72 Best Christmas Games for the Whole Family

Maryn Liles

December 9, 2022 at 7:59 AM·19 min read

Printable Christmas games, Christmas party games and Christmas games for kids!

When it comes to Christmas activities, what are some of your family’s favorites? Do like to bake sugar cookies together? Are you the type of family that prefers to stay in your pajamas and binge Christmas movies all day? Or do you enjoy playing a ton of Christmas games with each other to keep the fun going throughout the day? If you answered play games, you’re not alone.

Tons of people around the world enjoy embarking on a little festive competition with their friends and family during the holidays and we can see why: It’s a fun way to get everyone’s spirits up and a chance to interact more with each other. That’s why we put together 50 of our favorite Christmas games so you can add them to your list of things to do this December

From games like Christmas Tree Bowling and Guess The Christmas Quote to Switch and Steal Or Unwrap and Christmas Bingo, we found so many amazing games that your whole family will enjoy. Some are silly, some are classic, some will test your Christmas knowledge and some will even require you to sing. There’s basically a game for everyone—even the so-called Grinch in your crew. And when your kiddos end up going to bed, you don’t have to stop playing—we included a couple of Santa-approved drinking games that adults can play, too!

Check out all 50 Christmas games below and see how many of them you can play this Christmas! Trust us, you’ll be sure to have a merry little celebration with these activities this year.

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50 Christmas Games

1. Reindeer Antler Toss

What game is more perfect to play during the holidays than Reindeer Antler Toss? You can split into teams and see who can get the most rings on the antlers or play by yourself. Either way, it’s loads of fun. Joyin Inflatable Reindeer Antler Toss, $11.99 on Amazon

2. Christmas Saran Wrap

This is a game that kids will love. Just wrap a present up in Saran Wrap until it resembles a huge ball. Then have people take turns unwrapping it for 20 seconds at a time. Whoever is the one to finally unwrap the item, gets the gift.

3. Telephone: Christmas Edition

If you’ve played this game before, you know just how funny it can be. Each person takes turns coming up with a Christmas-themed phrase and then they have to whisper it in the person’s ear next to them and then they do the same and so on. Once it gets to the last person, they have to say the phrase they heard out loud and see if it’s right.

4. Christmas Word Scramble

This game is so much fun! All kinds of holiday-themed words like, “snowman,” are scrambled up and you have to see who can solve the most words. Christmas Word Scramble Game, $11.99 on Amazon

5. Christmas Bingo

Got a large family? Then Bingo is the perfect game for your bunch. Up to 40 people can play if you get this Bingo game package. Plus, it’s fun for all ages. Moon Boat Christmas Bingo Game, $10.99 on Amazon

6. Christmas Mad Libs

If you feel crafty, come up with some Christmas-themed mad libs. They will keep everyone laughing as they fill them out and read them aloud.

7. Monopoly Elf

Calling all Monopoly lovers, this is the Christmas game for you. It’s played just like the original game, but it’s Elf-themed, so you’ll get to experience the game with all of your favorite movie characters and places. It’ll feel like you’re in the movie. Monopoly Elf, $40.49 on Amazon

8. Candy Cane Game Hunt

This game is inspired by Easter Egg Hunts, but it’s done with candy canes instead. To play, hide candy canes all over your house and then have your guests try to find them. Set a timer and when it goes off have everyone count up their candy to see who found the most.

9. Grinch Grow Your Heart Card Game

What’s better than playing cards? Playing cards that are Grinch-themed! For this game, players get to take turns being the Grinch and playing his tricks on other players. Funko Pop! Dr. Suess – Grinch Grow Your Heart Game, $9, Amazon

10. Holiday Never Have I Ever

To play, have everyone hold up five fingers. Then, go around and take turns naming something Christmas/holiday related you’ve never done, like taking a picture with Santa. If someone else has done whatever you mentioned, then they put down a finger. The last person with a finger up, wins.

11. White Elephant

If you’ve never played the White elephant game, you’re missing out! Basically, everyone coming to your holiday party has to bring a gift—the gifts can be gag gifts or real gifts, it’s up to them! Then, players draw numbers to see the order that they get to pick out their gifts. Once everyone has one, everyone should sit in a circle in that order and the first player selects a gift from the gift pile and opens it. The next player then can choose to take that player's gift (if this happens, that player can choose another gift from the gift pile) or choose a brand new one.

