30 Hilarious Christmas Games Guaranteed to Make Your Family Howl with Laughter

Is there a better sound than your entire family roaring with laughter after a big holiday meal? We don’t think so. The post-turkey slump is real, and scrolling through phones is the enemy of holiday cheer. It’s your time to shine as the host with the most, and we’ve got your back.

This is your ultimate playbook for turning that sleepy, full-bellied silence into an unforgettable festival of fun. Forget boring small talk – you’re about to unleash a blizzard of hilarious challenges, witty contests, and memory-making moments. From no-prep icebreakers to full-blown creative showdowns, these games are your secret weapon for a party that people will be talking about for years. Let’s dive in!

1. The Oven Mitt Unwrapping Challenge

This game is pure chaotic joy. Watching someone fumble with a beautifully wrapped gift while wearing giant oven mitts is a spectator sport that never gets old. It’s a guaranteed hit to kick off the fun.

Best for: All ages, gift exchanges, high-energy groups.

Time to Play: 10-15 minutes.

Players: 4-10.

What You’ll Need:

• One gift, wrapped in several layers of paper and tape. (The more tape, the funnier it is!)
• A pair of bulky oven mitts.
• One die.

How to Play:

1. Everyone sits in a circle with the gift in the middle.
2. The first player puts on the oven mitts and starts trying to unwrap the gift.
3. At the same time, the person to their left starts rolling the die, trying to get a six.
4. Once they roll a six, the mitts and the gift are passed to them, and the person to their left starts rolling the die.
5. The game continues until someone finally frees the gift from its wrapping prison. That person gets to keep it!

Pro Tip: Use fabric ribbon or bows that are difficult to untie with mitts on to increase the challenge and the laughs.

Indoor Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable for Kids

25 ready-made clues = zero stress for you – Just print, hide, and watch kids stay engaged for hours while you actually enjoy your coffee

Instant download, works today – Get it in minutes, print on regular paper, create Christmas magic in under 15 minutes of setup

Saves Christmas on bad weather days – Perfect indoor activity when kids are bouncing off walls and you need them happily occupied

One purchase, use it every year – Blank templates let you customize for different ages or create new versions as kids grow

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Outdoor Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable for Kids

Gets kids outside and active – Burns energy while solving 25 riddles and challenges around the yard (lifesaver when they’re hyped on holiday sugar)

Instant download, 15-minute setup – Print, hide clues, done. Perfect last-minute activity that looks like you planned for weeks

Works with your yard decorations – Turns your Christmas lights and lawn decor into part of the adventure kids will beg to do again

Reusable every year – Blank templates let you customize for different ages or add new challenges as kids grow

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Difficult Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable for Adults – Twelve Days of Christmas

Actually challenging puzzles for adults – 30 clever clues including ciphers, logic puzzles, and cryptic riddles that will genuinely stump your smartest friends

Print and play in minutes – Download, print, hide. Setup takes less time than wrapping gifts, but creates hours of laughter and memories

Flexible for any group – Pick 12 clues for a quick adventure or all 30 for an epic night. Customize with blank cards for personal inside jokes

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Download the Flower Bar Printable Activity Kit

2. The “Who Am I?” Holiday Edition

This classic icebreaker forces everyone to mingle and ask silly questions. Get ready to see your uncle try to figure out if he’s Rudolph or Buddy the Elf based solely on “Yes” or “No” answers.

Best for: Icebreakers, large groups, all ages.

Time to Play: 15-20 minutes.

Players: 6+.

What You’ll Need:

• Sticky notes (or slips of paper and tape).
• A pen.

How to Play:

1. As guests arrive, have them write the name of a famous holiday character (real or fictional) on a sticky note. Think Santa Claus, The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, etc.
2. Each person sticks their note on another person’s forehead without them seeing who they are.
3. Everyone mingles, asking other guests “Yes” or “No” questions to figure out the name on their head.
4. The goal is to be the first to guess who you are!

Fun Variation: Instead of characters, use common Christmas objects like “Mistletoe”, “Fruitcake”, or “Tinsel”.

3. Christmas Minute to Win It Madness

Unleash the competitive spirit with a series of one-minute challenges using simple holiday items. The pressure of the ticking clock turns the simplest task into a hilarious spectacle.

Best for: Competitive families, kids, and adults.

Time to Play: 20-30 minutes.

