Holiday 2025 Event Guide: Winter's Jest

Introduction

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ"Sous les guirlandes et les fêtes, la nuit veille en silence"
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ"Underneath the tinsel and cheer, the night watches quietly."

Hey there! Welcome back to another guide!

In the quiet of winter nights, Krampus has returned—this time it has a list and list and will be checking it twice. Just like last year’s Winter’s Jest, his presence casts a shadow over every investigation. This time, though, he’s not content with simply hiding jack-in-the-boxes around the map… he’s actively pulling you into his mischief.

The event plays similarly to the 2023 Halloween update, where investigators (thats you) took part in a small scavenger hunt—only now, you’ll be tracking down presents for the naughty and the nice. With Krampus’ jack-in-the-boxes in the mix and ten maps available during the event, there are more opportunities than ever to earn points and unlock rewards!
The event starts December 16th and set to end on January 6th.

While this guide covers the full structure of the event, there are many sections containing spoilers.
Several maps are marked as spoilers but you can hover image to reveal the contents—so you can choose a gentle nudge or a full breakdown.

So pull up your socks, put on your gloves, and let’s dive into Phasmophobia’s 2025 Holiday Event.

How the Event Works

Winter’s Jest is Phasmophobia’s 2025 winter holiday event. Like the most recent seasonal events, it’s built around a shared, community-wide goal — meaning every investigation you complete helps push progress toward unlocking the event’s exclusive rewards.

Throughout the event, snowfall blankets ten rotating locations: 10 Ridgeview Court, 6 Tanglewood Drive, 13 Willow Street, 42 Edgefield Road, Camp Woodwind, Bleasdale Farmhouse, Grafton Farmhouse, Maple Lodge Campsite, Point Hope, and the new Nell’s Diner. Only investigations completed on these maps contribute to event progress. The active locations rotate daily and can be played much as you like.

Beyond the usual objectives of correctly identifying the ghost and completing optional tasks, Winter’s Jest 2025 introduces additional hidden mechanics. Scattered across the holiday maps are Jack-in-the-Boxes, returning from previous events, alongside a new twist: Krampus’ Naughty & Nice List. Presents tied to this system can be found and interacted with, and—just like the boxes, earn Event Points that go directly into overall event progress. Be good, be bold, or be unlucky… either way, Krampus is keeping score.

At its core, Winter’s Jest revolves around these two features: Jack-in-the-Boxes and Presents. In the sections below, we’ll break down how each one works, where to find them, and how they tie into both personal and community progression.

It’s time to sleigh some ghosts. *nudge nudge*

Example of a Jack-in-the-Box triggering when interacted with.

Jack-in-the-Boxes are reddish boxes that can spawn randomly in fixed locations across Winter’s Jest maps.

When activated, the box will pop after a short, random countdown, delivering a mild scare before vanishing. Successfully triggering a Jack-in-the-Box awards +2 Event Points, provided you do not go gentle into that Silent Night — meaning don't die and finish the investigation successfully.

Krampus has left you a job to do — and, naturally, it involves a list. At the entrance of each holiday map, you’ll find a sack alongside Krampus’ Naughty & Nice list. The list shows small icons representing specific presents hidden around the location.

Your task is simple: locate the correct presents during the investigation and throw them into the sack. Each correct delivery is checked off the list and contributes +2 Event Points, awarded at the end of the investigation.

If you manage to complete the entire list, you’ll earn a bonus +10 Event Points, along with festive rewards such as sanity-restoring cookies and random equipment drops to help you through the hunt.

Be warned: Krampus is not forgiving. Delivering the wrong present will anger him, filling the sack with coal and permanently locking it for the rest of the investigation — no more deliveries, no more points.

So check the list carefully… and maybe check it twice.

I'd reccomend picking up the list and bringing it with you, and pile up the presents outside and throw them in together to be sure you get the right ones.

Event points are currency earned during your investiagtion on Winter's Jest maps. These contribute to your Community and Personal Goal gauges Stage progress is based on points—you'll earn them by doing things like identifying ghosts and finding jack-in-the-boxes and presents. This what you'll get for different tasks:

Objective

Points

Info

Finding Jack-in-the-boxes

2 pt

Interact with a Jack-in-the-boxes to destroy it

Delivering all Presents

2 pt

Finish Krampus's list to his sack to earn +10 Event Points

Complete Optional Objectives

3 pt

Each Side Objective will give you 3 points (each?)

Identify Ghost Correctly

10 pt

Correctly identify the ghost for a huge boost in points.

Difficulty Multiplier

1-15 pts

For every 1x in difficulty, you get 1 extra point. So a x15 multiplier grants an extra 15pts.

These points go towards a gauge in the previously mentioned Event board and gradually fill as you finish investigations. Once full you will unlock the different rewards. All players contributes to the Community reward, but you only you can contribute points towards the personal Rewards. If you're curios to see the rewards head here...

You'll earn extra points based on difficulty, with one point per multiplier. For example, x8 (Professional) gives 8 extra points for a correct ghost identification.

