Growing up, Christmas was all about the games—whether it was competing with my cousins in a "who can stay quiet the longest" contest on Christmas Eve (with eight of us born within a decade, all battling for a cash prize) or enjoying the latest board games with my aunts and uncle on Christmas night.

Christmas just isn’t complete without a game or two. While pretty much any party game or board game can add a bit of fun to your holiday gathering, choosing one with a festive twist can really bring the Christmas spirit to life. When picking games for the holiday, it's important to think about your audience—some of the more adult-themed games may not be ideal for an office party or family gatherings with little ones and grandparents. Consider the size of the party, the crowd, and, of course, how fun the game will be.

Take a look at these Christmas game ideas to make this year’s holiday celebration even more memorable. We’ve organized them by the right audience, but feel free to mix and match—Christmas Music Name That Tune could be just as much fun for adults as it is for kids!

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Family-Friendly Christmas Games for All Ages

Whether you need a quick game to keep the kids entertained while dinner is being prepared or you're looking for something fun to get everyone involved after the presents are unwrapped, these Christmas games are perfect for all ages.

Christmas Gift Bingo

If you’ve got a big family and a lively gift exchange, keep the kids engaged with Christmas Gift Bingo! Create bingo cards filled with typical gift categories—like socks, electronics, food, jewelry, and more—and have them mark off spots as relatives unwrap their presents. To add a sweet twist, reward the bingo winners with small bags of candy!

Santa, Cookie, Elf, Candy, Snowman

This lively and fast-paced card game, created by the makers of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, is a delightful holiday treat for all ages.

Christmas Guess Who

All you need for this game is a pack of sticky notes. Write a holiday character’s name on each note and stick it to each person’s forehead. Players then try to figure out who they are by asking yes-or-no questions to the group.

To give it a Christmas twist, limit the names to festive characters like Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa. It’s a fun and simple way to get everyone into the holiday spirit!

Find the Pickle

This quirky German tradition is all about hiding a pickle ornament on your Christmas tree. The first person to spot it gets a special prize!

No pickle ornament? No problem! Just choose another unique or oddball ornament from your collection and have the kids hunt for it instead. It's a fun way to get everyone involved in the holiday festivities!

Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt

Looking for a game to keep the kids busy? Hide candy canes around the house and send the little ones on a scavenger hunt to find them. The person who collects the most canes can then hide them again, keeping the fun going for hours!

Christmas Music Name That Tune

All you need for this game is a music streaming service and quick reflexes to stop the song after just a few notes. The goal is to guess the song title as quickly as possible, making for a fun and festive challenge.

Tip: If you have younger kids playing, switch it up with Christmas Music Freeze Dance instead for a more active twist!

Mitten to Win It Challenge

Give your competitors a set of mittens and challenge them to complete a series of Christmas-themed tasks. Ideas include wrapping a gift, hanging a (unbreakable) ornament, frosting a cookie, or unwrapping a candy cane. Just be sure to have a plan to wash those mittens afterward—things could get a little messy!

Ring the Reindeer Antlers

This super easy and surprisingly fun holiday game can be played with an inflatable set, or you can DIY your own using an antler headband and pipe cleaner rings. The goal is to toss the rings onto the antlers—simple, festive, and a great way to get everyone laughing!

Stocking Stuffer Relay

Divide your group into teams and give each team a stocking, a bowl of small goodies (like mini marshmallows, M&Ms, or pom-poms), and a tablespoon. The challenge? Players must race across the room, using only the spoon to carry the goodies. You can decide if the winning team is the one to completely stuff their stocking, or if the team with the most items in their stocking after two minutes wins. Either way, it’s a fun and fast-paced game!

Snowball Fight

If you're fortunate enough to have snow on Christmas, take the battle outdoors for a classic snowball fight! No snow? No problem—use pompoms or faux snowballs for an indoor version of the game. Either way, it’s sure to be a blast!

Christmas Tree Ring Toss

This easy and fun game is perfect for all ages. The goal is simple: take turns tossing five rings onto a bed of plastic Christmas trees and see how many land successfully. It’s a great way to entertain kids, family, and friends with a lighthearted holiday challenge!

Delightful Party Games for Christmas

Looking to spice up your holiday cocktail party with some friendly competition or enjoy a few laughs with your adult family members once the kids are settled? These festive games are perfect for adding some extra fun to your Christmas celebration!

Christmas Murder Mystery Games

For those who love a bit of drama, consider organizing a holiday-themed murder mystery. There are plenty of sets available, with one of our favorites being the holiday editions from Masters of Mystery. These games let the host participate as well, can accommodate up to 20 players, and offer the flexibility of playing either in person or virtually, making it a great option for connecting with family and friends no matter where they are.

Holiday Decorating Smackdown

Dig out your craft supplies for this fun and competitive game, where teams go head-to-head to create the best holiday decor item—whether it's a wreath, centerpiece, ornament, or gingerbread house. After all the creativity flows, the creations will be judged to see which team made the most festive masterpiece.

Christmas Minute to Win It

Inspired by the classic game show, this fun challenge involves completing quirky tasks within one minute. Try feats like balancing marshmallows on a spoon in a relay, eating a cookie placed on your face without using your hands, or moving candy canes from one container to another using only a candy cane and your mouth. Reward the winners with small prizes to spark some friendly competition and keep the energy high!

Merry Dissmas

From the makers of the popular game What Do You Meme, Merry Dissmas is a hilarious, roast-style game where players compete to deliver the funniest diss to questions like, “Who gave you the worst gift?” or “Who’s the biggest prankster—and what’s their best prank?” It’s the perfect game to bring out the laughs with family members or close friends who aren’t afraid of a little playful teasing!