Players: 2+ (in teams or individually).

What You’ll Need: Varies by challenge, but items like candy canes, ornaments, marshmallows, and paper plates are common.

How to Play (Sample Challenges):

1. Candy Cane Hook ‘Em: Using only a candy cane held in your mouth, try to hook and pick up as many other candy canes from a bowl as you can in 60 seconds.
2. Ornament Roll: Using only your breath (or a paper plate to fan), you must “roll” a round ornament across the floor to a designated finish line in under a minute.
3. Snowman Stack: Stack three marshmallows on top of each other using only one hand. It sounds easy, but the clock makes it surprisingly tricky!

Pro Tip: Create 5-7 different challenges and have players compete in a tournament-style showdown for the title of “Minute to Win It Champion”.

4. Christmas Charades & Pictionary

A timeless classic for a reason! Whether you’re drawing or acting, this game reveals everyone’s creative (and often hilarious) side.

Best for: Teams, creative groups, all ages.

Time to Play: 30 minutes.

Players: 4+ (in two teams).

What You’ll Need:

• A bowl or hat.
• Slips of paper with Christmas-themed words/phrases (e.g., “Kissing under the mistletoe”, “Building a snowman”, “Five golden rings”).
• A timer.
• (For Pictionary) A whiteboard/easel or large pads of paper and markers.

How to Play:

1. Before the party, write down 30-40 Christmas ideas on slips of paper and place them in a bowl.
2. Divide the group into two teams.
3. For each turn, one player draws a slip and must act it out (Charades) or draw it (Pictionary) for their team to guess.
4. Set a timer for 60 or 90 seconds per turn.
5. If the team guesses correctly, they get a point. The team with the most points wins!

Pro Tip: For a fun twist, have a “sounds only” round where the clue-giver can only make noises, not use words or actions.

5. Two Truths and a Lie: Holiday Edition

How well do you really know your family? This no-prep game unearths funny stories and surprising facts with a festive spin.

Best for: Getting to know each other better, smaller groups.

Time to Play: 15-20 minutes.

Players: 5-15.

What You’ll Need: Absolutely nothing!

How to Play:

1. Gather in a circle.
2. Each person takes a turn sharing three “facts” about their past Christmas experiences.
3. Two of the stories must be true, and one must be a believable lie. (e.g., “I once ate a whole gingerbread house”, “I got a puppy for Christmas when I was 10”, “I once met a mall Santa who knew my cousin’s name”)
4. The rest of the group debates and then votes on which statement they believe is the lie.
5. The player reveals the lie, and points can be awarded for stumping the group.

Pro Tip: Encourage players to come up with lies that are just plausible enough to be tricky. The more creative, the better!

6. The 5 Second Rule: Christmas Chaos

Think fast! In this high-speed game, you have just five seconds to name three things in a holiday category. The pressure leads to some truly ridiculous answers.

Best for: Quick thinkers, teens and adults, fast-paced fun.

Time to Play: 15 minutes.

Players: 3+.

What You’ll Need:

• A timer (a phone works perfectly).
• A list of categories (you can make these up on the fly).

How to Play:

1. The first player is given a category, like “Name 3 Reindeer”.
2. The timer starts, and they have just 5 seconds to list three things.
3. If they succeed, they get a point. If they fail, the next person gets to try (but they can’t repeat any answers).
4. Keep the game moving quickly around the room!
5. Sample Categories: Name 3 Christmas foods, Name 3 things Santa might say, Name 3 holiday movie villains.

Fun Variation: Make it a drinking game for an adults-only party. Take a sip if you can’t answer in time.

7. Christmas Taboo

Can you describe “Mistletoe” without using the words “kiss”, “green”, “hang”, or “door”? This game is a hilarious challenge of communication.

Best for: Word lovers, teams, witty groups.

Time to Play: 20-30 minutes.

Players: 4+ (in two teams).

What You’ll Need:

• DIY game cards (index cards or slips of paper).
• A timer and a buzzer/squeaker (optional but fun).

How to Play:

1. Create 30-40 game cards. On each, write a Christmas guess word at the top (e.g., “GINGERBREAD”) and 5 “taboo” words below it (e.g., “House”, “Man”, “Cookie”, “Spice”, “Gumdrop”).
2. Divide into two teams. One player gives clues to their team to get them to say the guess word.
3. The catch? They cannot use any of the taboo words in their description. The other team watches to make sure they don’t slip up.
4. Score one point for each correct guess. The team with the most points wins.

