you a bit more of the story. And (if you get stuck) gives you a hint. Solving the day’s puzzle tells you which door to open the next day.

The puzzles vary in difficulty and we did need a couple of clues. We did the calendar with a 6, 9 and 12 year old. The six year old did need a bit of help, but she still felt included. The other two were more self-sufficient.

What’s To Love

I love how interactive this was. And how every member of the family was excited to sit down each evening to see what the next puzzle would be. Even on the days where we needed a little help, no one got frustrated or angry. It was a really positive experience for us.

The clues also didn’t take ages to solve! It was a quick moment of connection and then we were able to move on. I estimate we spent between 10-15 minutes on this per evening.

We took turns with who would ‘lead’ the clue sleuthing each evening. Someone could always ask for help, but the sense of ownership helped regulate the age differences and ensure that everyone felt like they had a good go.

I will say, if you don’t love Cluedo (or puzzles) then this Christmas advent calendar is not for you. If this feels like a bit too much of an investment, why not try creating your own game? Both bought vs crafted calendars are great ways to count down, and my family Christmas Advent Calendar guide has plenty of free ideas if you’d like to mix and match. Check that out here.

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