Planning a Christmas party that’s more fun than a sleigh ride with Santa? We’ve all been there – the same old holiday gatherings can get a little stale. You’re looking for a way to spice up your adult Christmas party and get everyone laughing and having a blast. Look no further! This blog post is your one-stop shop for the most hilarious and engaging Christmas drinking games, guaranteed to turn your gathering into a legendary event.
Forget boring fruitcake and awkward small talk. We’ve got everything from movie-themed games like “Home Alone” and “Elf” to classics with a festive twist like Christmas Charades and Never Have I Ever. What sets this guide apart is the sheer variety and creativity of the games. We’ve included options for all group sizes and preferences, with tips and variations to keep things fresh. So grab your Santa hat, mix up some holiday cocktails, and get ready for a Christmas party that everyone will remember (or maybe try to forget)!
1. Charades: Christmas Drinking Game
Kick off your holiday party with a classic game of charades, the perfect icebreaker for groups of 4 or more. Channel your inner actor as you pantomime festive words and phrases like “Santa Claus stuck in a chimney” or “decorating a Christmas tree with a cat”. No need for acting experience – the more exaggerated and hilarious your gestures, the more fun everyone will have! For an added challenge, try acting out Christmas movie titles like “Elf” or “Home Alone” or belting out some holiday song charades like “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night”.
Remember, it’s not about being a mime pro – the wilder and sillier your gestures, the funnier it gets! I once had to act out “desperately trying to untangle Christmas lights” – let’s just say it involved a lot of flailing and very confused teammates.
2. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Embark on a holiday adventure with a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt that’s perfect for adults and larger groups. Hide festive clues and challenging riddles around your home or party venue, leading your guests on a merry chase to discover hidden treasures. These treasures could be anything from delicious holiday cocktails and sweet treats to small gifts and gag prizes.
Spice things up by theming your scavenger hunt around popular Christmas movies like “Elf” or “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. Alternatively, you can turn it into a photo challenge where players have to capture specific Christmas decorations or recreate scenes from classic holiday films. For an extra dose of competition, divide your guests into teams and watch as they race to decipher the clues and claim the ultimate prize!
One year, my cousins hid clues all over the house, including inside ornaments and even taped under the turkey! Let’s just say the fight for that last clue was worthy of a Christmas movie brawl.
3. Snowball Toss
Bring the winter fun indoors with a family-friendly game of snowball toss, perfect for Christmas parties and holiday gatherings. This simple throwing game requires only mini marshmallows (your “snowballs”) and cups as targets, making it a fun and affordable activity for groups of all sizes. Adults can add a festive twist by incorporating holiday-themed drinks as rewards or penalties, while kids will love the challenge of aiming for candy cane targets or festive gift boxes.
To increase the difficulty, set up cups at varying distances, awarding more points for successful throws into the farthest ones. You can also turn it into a team competition where players take turns tossing snowballs and accumulating points for their team. Get creative and decorate your cups with Christmas colors or even characters from your favorite holiday movies like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “Frosty the Snowman”.
One year, I got a little too enthusiastic and launched a marshmallow right into the Christmas punch bowl… definitely not my finest elf moment.
4. Home Alone Drinking Game
Relive the iconic movie “Home Alone” with this adult-themed movie drinking game that’s perfect for a Christmas movie night with friends. As you watch Kevin McCallister outsmart the bumbling Wet Bandits, Harry and Marv, take a sip of your festive cocktail (or a delicious mocktail if you’re the designated driver) every time he sets a booby trap or delivers a hilarious prank.
Amp up the challenge by assigning different drink actions based on the severity of Kevin’s antics. A simple trip or failed attempt by the bandits could warrant a sip, while epic traps like the hot iron or the tarantula deserve a full shot. For a truly immersive experience, create custom cocktails inspired by the movie, such as the “Sticky Bandits” with a sweet and sour twist or the “Little Nero’s Pizza” with a spicy kick.
One year, I got way too into the game and tried recreating Kevin’s ice slide… on the stairs. Let’s just say my reenactment of Marv’s fall was a bit too realistic.
Explore our Fun Home Alone Drinking Game Rules for your Christmas party.