Pro Tip: Appoint one person from the opposing team as the “buzzer monitor” to keep the clue-giver honest.

8. Guess the Christmas Scent

Put your noses to the test! This sensory game is a unique and surprisingly fun challenge for all ages.

Best for: A calmer activity, all ages.

Time to Play: 10 minutes.

Players: 2+.

What You’ll Need:

• Several small, identical containers (like baby food jars or spice jars).
• A blindfold.
• Items with distinct holiday scents (e.g., pine needles, cinnamon stick, peppermint candy, nutmeg, gingerbread cookie, orange peel).

How to Play:

1. Place one scent item in each container.
2. Blindfold the first player.
3. Hand them one container at a time and have them sniff and guess the scent.
4. Keep score of how many each person guesses correctly. The super-sniffer with the most points wins!

Pro Tip: For a tricky round, add a few “dud” scents that aren’t Christmas-related, like coffee beans or leather, to see who you can fool.

9. Saran Wrap Ball Game

This is a game of frantic unwrapping and pure, prize-grabbing adrenaline. It’s a riot to watch and even more fun to play.

Best for: High-energy groups, gift exchanges.

Time to Play: 15-20 minutes.

Players: 5+.

What You’ll Need:

• A large roll (or two) of plastic cling wrap.
• A “grand prize” for the center (like a $10 bill or a gift card).
• Lots of smaller goodies (candy, lottery tickets, lip balm, coins).
• A pair of dice.

How to Play:

1. Start by wrapping the grand prize in plastic wrap. Keep wrapping, adding smaller prizes into different layers as you create a giant ball.
2. Have everyone sit in a circle. The first person gets the ball and starts unwrapping as fast as they can. Anything that falls out is theirs to keep!
3. While they unwrap, the person to their left frantically rolls the dice until they get doubles.
4. Once they roll doubles, the ball is passed to them, and the dice move to the next person.
5. The game continues until the grand prize at the center is revealed.

Fun Variation: Make the person unwrapping wear winter gloves or oven mitts for an extra layer of difficulty.

10. Human Christmas Tree Decorating

Why decorate a boring old pine tree when you have a perfectly good cousin standing right there? This team game is all about silly, creative, and fast-paced decorating.

Best for: Active groups, kids, and teams. A great photo opportunity!

Time to Play: 15 minutes.

Players: 6+ (in teams of 3 or more).

What You’ll Need:

• Lots of cheap decorations: streamers, tinsel, bows, paper chains, and non-breakable ornaments.
• Tape.

How to Play:

1. Divide into teams. Each team chooses one member to be their “tree”.
2. Give each team an identical pile of decorating supplies.
3. On the count of three, teams have 3-5 minutes to decorate their human tree as festively as possible.
4. When time is up, have a “tree fashion show” and award a prize for the most creative or ridiculous-looking tree.

Pro Tip: Add a fun challenge: the human “tree” must stand on one leg the entire time they are being decorated!

11. Holiday “Most Likely To…”

Find out who in your family is most likely to re-gift a present or start singing carols in July. This game is all about hilarious accusations and even funnier confessions.

Best for: Groups who know each other well, teens and adults.

Time to Play: 15 minutes.

Players: 4+.

What You’ll Need:

• A list of “Most Likely To…” Christmas-themed questions.

How to Play:

1. The host reads a question, such as, “Who is most likely to eat the cookies left out for Santa?”
2. On the count of three, everyone points to the person they think best fits the description.
3. The person with the most fingers pointing at them can either accept the “award” or defend their honor with a funny story. There’s no real winner, just a lot of laughter.

Pro Tip: Create your own questions tailored to your family’s inside jokes for maximum hilarity.

12. Dice Gift Exchange (“Left Right Left”)

This game turns a simple gift exchange into an unpredictable frenzy where no gift is safe until the very end.

Best for: White elephant or secret Santa gift exchanges.

Time to Play: 20 minutes.

Players: 5+.

What You’ll Need:

• One wrapped gift per person.
• A pair of dice.
• A simple printout of the rules for the table.

