The scent of pine needles and warm gingerbread fills the house, lights are twinkling on the tree, and there’s a special kind of magic in the air. Christmas is the season of connection, a time to pause our busy lives and truly be present with the ones we love. But in the lull between opening presents and feasting, how do we turn screen time into genuine quality time?
This guide is your secret weapon to a Christmas filled with joy and connection. We’ve gathered the best family games for Christmas, from icebreakers to get the party started to hilarious active games that will have everyone in stitches. So, put away your phones, gather your loved ones, and let the games begin!
How to Choose the Best Christmas Games for Your Family
With so many games to choose from, how do you pick the perfect one for your family? Here are a few things to consider:
- Consider your guests: Think about the age range of your guests. Do you have a mix of toddlers, teens, and grandparents? Choose games that are adaptable or have variations for different age groups. Also, consider the personalities in your group. Are they outgoing and competitive, or more laid-back and reserved?
- Think about the space: Do you have a large living room or backyard for active games, or a smaller space better suited for tabletop or printable games?
- Game categories: We’ve divided our list into different categories to help you find exactly what you’re looking for, whether it’s a quick icebreaker or a full-blown game tournament.
12 Fun Christmas Party Games for All Ages
Now for the fun part! Here are our top picks for the best family games for Christmas in 2025.
Icebreaker Games
Get the party started and everyone mingling with these fun and easy icebreakers.
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Christmas Human Bingo
- Best for: All ages, large groups
- What you’ll need: Printable bingo cards (you can easily find templates online or create your own) and pens or pencils.
- How to play: Each square on the bingo card has a Christmas-themed statement, such as “Has already finished their Christmas shopping” or “Can name all of Santa’s reindeer.” Guests mingle and try to find someone who matches each statement. The first person to get five in a row wins!
- Pro-Tip: Offer a small prize for the winner to add to the fun.
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Two Resolutions and a Lie
- Best for: Teens and adults
- What you’ll need: Just your imagination!
- How to play: This is a festive twist on the classic “Two Truths and a Lie.” Each person thinks of two New Year’s resolutions they’re actually planning to make and one that’s completely made up. They then share their three resolutions with the group, and everyone has to guess which one is the lie.
- Pro-Tip: Encourage creativity with the made-up resolutions – the more outlandish, the better!
Printable Christmas Games
For easy, no-fuss fun, you can’t go wrong with printable games. Just print them out, and you’re ready to play!
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Christmas Trivia
- Best for: All ages (with age-appropriate questions)
- What you’ll need: A list of Christmas trivia questions and answer sheets.
- How to play: Divide into teams or play individually. Read out the trivia questions and have everyone write down their answers. The person or team with the most correct answers wins.
- Pro-Tip: Create different rounds of trivia, such as Christmas movie trivia, Christmas music trivia, and Christmas traditions around the world.
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Christmas Movie Emoji Game
- Best for: All ages
- What you’ll need: A printable sheet with a series of emojis that represent a Christmas movie.
- How to play: Guests have to guess the Christmas movie from the emoji clues. The person with the most correct answers wins.
- Pro-Tip: You can also play this game on a TV or screen, which is great for larger groups.
Active & Hilarious Christmas Games
Get everyone up and moving with these laugh-out-loud active games.
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Jingle Bell Toss
- Best for: All ages
- What you’ll need: 10-15 red and green plastic cups, jingle bells, and a table.
- How to play: Arrange the cups in a triangle at one end of the table. Fill the cups with a little bit of water. Players take turns trying to toss jingle bells into the cups. The first person to get a jingle bell in each cup wins.
- Pro-Tip: Play in teams for a more competitive game.
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Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
- Best for: Kids (and the young at heart!)
- What you’ll need: An inflatable reindeer antler headband and rings.
- How to play: One person wears the inflatable reindeer antlers while the other players take turns trying to toss the rings onto the antlers.
- Pro-Tip: Give the reindeer a silly dance to make it more challenging (and more fun!).
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Christmas Carol Pictionary
- Best for: All ages
- What you’ll need: A whiteboard or large pad of paper, markers, and a list of Christmas carols.