5. Elf Drinking Game
Embrace your inner Buddy the Elf with this hilarious drinking game inspired by the beloved Christmas movie, “Elf”. Gather your friends and journey to the North Pole (or at least your living room) as you follow Buddy’s joyful antics. Every time he indulges in his signature sweet treats like syrup-drenched spaghetti or a giant candy cane, take a sip of your festive beverage. And when he exclaims iconic lines like “Smiling’s my favorite!” or “SANTA! I KNOW HIM!”, be sure to raise a toast with a festive shot.
For a more challenging game, create tiered drinking rules based on the level of Buddy’s sugar-fueled enthusiasm. A small nibble of candy could warrant a sip, while a full-blown sugar rush deserves a shot. Incorporate themed drinks like “Buddy’s Bubbly” with a splash of peppermint schnapps or the “Maple Syrup Madness” for a truly immersive experience. And for the ultimate Elf experience, encourage your friends to dress up as their favorite characters like Jovie, Papa Elf, or even Mr. Narwhal.
One year, I followed Buddy’s diet to the letter…so much maple syrup and candy. Let’s just say I had way too much Christmas spirit that night!
6. Die Hard Drinking Game
Transform the action-packed classic “Die Hard” into an explosive Christmas drinking game experience. Gather your fellow Die Hard enthusiasts and get ready to celebrate the holidays with John McClane as he takes on the villainous Hans Gruber. Every time our hero finds himself barefoot due to the treacherous Nakatomi Plaza, take a sip of your beverage. And when you hear Gruber’s iconic lines like “Mr. Takagi, I could talk about industrialization all day” or “Now I have a machine gun, ho ho ho”, raise a toast with a festive shot.
For a more intense game, consider taking a shot every time you hear the famous catchphrase “Yippee Ki Yay”. You can also split into teams: Team McClane and Team Gruber. Each time a character on your team experiences a setback or defeat, your team takes a drink. Get creative with themed snacks that represent elements from the movie. Pretzel sticks can stand in for broken glass, spicy chips can symbolize explosions, and gummy bears can represent the explosive C4 charges.
My Die Hard Miracle: One year, my buddy fell asleep halfway through the movie. We woke him up for the final showdown, and he still managed to out-drink us all. True Christmas spirit, I guess?
7. Christmas Poker
Deal yourself into a merry game of Christmas poker, a festive twist on the classic card game. Whether you’re a poker pro or a casual player, this card-based drinking game is perfect for adding a dose of friendly competition and strategic thinking to your holiday gathering. Replace traditional poker chips with festive substitutes like candy canes, mini chocolates, or even small wrapped gifts to add a touch of holiday cheer to your bets.
For a fun variation, try “Blind Santa”, where each player is dealt one card face down and the person with the highest card starts the betting round. This adds an element of surprise and luck to the game. Don’t be afraid to bluff! Part of the fun of poker lies in reading your opponents and convincing them you have a better hand than you actually do. And who knows, you might even win the pot with nothing but a well-timed bluff and a festive poker face!
Don’t be afraid to bluff! Christmas poker is all about reading your friends and outplaying them – even if you have a terrible hand. One year, I won the whole pot with absolutely nothing…the look on my cousin’s face was priceless!
8. Drunk Santa: The Naughty List Drinking Game
Unleash your inner child and embrace the holiday chaos with Drunk Santa: The Naughty List Drinking Game. This adult-themed treasure hunt is perfect for adding a dose of festive fun and friendly competition to your Christmas party. Hide small wrapped presents around the house, some designated for “good Santas” and others for those on the “naughty list”, adding an element of surprise and anticipation. The more presents you find, the merrier you’ll be!
To up the ante, introduce timed rounds where players race against the clock to find the most gifts. Get creative with your hiding spots – tuck presents inside ornaments, under the Christmas tree, or even disguise them as festive decorations. For a truly mischievous twist, consider labeling some gifts with dares or funny challenges for the recipient to perform. Remember, the key to success in this game lies in your searching skills, a bit of luck, and a healthy dose of holiday cheer!
My Drunk Santa Sneakiness: One year, I hid a gift inside a stocking filled with coal… nobody looked there for ages! Pro tip: sometimes the most obvious places are the most overlooked.