How to Play:

1. Everyone sits in a circle, holding the gift they brought.
2. The first player rolls the dice and follows the rules. A common set of rules is:
   • Roll a 1 or 6: Swap your gift with anyone in the circle.
   • Roll a 2 or 5: Pass your gift to the person on your right.
   • Roll a 3 or 4: Pass your gift to the person on your left.
3. Go around the circle, with each person rolling once. You can play for a set number of rounds or until a timer goes off.
4. When the game ends, you get to keep and unwrap the gift you’re holding!

Fun Variation: Add a rule where if someone rolls doubles, they get to unwrap the gift they are currently holding (but it can still be stolen later!).

13. Christmas Movie Trivia

Time to find out who the real “Elf” expert is and who’s a total “Grinch” when it comes to holiday movie knowledge.

Best for: Movie buffs, a cozy evening activity.

Time to Play: 20-30 minutes.

Players: 2+ (individually or in teams).

What You’ll Need:

• A list of trivia questions from popular holiday movies.

How to Play:

1. The host acts as the Quizmaster, reading questions aloud.
2. Players or teams can either shout out the answers, or write them down for scoring.
3. Cover a range of movies from classics like It’s a Wonderful Life to modern hits like The Christmas Chronicles.
4. Sample Question: “In Home Alone, what is the name of Kevin’s scary next-door neighbor?” (Answer: Old Man Marley).

Pro Tip: Include a “soundtrack round” where you play a short clip of a song from a Christmas movie and players have to name the film.

14. Name That Christmas Carol

Is it “Deck the Halls” or “Jingle Bells”? This game tests everyone’s memory of classic carol lyrics.

Best for: Music lovers, inter-generational groups.

Time to Play: 15 minutes.

Players: 2+ (in teams is best).

What You’ll Need:

• A way to play music (phone and speaker).
• A playlist of Christmas songs.

How to Play:

1. Divide into two teams.
2. The host plays just the first 3-5 seconds of a well-known Christmas carol.
3. The first team to correctly shout out the title of the song gets a point.

Fun Variation (Lyrics Challenge): Read a single, slightly obscure line from a carol (e.g., “And heaven and nature sing”) and have teams guess the song.

15. The Santa Hat Toss

A simple, active game that’s easy to set up and surprisingly competitive. Perfect for getting people out of their seats.

Best for: Kids, a quick and active game.

Time to Play: 10 minutes.

Players: 2+.

What You’ll Need:

• Several Santa hats.
• Something to toss (jingle bells, small beanbags, or even candy canes).

How to Play:

1. Set up the Santa hats on the floor at varying distances. You can assign different point values to each hat (e.g., closest is 1 point, farthest is 5 points).
2. Players take turns tossing their items, trying to land them inside the hats.
3. Tally up the points after everyone has had a turn. The player with the highest score wins!

Pro Tip: For an extra challenge, have players try to toss the items while standing on one foot or with their non-dominant hand.

16. Gingerbread House Contest

Unleash your family’s inner architect and artist! This isn’t just about making a tasty treat; it’s a full-blown construction showdown where creativity reigns supreme and a little bit of structural collapse is part of the fun.

Best for: Creative groups, families with kids, a hands-on activity.

Time to Play: 45-60 minutes.

Players: 3+ (individually or in teams).

What You’ll Need:

• One gingerbread house kit per team/player.
• Extra candy for decorating (gumdrops, peppermints, M&Ms, etc.).
• A sturdy table with a disposable tablecloth.
• A timer.

How to Play:

1. Give each team their kit and decorating supplies.
2. Set a timer for a designated amount of time (e.g., 30 minutes).
3. Yell “GO!” and watch as everyone scrambles to build and decorate the best gingerbread house before the time runs out.
4. When the timer dings, all hands are off. The host acts as a judge and awards prizes.

Pro Tip: Create funny prize categories like “Most Creative”, “Most Likely to Be Condemned”, and “Best Tasting” (if you dare to eat the masterpieces).

17. Christmas Family Feud

Bring the classic game show right into your living room! This team game is all about guessing the most popular answers to festive survey questions, leading to hilarious debates and triumphant high-fives.

Best for: Teams, larger groups, competitive spirits.

Time to Play: 30-40 minutes.

Players: 6+ (in two teams).

What You’ll Need:

• A list of Christmas-themed survey questions and their top answers.
• A large whiteboard or poster board for scoring.
• A bell or buzzer.