6 Tanglewood Drive

Click on image for full size picture.

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Stars are in the Boy's Bedroom.

Coal in the Bathroom's bathtub.

Capybaras in the Nursery.

Deer in the Main Bedroom.

Snowmen in the Main Bedrooms bathroom. Not sure why they think this is a good idea.

Only a few trees in the Living Room.

The Candy Cane heart and the Jack-In-The-Box in the Kitchen really sends mixed messages?

Also in the Kitchen is the Gingerbread Men.

This part is really specific. You need to do a full loop of the dining room table all the way around the kitchen counter while spamming crouch and some Nutcrackers should spawn on the foot rest. Or they was there the entire time. You'll never know.

Elves in the Utility room.

Bundles of Rock in the Garage

And the last for the presents of this map: You can find Bundles of Sticks in the basement

10 Ridgeview Court

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Ginger (bread) people in the Kitchen.

Nutcrackers can be found in the Master bedroom, and it's ensuite bathroom and closet. Not going to ask...

Tree's can be found across the Living and Dining Room area. Coal is by the fireplace in the Living Room.

Sussie

19

65

Some Deer just outside the hallway on our way to the garage for the next present.

Bundles of sticks on the workbench.

Head into the basement, take a right and on the far back on some shelves, but mostly on the tool box is some Bundles of Rocks.

Going upstairs, the closest room is the Girls bedroom so we'll start here. In this purple bedroom you can find the Capyabaras.

This isn't specific to one bathroom, but all the Elves can be found exclusively in bathrooms.

Candy Cane in the Boy's Bedroom

Stars in the Teen Boy's Bedroom

Garage - Snowmen are between the cars.

13 Willow Street

Willow Street House

Living Room - Trees and Coal by the Fireplace

Kitchen - Gingerbread Men, Dining Table has the Candy Canes

Garage - Elf Doll

Bathroom-Stars

Hallway - Snowmen

Master Bedroom - Nutcracker

Boys Room - Bear Doll

Basement Hallway - Stone Bundle

Basement Room 1 - Reindeer

Basement Room 2 - Stick Bundles

42 Edgefield Road

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

at least 4 Candy Canes can be found on the Dining Room table

Multiple Stars scattered around the Garage

Nutcrackers can be found in the Purple Bedroom

Toy Elves can be found in the Nursery

Christmas Trees can be found in the Living Room

Coal can be found in the Living Room fireplace. All wrapped up & ready, for you, DYLAN.

Snowmen (identifiable by Snowballs) can be found in the Main Bedroom

Capybara can be found in the Large Blue Bedroom

Toy Deer can be found in the Green Bedroom

Bundle of Stickscan be found in the Basement

Gingerbread peoplecan be found in the Kitchen

Lumps of stonescan be found in the Utility closet

Keep a keen eye out for Krampus's Jack-in-the-boxes, which reward and extra +2 Event points per box opened!

Screenshot

Location

Nursery

Green Bedroom

Large Blue Bedroom

Basement

Purple Bedroom's Bathrom

Dining Room

Bleasdale Farmhouse

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Aww, so wholesome. Ignore the human ribcage. In the Tea Room you can find Candy Canes.

Bundle of rocks scattered around the Side Room

By the chopping block just as you exit to the Side Path, you can find some prepared bundles of sticks

Snowmen chilling out on the Balcony. I forgot if I've already used that pun.

Coal by the Living Room fireplace.

Entering the Dining room you can find some Trees on the table.

And in the room over, the kitchen has some Gingerbread Men.

As you reach the top of the stairs, multiple cabinets on the landing have Stars.

Going into the Master bedroom, in both rooms to the entrances right will have Nutcrackers hidden around.

Take a left before end of the hallway to enter the Trophy room, in here you can find soime Capybaras still being adowable little guys :')

A handful of Deer are in the Study, studying how best to run into cars.

Lastly, Elves can be found at the very top around the attic, seems most are in the Attic bedroom.

Camp Woodwind

Game Tent - Stars

Food Tent - Candy Canes and Gingerbread Men

Fire Pit - Coal, Stick Bundles and Stone Bundles

Blue Tent - Reindeer

White Tent - Elf Dolls

Red Tent - Nutcracker

Picnic Area - Snowmen

Yellow Tent - Trees

Lover's Bench - Bear Doll

Grafton Farmhouse

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Buddy, you're a young man, snowman... Many to be found in the Living Room

Hope you like spice, the gingerbread men found in the kitchen are very....zesty?

Some very sharp dressed bundles of rock in the Utility Room.

Coal can be found in the Living Room Fireplace

Much harder to spot but there are Tree's also in the living room too. One on the table, another on the cabinet next to the fireplace.

Lighting is terrible here, sorry, but you can find deer in the Library. Next to the Living room.

Some freshly made Nutcrackers in the Work Room.

As we head upstairs, on the cabinets to the left and right of the hallway is some bundles of sticks.