12. Christmas Tree Bowling

Who says bowling can’t be turned into a holiday game? All you need are these festive bowling pins that are shaped like Christmas trees and you’re all set! Holiday Christmas Bowling Set, $22.03 on Amazon

13. Stocking Guessing Game

Buy a bunch of cheap stockings and then fill each one with random Christmas objects, like an ornament, a snow globe, a candy cane, etc. Make sure each one is numbered and then have people write down what they think is inside. The person who guesses the most right, wins them all.

14. Guess the Amount of Peppermint Candy

Leave a giant jar that’s filled with peppermint candy on your counter and have everyone write their name on a piece of paper with the amount of candy they think is in there. At the end of the party, announce the winner and give it to them as a gift to take home.

15. Christmas Tic-Tac-Toe

This version of Tic-Tac-Toe ditches the Xs and Os and replaces them with two different types of Christmas candy. Choose whichever ones you want and then play the game with them to make it more festive. The winner of the most games gets all the candy at the end.

16. Gingerbread Shuffle

This is a fun (and delicious) game that people of all ages will enjoy. All you have to do is tilt your head back and put a gingerbread cookie on it. Then, when someone says “Go!” you have to try to slowly move your head around and get the cookie to your mouth without using your hands. If your cookie falls off, you’re out.

17. Snowman Darts

Give darts a Christmas spin with this Snowman-themed dart board. Players can take turns tossing them at the board and seeing who can get the closest to the bullseye. Snowman Dart Board, $16 on Amazon

18. The Holiday Movie Game

Attention movie lovers, you’ll be great at this game! Just pick a random letter and go around and have everyone name a Christmas movie or Christmas movie character that starts with that letter. The first person to pause is out and then you start over, but with a different letter.

19. Sing Me An Emoji

This game is so much fun! It uses emojis (Christmas-themed ones) to illustrate the names of different holiday songs. You have to pay attention to each one of them in order to guess the correct one. Sing Me An Emoji, $10 on Amazon

20. Christmas One-Sentence Story

For this game, you will tell a holiday-themed story with one sentence at a time. The catch is, each person playing takes a turn adding a sentence until the story is done. It’s a creative way to spend your time and you’ll never hear the same story twice.

21. Holiday Two Truths and a Lie

Have each person take a turn for this well-known game. One person has to think of two truths and one lie that are all Christmas-themed. The other players have to try to guess which statement is the lie.

Related: Two Truths and a Lie Ideas

22. Gift Grab Christmas Game

Have an ultimate gift exchange with your family, friends or coworkers! Gift Grab Game, $20 on Amazon

23. Rudolph Scratch-Off Stickers

Who doesn’t love scratch-off cards? There are 45 losing cards in this set and five winning cards. Have prizes ready for the five winners. 50 Pieces Scratch Off Game Cards, $9 on Amazon

24. Pin The Nose On The Reindeer

This game is just like the classic game Pin the Tail on the Donkey, only Christmas-themed. Have each player blindfolded and see who can place the nose close enough to its correct spot on the reindeer. Pin the Nose on the Reindeer, $7 on Amazon

25. Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Send your kids, nieces and nephews all around your house with a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt. Just make up clues you can hide and get ready to watch all the littles in your family have lots of fun.

26. Christmas Limbo

Pull out a scarf and put on some holiday music for this festive game. Have one person hold on to each end of the scarf and then guests can start to limbo under it. Each time you go through the line, lower the scarf a bit. If anyone falls or touches the scarf while doing the limbo, they’re out.

27. Guess the Christmas Quote

Take turns saying and guessing quotes that are from famous holiday movies, like The Grinch. The person who guesses the quote first correctly gets to say the quote next. You can even say the quotes with an accent or try to impersonate the character who said it to make the game more fun.

28. Snowman Toss Game

Do you have good aim? This game will let you know as you toss fake snowballs toward the snowman holes and try to get them through their holes. Snowman Toss Game, $18 on Amazon

29. Buddy The Elf Trivia

Have you seen Elf a million times? If so, put yourself and your friends to the test to see who knows the movie the best with this trivia game. Once you’re done, put on the movie. Paladone Buddy The Elf Trivia Quiz Game, $16 on Amazon

30. Jingle Bell Toss

This game is basically just like beer pong, but with jingle bells. You can play with soda to make it kid friendly or use alcohol for an adult-only game after your kids have gone to sleep.

