The holiday season is upon us, and there is no better way to get into the festive spirit than with some fun and engaging Christmas party games. Whether you’re throwing a big bash or having a small family gathering, these games will keep your guests entertained and add a unique twist to the holiday celebration. From classic games with a Christmas twist to new fun ideas, these games are for guests of all ages. Let’s dive into the 30 best Christmas party games to ensure your holiday party is a memorable one.
1. Christmas Charades
Christmas Charades is a festive take on the classic game of charades. Each player writes down a Christmas-centric clue and places it in a hat. Players take turns drawing clues from the hat and acting them out without speaking while the others guess. This game is sure to get everyone laughing and into the holiday spirit. Whether you act out “building a snowman” or “decorating the tree,” the Christmas theme adds an extra layer of fun.
2. Christmas Pictionary
Christmas Pictionary is a fun, artistic twist on the traditional game. Divide guests into two teams. Each team member takes turns drawing Christmas-related items such as “Santa’s sleigh” or “gingerbread house” on a whiteboard while their team guesses. The first team to guess correctly wins. This game is great for guests of all ages and helps to break the ice.
3. Christmas Cookie Decorating
Bring out the inner child in everyone with a Christmas Cookie Decorating contest. Provide cookies, icing, and an array of decorations, and let guests get creative. They can make anything from classic Christmas shapes to festive snowflakes. Once everyone has finished, a panel of judges can decide the best, most creative, or funniest designs. This game is perfect for family-friendly parties.
4. Christmas Gift Bingo
Christmas Gift Bingo is an engaging game that keeps the excitement of gift-giving alive. Create bingo cards with different types of gifts or Christmas-related items listed on them (like “a pair of socks,” “a book,” or “a toy”). As gifts are unwrapped, guests mark off the items on their cards. The first person to get bingo wins a small prize.
5. Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
A holiday party staple, Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is a must. Encourage guests to wear their ugliest Christmas sweaters, and at the end of the night, have everyone vote for the ugliest one. The person with the most votes wins a prize. This contest will provide lots of laughs and photo opportunities.
6. Christmas Carol Pictionary
In Christmas Carol Pictionary, participants draw lyrics or titles of Christmas carols, and their team tries to guess what they’re drawing. This game can involve listening to a snippet of a carol and then quickly illustrating it. Teams compete to see who can guess the most carols correctly, adding a musical twist to the traditional drawing game.
7. Holiday Jenga
Holiday Jenga involves writing holiday-themed tasks on each block of a Jenga set. When a player pulls a block, they have to complete the task written on it. Tasks can be simple, like “sing a chorus of ‘Jingle Bells,'” or a little more challenging, like “name all of Santa’s reindeer.” It’s a great way to add a festive spin to a classic game.
8. Christmas Movie Bingo
Christmas Movie Bingo is similar to holiday bingo but centered around classic Christmas movie themes. Create bingo cards featuring common Christmas movie tropes, such as “someone drinks hot chocolate,” “snow falling,” or “Santa appears.” Play the movies at your party, and guests mark off corresponding items when they happen in the film.
9. Christmas Limbo
Christmas Limbo is a fun activity that involves using a holiday scarf or shiny tinsel as the limbo stick. Guests take turns trying to go under the “limbo stick” without falling. Lower the stick after each round to see who can go the lowest. This game is entertaining for both kids and adults.
10. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Organize a Christmas Scavenger Hunt by hiding holiday-themed items around the house or yard. Give guests a list of items to find, such as “a candy cane,” “a snowflake ornament,” or “a tiny Santa.” The person or team who finds all the items first wins a prize. Adjust the difficulty level based on the ages of your players.
11. Christmas Gift Wrap Challenge
Test your guests’ gift-wrapping skills with a Christmas Gift Wrap Challenge. Provide wrap materials and odd-shaped items, and see who can wrap them best. Give prizes for neatest, funniest, and most creative wrapping. This is a fun and interactive way to bring out your guests’ competitive sides.
12. Christmas Candy Cane Game (Candy Cane Catch)
Candy Cane Game is a festive twist on the game “Spoons.” Arrange candy canes in a pile at the table center. Each player takes turns drawing cards, aiming to get four of a kind. Once a player gets a match, they take a candy cane, and everyone else races to grab the remaining ones. The player left without a candy cane is out, and the game continues until one winner remains.
13. Christmas Cocktail Competition
Host a Christmas Cocktail Competition to find out who the best bartender is among your friends. Have guests bring ingredients for a holiday-themed cocktail and let everyone vote on their favorite drink. The winner gets bragging rights and maybe a small prize. This game is perfect for adult parties and ensures that everyone enjoys a variety of festive drinks.