How to Play:

1. Preparation is key: Before the party, the host needs to create the survey questions (e.g., “Name something you might put on top of a Christmas tree”) and poll 10-15 people for their answers to create the “official” answer key.
2. Divide players into two “families”.
3. The host reads a question, and one player from each team faces off to hit the buzzer and give the #1 answer.
4. The team that wins the face-off can choose to play or pass. They then try to guess all the remaining answers on the board.
5. If a team gets three strikes, the other team has a chance to steal the points with one correct answer.

Fun Variation: Include a “Fast Money” round for the winning team where two players have 20 seconds to answer five questions for bonus points.

18. Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Get everyone off the couch and on the move with a classic scavenger hunt. This is the perfect way to burn off some of that cookie energy as teams race to decipher clues and find the hidden treasure.

Best for: Active groups, kids and teens, team building.

Time to Play: 20-30 minutes.

Players: 4+ (in teams).

What You’ll Need:

• Pen and paper to write clues.
• A “treasure” for the final prize (e.g., a box of chocolates or a small trophy).

How to Play:

1. The host prepares by writing 5-10 clues and hiding them around the house or yard. Each clue should lead to the location of the next one.
2. The final clue should lead to the treasure!
3. Divide the group into teams and give them the first clue.
4. The first team to solve all the clues and find the treasure wins bragging rights for the rest of the year.

Pro Tip: Make your clues rhyming riddles (e.g., “I have a screen but no face, and bring shows to this place. Your next clue is hiding near the TV!”).

19. “What’s Your Elf Name?” Game

Forget your boring human name for a night! This simple game gives everyone a silly, festive new identity that’s guaranteed to get a few giggles.

Best for: A quick icebreaker, all ages, name tags at a party.

Time to Play: 5 minutes.

Players: Any number.

What You’ll Need:

• A large piece of paper or a whiteboard and a marker.
• Name tags (optional but fun).

How to Play:

1. Before the party, create your own Elf Name Generator chart.
2. Make two columns. For the first column (the first name), use the first letter of each person’s real name (e.g., A = Sparkle, B = Jingle, C = Peppy).
3. For the second column (the last name), use their birth month (e.g., January = McJingles, February = SparklePants, March = TinselToes).
4. Have each guest find their name on the chart and introduce themselves with their new Elf identity!

Pro Tip: Make a rule that everyone must refer to each other by their elf names for the first hour of the party.

20. Christmas This or That

Spark some lively and hilarious debates with this super simple game. You’ll be surprised to learn who prefers real trees over fake ones, or who would rather have eggnog than hot chocolate.

Best for: An easy conversation starter, all ages.

Time to Play: 10-15 minutes.

Players: 3+.

What You’ll Need: A list of Christmas-themed “This or That” questions.

How to Play:

1. The host reads a choice aloud, like “White Christmas lights or colored lights?”
2. Everyone shouts out their preference or raises their hand for their choice.
3. There’s no scoring – the fun is in defending your (obviously superior) choice.
4. Sample questions: Elf or Home Alone? Star or angel on the tree? Open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Fun Variation: Turn it into an active game by designating one side of the room for the first option and the other side for the second. Players have to physically move to the side that represents their choice.

21. Holiday Riddles Showdown

Who is the resident genius in your family? It’s time to find out. This battle of wits challenges everyone to solve clever, holiday-themed brain teasers.

Best for: A calmer activity, groups who love wordplay.

Time to Play: 15 minutes.

Players: 2+ (individually or in teams).

What You’ll Need: A list of Christmas riddles.

How to Play:

1. The host reads a riddle aloud.
2. The first person or team to shout out the correct answer gets a point.
3. Continue until you’ve gone through all the riddles. The one with the most points is crowned the Riddle Master!
4. Sample Riddle: “I have no voice, but I can tell you all the stories of Christmas past. I get a new ring every year but can’t wear them. What am I?” (Answer: A Christmas tree).

Pro Tip: For a fun “penalty”, the person who gets a riddle wrong has to tell their best (or worst) Christmas cracker joke.

22. Christmas Jeopardy

Bring the beloved game show to your holiday gathering! This requires a little prep, but the payoff is a seriously fun and competitive game that makes everyone feel like a contestant.

Best for: Trivia lovers, larger groups, teams.

Time to Play: 30 minutes.

Players: 4+ (in two or three teams).

What You’ll Need:

• A large poster board or whiteboard.
• Index cards or sticky notes.