9. Christmas Uno
Shuffle up your holiday game night with a festive twist on the classic card game, Uno! Christmas Uno is perfect for groups of all sizes and adds a dose of holiday cheer and hilarious chaos to your gathering. Use a traditional Uno deck or opt for a special Christmas-themed edition with festive colors and characters. Get creative and add your own Santa-themed rules – for example, wild cards could become “Santa cards” with special powers, or draw four cards could turn into “reindeer cards” that require players to act like reindeer.
Spice things up with fun variations like “Grinch Mode” where the player with the most cards at the end has to chug their drink, adding a mischievous twist to the game. For a more competitive experience, host a Christmas Uno tournament with multiple rounds and crown the ultimate champion. Remember, strategy, quick thinking, and a little bit of holiday luck are key to winning this festive card game. And don’t forget to have fun – after all, Christmas is a time for laughter and joy!
My brother always beats me at Uno. Last Christmas, I finally got him back with a perfectly timed reverse card – the look on his face was worth a whole stocking of presents!
10. Never Have I Ever: Christmas Edition
Get ready for a night of laughter and embarrassing revelations with Never Have I Ever: Christmas Edition. This classic party game gets a festive makeover, making it the perfect icebreaker for your holiday gathering. Gather your friends and family, grab your drinks of choice, and prepare to share your most hilarious and cringeworthy Christmas stories.
Take turns asking questions like “Never have I ever regifted a present” or “Never have I ever caused a Christmas dinner disaster”. If you’ve done the action mentioned in the question, you take a sip of your drink or lose a point. For a more thematic experience, divide your questions into “naughty” and “nice” categories, or focus on specific themes like awkward family photos, disastrous decorating attempts, or childhood Christmas memories. Get ready to uncover hilarious holiday truths and create unforgettable memories with this festive twist on a classic party game.
My Cringey Confession: One Christmas, I totally believed my parents when they said the batteries were missing from my new toy on purpose. Turns out, they just forgot. Oops! Let’s just say I never lived that one down…
11. Gift Wrap Relay Race
Get ready for a hilarious and frantic gift-wrapping competition with the Gift Wrap Relay Race, the perfect Christmas party game for unleashing your inner elf and adding a dose of friendly chaos to your celebrations. Divide your guests into teams and equip them with wrapping paper, boxes, tape, scissors, ribbons, bows, and a timer. The goal is simple: each team member must race to wrap a present as quickly and beautifully as possible before passing the baton to the next teammate.
Introduce fun challenges to make the race even more exciting. Try “Blindfolded Wrapping” where one team member gives instructions while their teammate attempts to wrap a gift blindfolded, or “One-Handed Wrap Battle” where players can only use one hand to complete the task. For an added incentive, offer a prize upgrade to the team with the best-wrapped present, or let them choose a gift to unwrap and keep. Remember, speed, teamwork, and a dash of creativity are key to winning this festive relay race.
Stock up on cheap wrapping paper – things are bound to get ripped and crumpled in the frenzy! One year, my cousin wrapped a box entirely in tape…he was fast, but it wasn’t the prettiest present under the tree.
12. Truth or Dare: Christmas Edition
Spice up your Christmas party with a festive twist on the classic game of Truth or Dare (Truth or Drink). Truth or Dare: Christmas Edition is perfect for uncovering hilarious holiday secrets and challenging your friends with silly and outrageous dares. Gather your group, spark your imagination, and prepare for a night of laughter and unforgettable moments.
Take turns asking each other: “Truth or Dare?”. Choose wisely! If you pick “truth”, be ready to answer a revealing question about your Christmas experiences, like “What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received?” or “Have you ever re-gifted a present?”. If you opt for “dare”, prepare to step outside your comfort zone with festive challenges like singing a Christmas carol in a funny voice or acting out a scene from your favorite holiday movie.
For a themed experience, create separate sets of dares: one for “nice” Christmas fun and another for slightly “naughtier” challenges. You can also base your dares on classic Christmas movies, songs, or even embarrassing holiday traditions. The possibilities are endless, so get creative and let the festive fun begin!
One year, I had to sing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in the middle of a crowded shopping mall. Let’s just say my singing career ended right there.
