25 Christmas Party Games for the Whole Family

The quick guide

• For mixed ages: charades, Pictionary and would you rather.
• For young kids: pass the parcel, pin the nose on Rudolph, candy cane hunt.
• For adults: white elephant, trivia, hard charades, most likely to.
• For the office: Secret Santa, ugly sweater contest, team charades.

The games

1. 1. Christmas charades

   Players: 4+, in two teams · You need: a phone

   Act out Christmas movies, songs and traditions without speaking while your team guesses. Use a one-minute timer and keep score. It works for every age, which makes it the best all-rounder for a family gathering.

   Christmas charades generator with timer →

2. 2. Christmas Pictionary

   Players: 4+, in two teams · You need: paper or a whiteboard

   Same as charades, but you draw. Holiday words like 'reindeer', 'snow globe' and 'ugly sweater' are easy enough for kids, while 'Silent Night' will challenge the adults.

   Christmas Pictionary word generator →

3. 3. Christmas trivia

   Players: any, solo or teams · You need: paper and pens

   Split into teams and quiz each other on Christmas movies, songs and traditions. Ten questions a round, one point per answer. Have the youngest player read the answers.

   Christmas trivia questions and answers →

4. 4. Christmas would you rather

   Players: any · You need: nothing

   Read out a festive dilemma ('Would you rather be one of Santa's elves or one of his reindeer?') and go round the table. No winners, just arguments. Good for the dinner table between courses.

   Christmas would you rather questions →

5. 5. Christmas this or that

   Players: any · You need: nothing

   Quick-fire festive picks: real tree or fake, Elf or Home Alone, hot chocolate or eggnog. In a classroom, point to two sides of the room and have everyone walk to their answer.

   Christmas this or that questions →

6. 6. Secret Santa

   Players: 3+ · You need: small gifts

   Everyone draws one name and buys that person a gift within an agreed budget. Draw names online so nobody has to pick from a hat, and send everyone a short questionnaire so they get something they'll use.

   Free Secret Santa name draw →

7. 7. White elephant gift exchange

   Players: 6+ · You need: one wrapped gift per person

   Everyone brings one wrapped gift. Draw numbers for turn order. On your turn, unwrap a new gift or steal one that's already open. A gift can only be stolen three times. The funnier the gifts, the better.

8. 8. Pass the parcel

   Players: 4+, great for kids · You need: a small prize wrapped in many layers, music

   Pass the parcel around the circle while music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding it removes one layer. Hide a sweet in each layer so everyone wins something, and the prize in the middle.

1. 1. Christmas most likely to

   Players: 4+ · You need: nothing

   'Who is most likely to start playing Christmas music in October?' Count to three and everyone points at someone. Whoever gets the most fingers explains themselves.

   Most likely to questions (Christmas category) →

2. 2. Wrap it up race

   Players: 4+, in pairs · You need: wrapping paper, tape, boxes

   Each pair has to wrap a box together, but each player may only use one hand. Their other hand goes behind their back. Fastest neat wrap wins.

3. 3. Pin the nose on Rudolph

   Players: any, great for kids · You need: a drawn reindeer, a red paper nose, a blindfold

   Draw a big Rudolph on paper and tape it to the wall. Blindfold players one at a time, spin them three times, and let them try to stick the red nose on. Closest wins.

4. 4. Snowman build-off

   Players: 6+, in teams · You need: toilet paper rolls

   Each team picks one person to be the snowman and wraps them in toilet paper. Add a paper hat and scarf for bonus points. The best-looking snowman after two minutes wins.

5. 5. Christmas carol Pictionary

   Players: 4+ · You need: paper and pens

   Draw the title of a Christmas song, line by line or as a single picture. When your team guesses it, everyone has to sing the first line.

6. 6. Candy cane hunt

   Players: any, great for kids · You need: candy canes

   Hide candy canes around the house or yard, Easter-egg style. Give each child a color, or award a prize for whoever finds the most.

7. 7. Christmas never have I ever

   Players: 4+ · You need: nothing

   'Never have I ever peeked at my presents before Christmas.' Hold up ten fingers and put one down each time you've done it. The Christmas category is clean for the whole family.

   Never have I ever (Christmas category) →

8. 8. Name that Christmas tune

   Players: any, in teams · You need: a music app

   Play the first few seconds of a Christmas song. First team to shout out the title gets a point. Make it harder by humming instead of playing the recording.

9. 9. Reindeer ring toss

   Players: any · You need: a headband with antlers, rings or pool noodles

   One player wears the antlers and others try to toss rings onto them. Taking turns as the reindeer is half the fun.

10. 10. Ugly sweater contest

    Players: any · You need: ugly sweaters

    Everyone wears their worst holiday sweater and the group votes. Categories like 'most lights', 'most handmade' and 'most likely to be banned' mean several people can win.

11. 11. Gift wrap relay

    Players: 8+, in teams · You need: wrapping paper, tape, small boxes

    Teams line up. Each player has to wrap one item and pass the tape to the next. First team to wrap every box wins; worst wrapping job gets a booby prize.

12. 12. Christmas hot seat

    Players: 4+ · You need: a chair

    One person sits in the hot seat and has to answer rapid-fire festive questions for two minutes: favorite Christmas movie, worst gift ever, best Christmas memory.

    Hot seat questions →

13. 13. Left right Christmas story

    Players: 6+, in a circle · You need: one wrapped gift, a story with 'left' and 'right' in it

    Someone reads a Christmas story out loud. Every time they say 'left', the gift moves one place left; every time they say 'right', it moves right. Whoever holds it at the end keeps it.

14. 14. Cookie decorating contest

    Players: any · You need: plain cookies, icing, sprinkles

    Give everyone the same plain cookies and toppings and 15 minutes. Have someone judge (or vote anonymously) on categories like 'most festive' and 'most chaotic'.

15. 15. Who am I? Christmas edition

    Players: 4+ · You need: sticky notes

    Write a Christmas character (Santa, the Grinch, Buddy the Elf) on a sticky note and stick it on someone's forehead. They ask yes-or-no questions until they guess who they are.

16. 16. Office charades: department vs department

    Players: 8+, in departments · You need: a phone

    Run charades department against department. Pick the 'hard' and 'Christmas' categories for adults, and let the losing team serve dessert.

    Make random teams →

17. 17. Gratitude ornaments

    Players: any · You need: paper ornaments, pens

    Not competitive, but a good closer. Everyone writes something they're thankful for this year on a paper ornament and hangs it on the tree. Read them together on Christmas morning.