How to Play:

1. Create the board: Make a grid with 4-5 categories at the top (e.g., “Carols”, “Movies”, “Food”, “Traditions”).
2. Below each category, write point values from 100 to 500. On the back of each card, write a corresponding trivia answer.
3. Teams take turns selecting a category and a point value (e.g., “Movies for 300”).
4. The host reads the answer, and the team must provide the correct response in the form of a question. (e.g., Answer: “This fizzy beverage is often left out for Santa in Sweden.” Question: “What is Julmust?”).

Pro Tip: Designate one hidden card as a “Daily Double”, where the team can wager any of their current points before hearing the clue.

23. “What Did Rudolph Eat?” Chocolate Game

This game is a little bit gross and a whole lot of hilarious. It’s the perfect silly game for groups that don’t take themselves too seriously and are ready for some guaranteed giggles.

Best for: Kids, teens, and adults with a good sense of humor.

Time to Play: 10 minutes.

Players: 2+.

What You’ll Need:

• 3-5 different types of chocolate bars (e.g., Snickers, Milky Way, Twix).
• Microwave-safe bowls or clean diapers (for extra gross-out factor).
• Paper and pens for guessing.

How to Play:

1. Unwrap and slightly melt each chocolate bar in a separate bowl or diaper. You can mash it up a bit to make it look… authentic.
2. Label each “specimen” with a number.
3. Have your guests examine the “reindeer poop” by looking and smelling, and then write down their guess for which chocolate bar is in each bowl.
4. The person who correctly identifies the most melted candy bars wins!

Pro Tip: Ham it up! Present the “specimens” with a serious face, using scientific language to describe the texture and aroma for maximum comedic effect.

24. Christmas Bingo

A festive twist on an absolute classic that everyone knows how to play. It’s the perfect low-key game that people can enjoy while chatting and sipping on a drink.

Best for: All ages, large groups, a relaxed party activity.

Time to Play: 20 minutes.

Players: 4+.

What You’ll Need:

• DIY Bingo cards (paper with 5×5 grids).
• A pen for each player.
• A bowl or hat.
• Bingo “markers” (M&Ms, Hershey’s Kisses, or small coins work great).

How to Play:

1. Create your Bingo cards by writing different Christmas words or phrases in each square (e.g., “Santa”, “Snowman”, “Mistletoe”, “Jingle Bells”). Make sure each card is slightly different!
2. Write all the words on small slips of paper and place them in a bowl.
3. The host draws one slip at a time and calls it out.
4. Players place a marker on the corresponding square if they have it.
5. The first person to get five in a row and shout “BINGO!” wins a prize.

Fun Variation: Create “Human Bingo” cards with squares like “Find someone wearing an ugly sweater” or “Find someone who has already finished their Christmas shopping”.

25. Holiday Scattergories

This fast-paced word game is a fantastic challenge for the quick-witted members of your family. The goal is to come up with unique answers that no one else thinks of.

Best for: Word game enthusiasts, teens, and adults.

Time to Play: 20-25 minutes.

Players: 3+.

What You’ll Need:

• Pen and paper for each player.
• A timer.
• A way to choose a random letter (like a 26-sided die, an app, or letters in a hat).

How to Play:

1. The host creates a list of 10 Christmas-themed categories (e.g., “A Christmas Food”, “Something Found at the North Pole”, “A Line from a Carol”).
2. A letter is chosen at random (e.g., “S”).
3. The timer is set for 2-3 minutes, and everyone must write down an answer for each category that starts with the chosen letter (e.g., “Sugar Cookie”, “Sleigh”, “Silent Night”).
4. After time is up, players share answers. You get one point for each unique answer that no one else wrote down.

Pro Tip: Before you start, decide as a group if creative or funny answers will be accepted to avoid arguments during scoring.

26. The “Danger Word” Challenge

A simple game that runs in the background of your entire party. It’s a hilarious test of self-control that will have everyone listening carefully to every word their relatives say.

Best for: A party-long game, getting guests to mingle.

Time to Play: The entire duration of the party.

Players: 5+.

What You’ll Need:

• One clothespin or festive sticker for each guest.

How to Play:

1. At the beginning of the party, announce the “danger words” – a few common holiday words that are now forbidden (e.g., “Christmas”, “Santa”, “present”).
2. Give each guest one clothespin to clip onto their shirt.
3. If you hear someone say a danger word, you can call them out and take their clothespin.
4. The goal is to collect as many clothespins as possible. The person with the most at the end of the party wins!