14. Christmas Ornament Guess
This simple game involves guessing the number of ornaments on the Christmas tree. As guests arrive, have them write down their guesses. The person who guesses closest to the actual number wins a prize. This game is easy to set up and keeps guests engaged.
15. Blindfolded Christmas Crafting
In Blindfolded Christmas Crafting, guests are blindfolded and given a basic Christmas crafting task, like decorating a felt Christmas tree or an ornament. They have five minutes to complete the craft, and the best-decorated piece wins. This game is sure to be full of laughter and creative challenges.
16. Name That Tune: Christmas Edition
For a more relaxed game, play Christmas Name That Tune. A DJ plays snippets of Christmas songs, and guests try to guess the tune with only a few notes. The faster they guess, the more points they earn. This game is perfect after a big Christmas meal when guests want to play something low-key.
17. Who Am I: Christmas Characters
Who Am I is a fun guessing game where each guest has a Christmas character’s name stuck to their forehead. They must ask other guests yes or no questions to figure out their character. The first person to guess their character correctly wins. Characters can range from Santa Claus to Frosty the Snowman.
18. Christmas Family Feud
Christmas Family Feud is a holiday-themed version of the popular game show. Divide guests into teams and ask them to answer Christmas-related survey questions. Each team writes their answers, and points are awarded based on how many people provided the same answer. The team with the most points wins.
19. Speed Eating Contest
Host a Speed Eating Contest using holiday treats. Provide donuts or gingerbread cookies and have players compete to see who can eat their treat the fastest without using their hands. This game is messy but lots of fun, perfect for a jovial holiday party atmosphere.
20. Snowman Dressing Contest
Get competitive with a Snowman Dressing Contest. Create two or more snowmen and have teams compete to dress them up using scarves, hats, and other accessories. Set judges to determine which team did the best job. This outdoor game is great if you have snow and suitable for all ages.
21. Antler Ring Toss
Antler Ring Toss is a festive twist on the classic ring toss game. Use inflatable antlers and rings (or create your own with pipe cleaners). One person wears the antlers, and the others try to toss rings onto them. This game is simple yet entertaining for guests of different ages.
22. Christmas Scent Guessing Game
Christmas Scent Guessing Game challenges guests to identify holiday scents from candles or essential oils, like peppermint, pine, or gingerbread. Blindfold participants and have them guess the scent of each item. This sensory game is fun and can spark nostalgic holiday memories.
23. Christmas Limbo
Festive and physically challenging, Christmas Limbo is a great game where guests try to go under a decorated bar or ribbon without touching the ground. As the game progresses, lower the bar after each round to increase the difficulty. The last person standing wins.
24. Christmas Cookie Guessing Game
In the Christmas Cookie Guessing Game, have holiday cookies decorated before the party and placed on display. Guests must guess what patterns or characters the cookies represent. This game can be played individually or in teams. The person or team with the most correct guesses wins.
25. Secret Santa
Organize a Secret Santa gift exchange where each guest draws a name and buys a gift for that person. Everyone places their gifts under the tree, and one by one, guests open their presents and guess who their Secret Santa is. This game fosters a sense of surprise and excitement, perfect for close-knit groups.
26. Christmas Ornament Race
In the Christmas Ornament Race, players use a spoon to carry an ornament from one end of the room to the other without dropping it. You can incorporate obstacles or have different-sized ornaments for added difficulty. The first person to successfully complete the course wins.
27. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas Scavenger Hunt involves hiding holiday-themed items around your home. Provide guests with a list of items and clues to find them. The person or team that finds all the items first wins a prize. This game is great for children and adults alike.
28. Naughty or Nice Game
The Naughty or Nice Game involves separating red and green candies into two bowls labeled ‘Naughty’ and ‘Nice’ respectively. Players must quickly sort the candies one by one. The first to finish sorting wins. It’s a fast-paced and thrilling game perfect for family gatherings.
29. Mitten to Win It Challenge
In the Mitten to Win It Challenge, guests wear mittens while completing holiday-themed tasks such as unwrapping candy canes, hanging ornaments, or arranging small gifts. The tasks become more challenging with mittens on, ensuring lots of laughs. The fastest person or team wins.
30. Christmas Carol Sing-Off
End the evening with a Christmas Carol Sing-Off. Divide guests into teams and assign each team a carol to perform. Judges rate the performances based on creativity, enthusiasm, and adherence to the lyrics. The winning team gets a festive prize.
No matter which Christmas party game you choose, you’re sure to keep your guests engaged and entertained. These activities not only bring out the holiday cheer but also create lasting memories for everyone involved. Enjoy your holiday season with laughter, fun, and a little friendly competition!