35 Christmas Party Games Nobody Will Roll Their Eyes At
Every good Christmas party has a recipe for success: great company, a stellar holiday meal, familiar tunes, and a whole lot of cheer. And since one can only eat and drink so much, it's a nice idea to play some fun Christmas party games and activities to add to the merriment.
We can hear the groans already, but before you roll your eyes, hear us out: Party games aren't just for kids. Whether you're hosting an office party for a large group, a small family gathering, or even an online shindig, there are plenty of enjoyable options for both children and adults. Take the oven mitt challenge, for example. Your competitive side is bound to rear its head when you're desperately trying to crack open the present before your turn comes to an abrupt end. Or, the adults-only Hallmark movie drinking game—a fun activity that ups the stakes of an innocent movie marathon.
No matter which game you choose to play, one thing's for sure: This will be a Christmas you won't soon forget. (And, no, not just because it's been a very strange year.)
PamsPartyPrintables
etsy.com
$9.00
Anticipating a virtual gathering this year? Your Zoom party can be just as fun, thanks to this interactive online game. Simply assign a host to download the PowerPoint and share their screen.
Looking for something to do at your Christmas party? Here's an easy game: Play just a three second clip from a classic holiday song, and see who can guess it first.
PaperPassionDesigns
etsy.com
$6.95
Think you know Christmas songs better than just about anyone? See if you can beat your opponents at translating the emojis into popular titles.
Consider this your family's very own seasonal olympics. Divide your crew into two, then engage in a series of nine holiday-themed events. Whichever team earns the most points gets bragging rights... until next year, that is.
Another enjoyable party game for large groups—think office parties or extended family gatherings—in which each participant brings a small gift and puts it in a pile. Before you begin, have each person grab a gift at random. Then, each player takes turns rolling a die. The next action depends on what number it lands on—you either pass the gifts, unwrap, or steal someone else's.
To up the ante a little bit, don't let players make the choice to pick or steal—let a coin flip make that decision for them.
DailyBlots
etsy.com
$3.95
Pit the two sides of your family against each other in an at-home Christmas-themed version of the classic TV game show. You don't need much—just the printable and a few pens.
Having a yourself a merry little Hallmark movie marathon? Add to the drama of the night by turning your binge watching session into an adults-only drinking game, taking a swig each time it snows on Christmas or you sense a healthy dose of holiday cynicism.
FPWDesign
etsy.com
$3.98
Add a little friendly competition to your holiday meal by placing one of these printables at each seat with a pencil. Ask each guest to fill out their card during the meal. When you're finished eating, score each card. Host an awards ceremony over dessert, complete with funny gag gifts as prizes for first, second, and third place. This also works well over Zoom.
ohhappyprintables
etsy.com
$3.25
Download these printable cards and cut them into individual pieces. After dinner, split your large group into teams to see who has the best acting skills.
Here's a fun way to make quick work of wrapping all those presents under the tree: Grab a timer and see which family member can wrap the most gifts in the shortest amount of time. Up the stakes by imposing a "one hand only" rule.
This old-fashioned game provides wholesome fun for families. Throw on your matching jammies, sit in a circle, and take turns coming up with Christmas phrases or movie or song titles. When it's your turn, whisper your phrase to the person next to you. Then, they whisper it to the person next to them, and so on. Once you've reached the end of the line, have the last person recite the phrase to see how close they got to the original.
Though Secret Santa is a classic office activity for the holidays, a White Elephant gift exchange can be a bit more enjoyable, since it takes the pressure off. Instead of picking a gift for a specific person, each participant buys a small token (usually under $15 or $20) to place in one big bag or pile. Then, you draw numbers to see who picks a gift first. During each round, players can choose to either open a new gift from the pile—or steal a coveted item from another player.
For adults, a simple game that helps you get to know your friends and family members on a deeper level. You might just find out, for example, who among you has ever—gasp!—regifted something. To play, each person takes a turn coming up with something they're never done, like "Never have I ever... spent the bulk of my holiday budget on myself." Any player who has done so must take a drink of eggnog. It's traditionally played with booze, but of course, that's up to you.
PracticalWhimsyCo
etsy.com
$3.00
Keep the kids occupied by challenging them to hunt the house for each and every item on this list. Because each square features an illustration, even non-readers, like toddlers, can join in on the fun.