Pro Tip: Choose words that are really hard to avoid to maximize the challenge and the fun.

27. Candy Cane Cash Grab

This game is a sweet and simple mix of luck and mystery. Will you pick the plain candy cane or the one with a surprise attached?

Best for: Kids, a simple prize game, gift exchanges.

Time to Play: 5-10 minutes.

Players: Any number.

What You’ll Need:

• One candy cane per player.
• Cash (dollar bills) or small gift cards.
• Tape or string.

How to Play:

1. Before the game, secretly attach a dollar bill or a small prize to the back of a few of the candy canes.
2. Display all the candy canes in a festive mug or hang them on a small tree, making sure the prizes are hidden.
3. Have each player choose one candy cane.
4. Once everyone has picked, they can check to see if their sweet treat came with a surprise bonus!

Fun Variation: Turn it into a gift exchange. Number the candy canes and have the numbers correspond to wrapped gifts. The candy cane you pick determines the gift you get.

28. Christmas Never Have I Ever

Ready for some festive confessions? This holiday twist on the classic party game is perfect for finding out which of your sweet-looking relatives has a mischievous holiday streak.

Best for: Adults, teens, groups of friends.

Time to Play: 15-20 minutes.

Players: 5+.

What You’ll Need: Absolutely nothing! Just your holiday memories.

How to Play:

1. Everyone gathers in a circle and holds up five fingers.
2. Taking turns, each person makes a statement starting with “Never have I ever…” followed by something they haven’t done during the holidays. (e.g., “Never have I ever re-gifted a present.”)
3. If someone in the group has done that thing, they must put one finger down.
4. The last person with fingers still up is the winner!

Pro Tip: Set the tone beforehand. Let everyone know if it’s a family-friendly game or if spicier “adults-only” stories are welcome.

29. Holiday Pong Challenge

You don’t need a frat house to enjoy a good game of pong! This family-friendly version swaps beer for bells and prizes, testing everyone’s aim in a bouncy, festive showdown.

Best for: Active groups, teens, and competitive adults.

Time to Play: 15 minutes.

Players: 2+ (in teams).

What You’ll Need:

• 10-15 plastic cups.
• Ping pong balls or jingle bells.
• Small prizes or candies to put under the cups.

How to Play:

1. Arrange the cups in a triangle formation at one end of a table. Place a small prize or candy under a few of them.
2. Players or teams take turns trying to bounce the ball across the table to land it in one of the cups.
3. If a ball lands in a cup, the player wins the cup (and any prize that might be under it).
4. The team that collects the most cups wins the game.

Fun Variation: Write fun “challenges” on slips of paper and place them in the cups. If you land a ball in a cup, you have to perform the challenge (e.g., “Sing ‘Jingle Bells’ in an opera voice” or “Do your best impression of the Grinch”).

30. The Left-Right Christmas Story

This is a gift exchange game that’s more about the journey than the destination. As a silly story is read aloud, gifts are passed frantically around the circle, and nobody knows which one they’ll end up with.

Best for: Gift exchanges, all ages, story lovers.

Time to Play: 10-15 minutes.

Players: 6+.

What You’ll Need:

• One wrapped gift per person.
• A pre-written Christmas story that uses the words “LEFT” and “RIGHT” frequently.

How to Play:

1. Everyone sits in a circle, holding the gift they brought.
2. The host reads the story aloud at a steady pace.
3. Every time the word “LEFT” is said, everyone passes their gift one spot to the left.
4. Every time the word “RIGHT” is said, everyone passes their gift one spot to the right.
5. When the story is over, you get to unwrap whatever gift you are holding.

Pro Tip: Write your own story and include the names of your family members and funny inside jokes. The more personalized it is, the more memorable it will be!

More Christmas Party Ideas to Keep the Fun Rolling:

The Reindeer Poop Game: Turn Your Guests Into Chocolate Detectives This Christmas

How To Play The Candy Bar Game

Christmas Fish Bowl Game: The Ultimate Holiday Party Hit (Plus Free Word List!)

40 Hilarious Christmas Party Games for Adults That’ll Make Your Holiday Party Legendary

20 Hilarious Christmas Games For Kids