31. Frosty The Snowman Card Game

Kids can help Frosty make his way to the North Pole while playing this game. Each card drawn will determine if Frosty moves forward or backward. It’s a simple game kids will love. Frosty The Snowman – Follow The Leader Christmas Card Game, $9 on Amazon

32. Indoor Snowball Fight

Now, this is the kind of snowball game you can play inside! It comes with 12 plush snowballs that you can throw and try to hit your friends with to get them out. It’s a game that will keep kids busy for hours while you’re decorating or cooking your Christmas meal. TeyToy Indoor Snowball For Kids Fight, $18 on Amazon

33. A Very Merry Christmas Murder

If you like murder mysteries, this is for you! Everyone who plays is a suspect and there are important clues throughout the game given so you can guess who did it! A Very Merry Christmas Murder, $30 on Amazon

34. Hallmark Movie Drinking Game

Who doesn’t like Hallmark movie marathons? Turn your binge-watching session into a drinking game with your girlfriends by taking a drink each time it snows during the movie.

35. Holiday Kiss, Marry, Avoid

For each round of this game, pick three Christmas characters, like Jack Frost, Santa and The Grinch. Then, each person must admit which of those three they would want to kiss, marry and avoid. It’s a silly game to play when you’re looking to LOL with your friends.

36. Are you on Santa’s Nice List?

Finding out if you made Santa’s Nice list is a big deal! That’s where this game comes into play. Hand out a card to all your guests and have them find out their fate. Santa's Nice List Holiday Scratch-Off Game, $12 on Amazon

37. Switch, Steal Or Unwrap

There’s no denying it, this is a great holiday party game to play with large groups. Let everyone coming to your party know they should bring a small gift and place it in a pile when they arrive. Once everyone is at your house, instruct them to grab a gift at random. From there, each person takes a turn rolling a die. If they get 1, they switch gifts with the person on the right of them. If they get a 2, they switch gifts with the person on their left. If they roll a 3 or 4, they can steal any gift. If they get a 5 or 6, they can unwrap their gift.

38. Christmas Charades

If you are a fan of Charades, play the Christmas version of it. Have everyone playing write down all kinds of holiday clues that can be put into a Santa hat. Then, have every person take turns drawing them from the hat and acting them out.

39. Christmas Memory Match Game

Looking for a game for your littles to play? Christmas Memory Match will keep them entertained. Print out doubles of some old family Christmas photos, and then mix them up, lay them face down, and try to find the matching pair! It will kids with their memory skills as they try to remember where each family photo is so they can match them up.

40. Most Likely To Christmas Edition

To play this game, have one person say a Christmas-related statement that begins with “Most likely to…” For instance, “Most likely to put up Christmas decor the day after Halloween.” Then, on the count of three, everyone has to point to the person they think fits that statement and see if you all agree.

Related: Most Likely To Questions

41. The World Hates the Holidays Card Game

This game is pretty much like Cards Against Humanity, but holiday-themed. It’s a funny game to play with adults that will keep everyone on their toes. The World Hates The Holidays Card Game, $10 on Amazon

42. Santa Go Fish

If your kids are obsessed with Go Fish, trade those in for Santa Go Fish this December. It’s played just like the original game, but with holiday characters. How cute is that? Santa Go Fish, $9 on Amazon

43. Gingerbread Decorating Contest

Let the games begin! Put your creativity to the test as you and your guests compete to decorate the best and most creative gingerbread cookie. When you’re finished, you can eat your creation!

44. Christmas Smelling Game

Prep this game by placing festive objects that have a distinct Christmas smell into jars. Good items to use are, pine needles from your tree, opened candy canes, gingerbread, cinnamon sticks, etc. Then have the person guessing the smell be blindfolded with a Santa hat so they can’t see the item.

45. The Christmas Name Game

Decide on a Christmas category as a group, like Santa’s village. Then, go around and have each person name something that fits into that category. If someone names something that doesn’t fit in that category or if they pause before answering, they are out.

46. Would You Rather: Christmas Edition

This game can be played with people of any age and can get pretty silly, especially when it’s completely Christmas-themed. Have each person take turns asking a question that is somehow related to Christmas. Each question asked should start with “Would you rather…” and then list two things. For example: Would you rather have a red nose like Rudolph or be made of snow like Frosty the Snowman?

Related: Would You Rather Questions

47. Name That Christmas Tune

Get your phone out and play a couple of seconds of a popular Christmas tune. Then, see who can guess it first. It’s a game that everyone will want to play.

48. Christmas Trivia Cards

How much do you know about Christmas? This game will test your knowledge. It has tons of question cards, so you’ll be able to play it with your family all afternoon. Christmas Trivia Game, $35 on Amazon

49. Christmas Minute To Win it

It’s all about racing against the clock for this game. The night before your guests come over, DIY a bunch of cards that have instructions for simple Christmas challenges on it, like the ones Kara Creates did. Then, see who can complete the most in one minute.