Tape the name of a holiday character to each person's back. Then, as you mingle, you have to ask your coworkers yes or no questions to try to determine who you are.
A simple game for classrooms, in which each child guesses how many Christmas candies are in the jar. The closest—without going over—wins a special prize.
Like the more well-known "Chubby Bunny," use all those marshmallows you bought for hot cocoa to see who can say the phrase "Chubby Santa" with the most marshmallows in their mouth.
A fast-paced game that's fun for the whole family. All you need to play is a wrapped present, dice, and oven mitts. Have the first player slip on the oven mitts and attempt to open the package, while the next player rolls the dice. Once the second player rolls doubles, the first player has to pass them the present. Continue this cycle until the gift is finally open. Whoever achieves this feat gets to keep the gift.
IMQCreative
etsy.com
$20.00
Make a holiday movie night a little more interactive with this fun BINGO game the whole family can play. To make things even sweeter, use little peppermint candies as game pieces.
Why dress up when you can wear a comfortable ugly Christmas sweater? Encourage guests to get in on the fun by offering a prize to the person with the most outrageous outfit.
Mad Libs
amazon.com
$5.99
For a no-fuss, but enjoyable Christmas game you can play over dinner, grab this pad of Mad Libs. Simply put a pen at each place setting, and instruct each diner to fill in a word, then pass the pad. The person to fill in the last blank reads the hilarious result aloud.
ShopCandylandStudio
etsy.com
$24.00
A fun one for both kids and adults alike. Blindfold each participant, spin them around a few times, then see who can stick the red button closest to Rudolph's nose.
Like the original dance game, but each player dons a Santa hat and stuffs a pillow into their shirt to make things a bit more challenging. If you hit the bar, fall to the ground, or lose any of your Santa gear, you're out of the game.
Like musical chairs, but with higher stakes—Christmas presents! Have each guest bring a small gift and put them into a bag. Have your family sit in a circle and, at the start of each round, pick a gift at random. Turn on a Christmas tune and pass the present. When the music abruptly shuts off, the person with the gift in hand opens their prize and leaves the circle. Repeat until all gifts have been claimed.
Ask each guest to bring a small token—either a gag gift or something sweet, like a gift card—and wrap it in black construction paper. (Alternatively, for small groups, the host can take on the task.) Place the gifts in a bag, then draw numbers to see who picks first. Let each person reach in to grab a piece of "coal." Then watch as they open—will it really be coal... or will it be unexpected treasure?
LifeandGlitter
etsy.com
$5.00
Place one of these Christmas puzzles at each kids' seat to afford the adults a little more time to linger.
If you have a large group, divide into teams and have each team designate one person to become the snowman. Then, set a timer and see who can use the toilet paper (or crepe paper!)—and a few additional supplied crafting tools, like pom-poms—to turn their teammate into the most festive Frosty.
This game is best suited for outdoors, but you can make do in a larger indoor space. To play, split up into teams of four to six players. Then, place a "Santa suit"—think gloves, a hat, boots, and a jacket—on a chair a few yards away. When the game begins, the first players race to their designated suit, puts everything on, then exclaims "Ho, Ho, Ho." Then, they disrobe, place the items back on the chair, and run back to tag the next player. The first team to complete the relay race wins.
In this "Minute to Win It" style game, participants have 60 seconds to see how high they can stack Christmas cookies before they tumble over. The person with the highest standing tower at the end of the round wins.
The Most Enjoyable Christmas Party Games
Every good Christmas party has a recipe for success: great company, a stellar holiday meal, familiar tunes, and a whole lot of cheer. And since one can only eat and drink so much, it's a nice idea to play some fun Christmas party games and activities to add to the merriment.
We can hear the groans already, but before you roll your eyes, hear us out: Party games aren't just for kids. Whether you're hosting an office party for a large group, a small family gathering, or even an online shindig, there are plenty of enjoyable options for both children and adults. Take the oven mitt challenge, for example. Your competitive side is bound to rear its head when you're desperately trying to crack open the present before your turn comes to an abrupt end. Or, the adults-only Hallmark movie drinking game—a fun activity that ups the stakes of an innocent movie marathon.
No matter which game you choose to play, one thing's for sure: This will be a Christmas you won't soon forget. (And, no, not just because it's been a very strange year.)
Have yourself a merry little celebration.
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