- How to play: Divide into two teams. One person from each team draws a Christmas carol while their teammates try to guess what it is. The first team to guess correctly gets a point. The team with the most points at the end wins.
- Pro-Tip: Use a timer to add a sense of urgency and excitement.
Christmas Games for Kids
Keep the little ones entertained with these simple and fun Christmas games.
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Pin the Nose on Rudolph
- Best for: Young children
- What you’ll need: A large picture of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a red paper circle for the nose, a blindfold, and tape or putty.
- How to play: Blindfold the player, spin them around a few times, and have them try to pin the nose on Rudolph. The person who gets the nose closest to the right spot wins.
- Pro-Tip: Play some Christmas music in the background to add to the festive atmosphere.
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Christmas Scavenger Hunt
- Best for: All ages (with age-appropriate clues)
- What you’ll need: A list of Christmas-themed items to find and small bags or stockings for each player to collect their items in.
- How to play: Give each player a list of items to find, such as “something red and green,” “a candy cane,” or “a Christmas ornament.” The first person to find all the items on their list wins.
- Pro-Tip: For younger children, use picture clues instead of written clues.
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Candy Cane Hunt
- Best for: Young children
- What you’ll need: Lots of candy canes!
- How to play: Hide candy canes around the house or in the backyard. Give each child a stocking and let them loose to find as many candy canes as they can.
- Pro-Tip: For older kids, you can make the hiding spots more challenging.
Christmas Games for Adults
When the kids are in bed, it’s time for the adults to have some fun!
11. Christmas-themed “Most Likely To…”
- Best for: Adults
- What you’ll need: A list of “most likely to” questions with a Christmas twist.
- How to play: One person reads a “most likely to” question, such as “Who is most likely to eat all the Christmas cookies?” or “Who is most likely to re-gift a present?” On the count of three, everyone points to the person who they think is most likely to do that.
- Pro-Tip: This game is all about laughter and good-natured ribbing, so keep it light and fun!
12. White Elephant Gift Exchange with a Twist
- Best for: Adults
- What you’ll need: Each guest brings a wrapped, silly, or strange gift.
- How to play: Everyone sits in a circle with the gifts in the middle. The first person chooses a gift and unwraps it. The next person can either choose a new gift or steal a gift from someone who has already gone. The game continues until everyone has a gift.
- Pro-Tip: Add a rule that a gift can only be stolen a certain number of times to keep the game moving.
Why Games are a Must-Have for Your Christmas Celebration
Think back to your favorite Christmas memories. Chances are, they involve moments of shared laughter and fun. That’s the magic of games. They’re not just about winning or losing; they’re about:
- Creating Lasting Memories: The silly moments, the friendly rivalries, the triumphant victories – these are the moments that become cherished family stories.
- Breaking the Ice: Games are the perfect way to get guests who don’t know each other well to relax and interact in a fun, low-pressure environment.
- Encouraging Interaction and Reducing Screen Time: In a world dominated by screens, games offer a refreshing opportunity for genuine human connection.
- Adding a Dose of Healthy Competition: A little friendly competition can add a spark of excitement to any gathering.
Make it a Tradition: The “Christmas Game of the Year”
Why not start a new family tradition this year? At the end of your game night, vote for the “Christmas Game of the Year.” You can even have a “Game Champion” trophy that gets passed around each year. It’s a fun way to create a little friendly competition and something to look forward to every Christmas.
What About Loved Ones Far Away?
We talked about virtual games, but having the right tool can make all the difference between a clunky call and feeling like you’re all in the same room. If you loved these ideas but have family members across the country or even the world, you don’t have to miss out on the fun.
JusTalk is built for these moments. With crystal-clear group video calls, you can host your virtual Christmas game night and see every smile and eye-roll. Share photos of the winning moments in a secure family chat, or use our fun in-call features to doodle and play together.
The best gift you can give your family is connection.
Bring everyone together this Christmas, no matter the distance. Download JusTalk for free and start a new tradition today!
