Secret Santa

About

Secret Santa is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Daniel Jonathan Bourke and was released on December 1, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

Sneak around children, pets, and the elderly as you deliver Christmas joy. Complete the list of deliveries, and have some cookies.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews

music4 positive mentions

Fun and challenging stealth gameplay with a festive Christmas theme.
Charm and humor throughout the game make it enjoyable despite its simplicity.
Free to play with a decent amount of content and cute pixel art style.

Unreliable and sometimes frustrating hitboxes leading to unfair deaths.
Limited technical options (no key remapping, no controller support, no advanced settings).
Repetitive music and modest sound design; game can feel slow and grindy.

gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay receives mixed feedback, with some praising its solid stealth mechanics and organic difficulty progression, while others criticize clumsy hitboxes, basic presentation, and lack of depth. Overall, it offers straightforward, house-based stealth challenges but may feel repetitive or unimpressive to some players.
- “In the end, while the presentation may be basic, Secret Santa is a solid game with some good stealth mechanics.”
- “In a way, the easy and medium levels act as organic tutorials, introducing new mechanics and traps.”
- “Gameplay is quite different between the titles, with MGS having and using special items in a single house while SS features individual houses with the idea 'get in, do the thing, get out.'”
- “I beat one list and got bored; there's really nothing that adds to the gameplay.”
- “As for gameplay, my only qualm is the clumsy, unreliable hitboxes.”
- “Gameplay is quite different between the titles, with MGS having and using special items in a single house, while SS features individual houses with the idea to 'get in, do the thing, get out.'”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is generally enjoyable and complements the simple art style, evoking nostalgic vibes. While some find the soundtrack pleasant and fitting, others note it can be somewhat repetitive, though this is forgiven given the game's short length. The use of remixed Christmas tunes adds a unique and enjoyable touch.
- “The music gives you nostalgic vibes, complementing the simple but good art style.”
- “The soundtrack is very good and enjoyable.”
- “The pleasant soundtrack is not fancy, but it works well.”
- “The music is somewhat repetitive, but it is forgiven since the game is short.”
- “The music consists of a bunch of remixed Christmas tunes.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is lighthearted and fun, centered around the amusing concept of trying to kill Santa. While not exceptionally strong, the comedic elements and clever level themes add a playful charm to the challenging arcade stealth-puzzle experience.
- “I did a stream of this game for my holiday special and it was so fun and hilarious, not to mention way more challenging than I expected.”
- “I found it hilarious that everyone is trying to kill Santa.”
- “As a funny detail, the levels are children on 'nice lists' and 'naughty lists' etc. Nice people's houses are (quite logically) the easy levels and the naughtier they get, the more traps and guards there are.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics feature a retro pixel art style that some users find appealing and well-executed, while others consider it subpar. Overall, the pixel art receives mixed reactions, with many appreciating its nostalgic charm.
- “Haven't played it long, but I enjoy the retro graphics.”
- “The game is certainly a good mixture of both, plus the pixel art style is awesome as well.”
- “I really enjoy the music and the art style.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The story is described as deep and riveting, providing strong narrative engagement. However, compared to more complex puzzle-based games, this title offers a simpler, casual arcade stealth experience with a less intricate storyline.
- “Very deep and riveting story line.”