Christmas Party Games for Kids, Adults and Families

The right Christmas party games turn a room full of relatives, neighbors or coworkers into one cheerful group. Here are 22 fun ideas, sorted into games for kids, games for adults and games that suit large family gatherings. Every game lists the number of players, what you need and how to play, and most use things you already have in the house.

Christmas games for the whole family

White Elephant Gift Swap

Players: 6 to 40
You need: One wrapped gift per guest (set a price limit), numbered slips

Everyone draws a number. Player one opens a gift from the pile. Each next player either opens a new gift or steals one already opened, and the person robbed picks again. A gift can only be stolen three times. It is the classic Christmas game for adults and large groups.

Pass the Present

Players: 6 to 30
You need: A small gift wrapped in many layers, Christmas music

Pass the parcel around the circle while carols play. When the music stops, the holder unwraps one layer, which may hide a candy or a festive forfeit like "sing one line of a carol". The person who opens the last layer keeps the prize. Full setup in our passing the parcel guide.

Christmas Charades

Players: 6 to 40
You need: Slips with Christmas words and songs, a one minute timer

Split into two teams. Players act out festive words such as "wrapping presents", "snowball fight" or "reindeer" while their team guesses within a minute. Use the standard charades rules, or let the charades word generator pick words for you.

Christmas Song Finish the Lyric

Players: 4 to 40
You need: A list of carol and holiday song lines

Sing or read the first half of a line and teams race to finish it. Award a bonus point for the song title. It works well for families because grandparents and kids both know the carols.

Christmas Movie Plot Quiz

Players: 4 to 40
You need: A list of short, silly plot summaries

Describe classic holiday stories in one deadpan sentence, such as "a grumpy man is visited by three ghosts". Teams guess the story. Write your own summaries of the stories your family watches every year.

Christmas Survey Game

Players: 8 to 40, two teams
You need: Ten survey questions answered by guests beforehand

Ask guests to answer questions like "name something you hang on a tree" as they arrive. Tally the top answers. Two teams then try to guess the most popular answers, scoring points for each. Keep score on the scoreboard.

Snowman Wrap

Players: 6 to 30, teams of 3
You need: Two rolls of toilet paper per team, a hat and scarf

Each team picks a "snowman" and wraps them in toilet paper in two minutes, then adds the hat and scarf. Guests vote for the best snowman. It is quick, funny and great for photos.

Christmas party games for adults

Candy Cane Hook Challenge

Players: 4 to 20
You need: Candy canes, one held in each player's mouth

Players hold a candy cane by its straight end in their mouth and try to hook other candy canes off a table without using hands. Most canes hooked in one minute wins. It is a favorite one minute Christmas challenge for adults.

Unwrap the Gift with Oven Mitts

Players: 4 to 20
You need: A box wrapped in lots of tape, two oven mitts, a pair of dice

Players sit in a circle and pass a pair of dice. When someone rolls doubles, they put on the oven mitts and try to unwrap the box until the next player rolls doubles. Whoever opens it keeps the prize. A phone dice app works if you are short on dice.

Christmas Trivia

Players: 4 to 50
You need: A list of 20 Christmas questions

Ask about traditions around the world, carol lyrics and festive food. Teams write answers and swap sheets for marking. Mix easy and hard questions so every team scores.

Who Am I, Christmas Edition

Players: 6 to 30
You need: Sticky notes with festive characters

Stick a note with a Christmas character on each guest's forehead or back. They ask yes or no questions to work out who they are. It is a good icebreaker for office and neighborhood parties.

Ornament Stacking

Players: 4 to 20
You need: Shatterproof ornaments, a timer

Players have 60 seconds to stack as many plastic ornaments as possible into a tower that stands for three seconds. Tallest tower wins.

Christmas Two Truths and a Lie

Players: 4 to 20
You need: Nothing

Everyone shares two true Christmas memories and one invented one. Others guess the fake. It works just like two truths and a lie and gets great stories going.

Gingerbread House Contest

Players: 6 to 30, teams
You need: Gingerbread kits or crackers, icing, candy

Teams build a gingerbread house in 30 minutes. Award prizes for best design, funniest and most likely to collapse. It is relaxed enough to run while dinner finishes.

Christmas games for kids

Pin the Nose on the Reindeer

Players: 4 to 20 kids
You need: A large reindeer poster, red paper noses with tape, a blindfold

Each child is blindfolded, spun gently three times and tries to stick the nose in the right spot. Closest wins. Mark each attempt with initials.

Musical Christmas Statues

Players: 6 to 30 kids
You need: Christmas music

Kids dance while music plays and freeze when it stops. Anyone who moves is out and becomes a helper judge. Last one standing wins. For a seated version, play musical chairs.

Reindeer Antler Ring Toss

Players: 2 to 20
You need: A headband with paper or pool noodle antlers, plastic rings

One player wears the antlers while teammates toss rings onto them from six feet away. Most rings caught in one minute wins.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Players: 4 to 30
You need: Clue cards hidden around the house

Write clues that lead from the tree to the stockings to the cookie jar, ending at a small treat. For younger kids use picture clues. See our scavenger hunt ideas for clue templates.

Snowball Toss

Players: 2 to 20
You need: Cotton balls or rolled white socks, buckets

Kids throw "snowballs" into buckets placed at different distances, each worth more points the further away. Most points after three throws wins.

Santa Says

Players: 5 to 30 kids
You need: Nothing

A festive version of Simon Says. The leader gives actions like "Santa says pat your belly". Anyone who follows a command without "Santa says" sits down. Last child standing becomes the next Santa.

Christmas Bingo

Players: 4 to 40
You need: Bingo cards with festive pictures, counters

Call out items such as tree, star, sleigh and stocking. Players cover matching squares, and the first line wins a small treat. Picture cards make it easy for little ones.

Draw Santa Blindfolded

Players: 4 to 20
You need: Paper plates, markers, blindfolds

Players hold a paper plate on their head and draw Santa while the host calls out parts: face, hat, beard, eyes. Reveal the drawings together and vote for the best one.

Planning tips for Christmas party games

• Match the crowd. Office parties suit trivia, Who Am I and the gift swap. Family parties need games where a five year old and a grandparent can be on the same team.
• Large groups. White Elephant, Christmas Bingo, trivia and survey games scale to 40 or more players. Split teams fairly with the random team generator.
• Set a gift budget. For gift swaps, a clear price limit keeps things fair and stress free.
• Have small prizes ready. Chocolate coins, ornaments, socks and candy canes are cheap and festive.
• Time it. Play active kids' games before dinner and calm quizzes after.