Great Holiday Baking Competition

Get your guests into the festive spirit with a friendly baking competition! Have everyone bring their best holiday treats, from sugar cookies to decadent chocolate delights, and let the judging begin. Not only will you find out who the real holiday baking champion is, but you’ll also have a delicious spread of desserts for your party. A win-win!

Christmas Family Feud

Get ready to host your own holiday game show with Christmas Family Feud! Split your guests into two teams and ask fun, holiday-themed questions (e.g., "Name an iconic Christmas movie!"). Use your answer list to tally up points, and if one team stumbles or can't come up with an answer, the opposing team gets a shot at stealing those points. It's a competitive and festive way to get everyone in the holiday spirit!

Jingle Pong

Put a holiday spin on the classic drinking game by swapping out ping pong balls for jingle bells! For an extra festive touch, switch the usual drinks for eggnog to really embrace the season. It’s a fun way to mix a little competition with holiday cheer!

The World Hates the Holidays

If you enjoy Cards Against Humanity but want a more festive twist, try The World Hates the Holidays. This not-for-kids game follows the same rules as the classic, but with a holiday-themed edge. Alternatively, you can spice up your existing Cards Against Humanity set with one of their seasonal expansion packs for some added holiday hilarity.

Christmas Charades

Get everyone in the holiday spirit by playing Christmas Charades! Participants can act out holiday-themed clues, like decorating a tree or preparing a Christmas dinner. You can either write down ideas on cards or let each player come up with their own festive clues for a more personalized game. It's a fun way to get everyone involved and laughing!

Christmas Party Games for the Office

When it comes to the office Christmas party, you may need to think outside the box to encourage everyone to join in. It's important to choose games that have a broader holiday or winter theme, keeping in mind the diverse ways your colleagues may celebrate the season. These games should be fun, inclusive, and light-hearted to ensure everyone feels comfortable and involved!

Virtual Holiday Party Games

If you have remote co-workers or friends, virtual holiday games can bring the fun to everyone, no matter where they are. Consider booking a virtual escape room, like the holiday-themed Frosty the Snowman escape room from Breakout IQ, which can accommodate up to 600 participants. For smaller groups, Virtual Game Night Out is a great option, where up to 12 players can join a host-led series of fun and engaging contests. These virtual games make it easy to include everyone in the holiday cheer, even from a distance!

White Elephant Gift Exchange

Make your holiday gift exchange more exciting with the classic White Elephant game. In this fun tradition, participants bring wrapped, inexpensive, or quirky gifts. Everyone takes turns selecting a gift from the pile—or swapping gifts with someone who’s already chosen one. It’s a playful way to bring laughs and surprise to your holiday celebration!

Gingerbread House Competition

Bring some holiday cheer to your office by turning a gingerbread house competition into a team-building activity. Grab a few gingerbread kits, extra candy, and frosting, then split your co-workers into teams to see who can create the most impressive (or hilarious) gingerbread house. It’s a creative and festive way to bond with your colleagues this holiday season!

Ugly Sweater Contest

Get into the holiday spirit by hosting an ugly sweater contest at your office party! Encourage your colleagues to rock their most outlandish, colorful, or tacky holiday sweaters. Award fun prizes for categories like the ugliest, the brightest, or the most outrageous sweater to keep everyone laughing and engaged.

Guess How Many Candies

This fun and easy game requires minimal setup! Simply gather a large jar and fill it with candy, then count the exact number. At the party, have everyone guess how many candies are in the jar, writing down their name and guess on a slip of paper. At the end of the event, reveal the winner—the person whose guess is closest to the actual number—and award them a small prize. It's a sweet way to engage everyone with a little friendly competition!

Christmas Games for Couples (or Small Parties)

If you're hosting a cozy holiday gathering with just a few friends or your significant other, there are plenty of games that can add some fun to the evening. Whether you're looking for something lighthearted or a little more competitive, these games are perfect for smaller groups. They'll bring laughter, create memories, and keep the festive spirit alive.

Holiday Scrabble

Take the classic word game up a notch by making it all about the holiday spirit! Challenge players to come up with words related to Christmas or other winter celebrations. Words like "jingle" or "jolly" can earn big points, and the festive twist will add an extra layer of fun to this beloved game. Perfect for a cozy night in with friends or a small group!

Jackbox Games

Add a modern twist to your holiday party with Jackbox Games! This collection features 10 game packs, each with five hilarious games that are perfect for small groups. The best part? You can connect with friends and family virtually by sharing your screen via Zoom or Google Meet, allowing out-of-town guests to join in on the fun. Whether you’re playing trivia, drawing challenges, or word games, Jackbox guarantees laughs all around!

Christmas Movie Drinking Game

Ready for a fun movie marathon with a twist? Set up a Christmas movie drinking game where everyone takes a sip of a festive cocktail (or mocktail) whenever a holiday cliché pops up on screen. Think of classic moments like someone sipping hot chocolate, or Santa in disguise being totally unrecognized. Coming up with categories will be part of the fun, and it's the perfect way to add a bit of extra cheer to your holiday movie binge!

The Couples Game

Test how well you truly know your partner with this fun and interactive game. You’ll both answer a series of questions, trying to see if you’re on the same page and can guess each other’s responses. It’s a great way to bond and laugh at how well—or how hilariously off-track—you really are!

The Hygge Game

If you're looking for a cozy, low-pressure game this holiday season, The Hygge Game is perfect. It’s all about slowing down and enjoying meaningful conversations. The game features thought-provoking questions like, "If you could relive one day of your life, which one would it be?"—ideal for fostering connection and creating warm memories without the competition.