50. Christmas Song Guessing Game

Type out a bunch of Christmas song lyrics and then print them out. Have everyone write down what song they think each set of lyrics belong to. The person who gets the most right, wins!

51. Hide-And-Seek Elf Edition

Hide-and-seek is a classic game that almost every kid loves. However, it can get awfully chaotic depending on ages and the number of kids you have running around your house. This year, use your beloved Elf on the Shelf, or any character Christmas ornament, to be the item that is hidden. One child, or adult, hides the elf while the others seek out its hiding spot.

52. Christmas Trivia

Gather 'round the couch for a relaxing game of Christmas trivia. All you have to do to prepare for this game is check out fun Christmas trivia to plan your game.

53. Snowman Bowling

This game uses something everyone has lying around the house: Empty toilet paper rolls. Start by decorating them (or have them ready to go if you're not up for cleaning up after the marker mess) and grab a ball and get bowling.

54. The Christmas Parade Guessing Game

While watching The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, everyone gets 5-10 guesses as to floats that will be in the parade. The first person to get all of theirs correct, wins!

55. Gingerbread Stories

First, decorate a batch of Gingerbread cookies and give them all names. (Feel free to use an already decorated batch if you want to skip the baking step!) Next, have everyone come up with their own short story that stars their gingerbread men and women. Tell them around the Christmas tree, or save them for right before bedtime.

56. Gift Stacking Relay Game

Save your extra wrapping paper, boxes, and tape for this fun relay game. Teams (or individuals) will have to race to wrap the empty boxes and stack them on top of each other without their tower of presents falling over.

57. Jingle Bell Toss

Grab some red solo cups and jingle bells. Each person takes a turn attempting to toss their jingle bells into cups that are placed on a table in front of them. To make it more challenging, spread out the cups, or enforce the rule that after each jingle bell makes it into a cup, the person takes a step back to make things harder.

58. Guess the Santa

Have everyone bring a photo of them wearing a Santa beard. When it comes time for the game, pass the photos around and the rest of the room has to guess who is who.

59. Santa Says

A twist on Simon Says that is just as fun. Use Santa's name instead of Simon and the game is a go.

60. Mitten Munch Race

Everyone playing wears a pair of mittens and tries to unwrap a tiny piece of candy. The first person to get to the bare piece of candy wins, and there is sure to be a lot of laughter during the struggle to unwrap the sweet treat.

61. Christmas Freeze Dance

A simple twist on the iconic freeze dance game. Just replace your normal choice of music with some Christmas tunes.

62. Guess the Taste

The Christmas season comes with a lot of yummy flavors. Have participants close their eyes, and feed them various Christmas foods (maybe even a strange combination of them!) and have them guess what they're eating.

63. 20 Questions

Each person takes a turn choosing a Christmas object of their choice. The rest of the room takes turns asking "yes" or "no" questions until one participant guesses correctly. The correct guesser gets to go next.

64. Santa Limbo

Each person grabs a pillow, or another round object, to create their own personalized Santa belly. Then get ready to get low and limbo without your Santa core hitting the limbo stick.

65. Guess the Marshmallows

One person fills a jar full of marshmallows, while the rest of the group has to guess how many it took to make it to the top.

66. Christmas Truth or Dare

Use hilarious holiday-themed stories (like that time you accidentally poked a hole in your sister's present to see what it was) for the truth portion, and funny dares if you care to.

Related: Truth or Dare Ideas

67. Christmas Rhymes

The first person chooses a Christmas-related word like Santa, while the rest of the group must come up with words that rhyme. The first to get stumped is eliminated from the game.

Related: Poems for Kids

68. What's In a Stocking?

Fill a handful of stockings with little goodies and each participant has to guess what's in the stocking without looking.

69. Christmas I Spy

Another free printable that's both easy and fun for little ones on Christmas.

70. Share Your Story

A fun way to bond, everyone in the room takes turns telling the story of their favorite Christmas.

71. Christmas Musical Chairs

Just like a game of musical chairs, but swap the normal music for classic holiday tunes.

72. Holiday Cleanup

A fast and easy way to clean up after gifts, everyone gets a garbage bag and races to fill it with gift wrap.

Check out:
– 100 funny Christmas quotes
– Which stores will be open on Christmas Day?
– 70 best holiday movies to watch
– 150 Christmas Jokes

With reporting by Jessica Vacco

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