THEYRE SOOOO CUTE WHAT EVEN?! In the master bedroom you can find some Capybara's. Go ahead, separate then, you MONSTER!

You can find some Candy Canes in the Girl's Bedroom. Side note: Glass dolls genuinely freak me out.

Elf Dolls are found in the Twin's Bedroom.

And finally, you can find the Stars in the Attic. But you've been the brightest one so far <3

Maple Lodge Campsite

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Nutcrackers in Reception

Gingerbread Men in the Food Tent

Just over that, is the Game Tent where you can find the Stars

In and around the toilets you can find some Candy Canes. Don't eat those by the way.

You can find Bundles of Sticks and Stones around Campfire B. Just remember the ghost CAN still hurt you though.

Capybaras are found in the Staff Storage Area. On a wooden pallet next to the bear trap.

Lastly for the Campsite B area before heading to the cabin, around the Totem you can find Trees.

Heading to the cabin, on the far left is a pile of snow, scattered around are some Snowmen

On the grills next to the park benches is some Coal.

At the very end of the dock is some Deer.

Last but not least, as you head inside the cabin (if you didn't know key is under the matt) some Elves are relaxing on the sofa.

Nells Diner

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Gingerbread men can be found in the dining area (left as you enter) mostly on the tables, but a few on the seats too.

Tree's and Candy Canes can be found in the Counter area of the diner.

Coal and Nutcrackers can be found together in the Kitchen. Feels like a fire hazard.

Still in the kitchen area, there's some Reindeer in the cooler.

Snowmen in the freezer? Did you say, cooling off? Chilling out? No? Okay...

Stars can be found in the managers office.

OH EM GEE THEYRE SNACKING. next door to the office, is the staff room where you may find some Capybaras.

Bit further down the same hallway, is the janitors closet. In here you can find some stick bundles haphazardly by the gas canister....

Last presents now. In the Staff corridor you've got 2 toilets, we'll start with the female. Inside here you can find some Rock bundles by the bin.

Finally, we're at the end, where it all begins, and where it all ends, the men's toilet. Here, you can find some elves doing their thing.

Point Hope

Krampa-claus is making a list, find and complete the naughty and nice list for an extra 10 Event Points. Multiples of each present can be found per room. Press E to pickup and throw them in the sack found at the entrance.

Screenshot

Present

Location

Just as you enter the Lighthouse, Bundles of Rock can be found around the Foyer.

On the sofa is 5 Elves that match the colour of the couch fairly well. It does reminds me of something...

On the same level is a stove, surrounding this is plenty of Coal

The Kitchen has two presents for us to find. The first is on the kitchen worktop, some Gingerbread Men.

The second is on the centre rung table, some Candy Canes.

Next floor up on the game room is some Trees around the centre rung.

Snowmen in the bathroom again. I shouldn't judge, but you know, never eat yellow snow?

More Nutcrackers in the Main Bedroom.

Chill guy Capybaras in the Kids Bedroom.

Bundles of Sticks in the Maintenance Room

And Stars can be found at the very top, on the Lighthouse observation deck.

Wine Room on the Dining Table are the Reindeer.

Community Rewards

Personal Rewards

Acknowledgments

Authors Note: Hey there, so i'm going to sleep. BUT when I wake up i'll be finishing off the locations for the Jack-in-the-boxes and making some better designed maps I will add to the drive. In the mean time be sure to upvote, favourite and check back often <3

Okie dokie artichoke, that's all for this year! Thank you for checking out my guide, please please if you can favourite and upvote so others can find it! Leave some comments below if i've forgotten or made any mistakes and if you want to help out, add me on steam, i will likely need help getting screenshot trophies. Cheers, take care and have a lovely holiday <3

Guide header and chapter cards: Assets from Kinetic Games' Winter's Jest blog post[www.kineticgames.co.uk].
Map Assets - Karotte Phasmo Team[phasmo.karotte.org]
Fresh battle scars: My cat, Bandit, once again, being annoying.
My friends - Alex, Kav, Wega, Evelyn, Jay, Corey and Reuben for their (probably unknowing) emotional support and loving friendship
Gamewatchers: For a sudden change in plans, and the unexpected free time that followed. Which helped make these guide possible.
M&S Foodhall - Just encase any of my colleagues read this guide—hi.
Contributors - Ariel for helping me with the research of the guide giving me an awesome head start, thank you!
Hatsune Miku - ‘Country Roads’ cover: Keeping me entertained while I write.
John Denver - For writing ‘Country Roads’ so Hatsune Miku could cover it.

You, the reader - For taking the time to read my work, from this guide to my very first, your support inspires me to pour my heart into creating for this community. Love you all for everything over the years <3
One last thing:
If you’d like to use the maps created for this event, feel free to download from this drive[drive.google.com] and share them. They can be reposted, reproduced, or used elsewhere so long as credit is given or a link back to this guide is included.
I’ve put a lot of work into these, and they’re meant to be useful, so feel free to put them to good use!

All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.