Christmas Massacre

About Christmas Massacre

Christmas Massacre is a horror game by Puppet Combo, the studio behind Murder House, Nun Massacre and Stay Out of the House. It came out on Steam on 17 December 2021, on GOG in November 2022 and on PlayStation 4 and 5 and Xbox in November 2023. It costs $7.99 on PC and $11.99 on consoles. The PC version is in English; the PlayStation version adds subtitles in French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

In most of Puppet Combo's games you are the one being hunted. Here you are the killer. Larry's Christmas tree has been telling him to kill everyone who has been naughty, and in a Santa mask and red suit he goes out to do it. The game asks whose side the tree is really on, and whether Larry can trust what he hears. It opens in Larry's boarding school days, where you sneak past a nun to take a knife from the kitchen, then jumps ahead years to a new spree.

Each level is a place full of people: a house at night, a supermarket and more. You keep to the shadows, keep your noise down and pick people off one at a time. Meters show how hidden and how loud you are. Victims run for the exit the moment they see you or a body, and if one gets out the level fails. Later you can throw knives. You can play in first or third person, collect masks and costumes, and use a fast-forward button. The game grades you on each level, which gives a reason to replay. The kills are bloody, with decapitations and dismemberment.

The look is the crusty low-poly style of Puppet Combo's other games, with a VHS tracking overlay you can switch off. Destructoid found the stealth light and the knife hits unreliable, more Hotline Miami than Splinter Cell, but enjoyed the talking tree and the dark jokes and called it a seasonal treat for Puppet Combo fans. It suits players who want to see a slasher film from the killer's side and do not mind gore.

How to play Christmas Massacre

1. Pick a level and choose first or third person view.
2. Watch your status meters: keep to the shadows and make as little noise as you can.
3. Stalk a victim until they are alone and out of sight of others, then strike.
4. Stop anyone who sees you before they reach the exit, and keep bodies where they will not be found.
5. Kill everyone the level asks for without being caught to move on, and pick up masks and costumes for Larry along the way.

Tips

• Your shadow and noise meters show how hidden and how loud you are; keep both low when people are near.
• Learn where the exits are: a victim who spots you runs straight for the door, so standing between them and it saves a level.
• The knife does not always connect, so get close and line up before you swing.
• Once you can throw knives, a choke point is a strong place to stand.
• If the tape-style picture tires your eyes, the VHS overlay can be turned off.

Questions