Must-Try Party Games for an Unforgettable Christmas Celebration
Liven up your holiday gathering with these fun, easy-to-play games that everyone will enjoy
By Shelby Winslow | Nov 11, 2024
Hosting a Christmas party is one of the best ways to bring friends and family together during the festive season. While decorating your home, cooking up delicious meals, and choosing the perfect music are essential parts of planning, what really makes a party memorable are the fun and engaging games that get everyone laughing and interacting. If you’re aiming to make your Christmas gathering truly special this year, having a lineup of easy-to-learn and enjoyable games can be a game-changer. Whether you’re hosting a cozy evening with close friends, a lively family reunion, or a work holiday party, finding the right mix of games is key to creating an unforgettable night filled with cheer and laughter.
From classics that spark nostalgia to creative icebreakers that help everyone feel comfortable, games can set the tone for your entire event. Card games, team activities, and holiday-themed challenges can transform any gathering into a lively celebration, sparking friendly competition and conversation. To help you plan your party, we’ve rounded up a list of the top 10 fun and easy games that are perfect for Christmas. These suggestions include everything from traditional favorites like White Elephant and Charades to modern twists like Holiday Bingo and Guess the Christmas Carol. Whether you have a house full of kids or a room packed with adults, these games will keep everyone entertained and add a touch of festivity to your event.
Looking for the perfect game to make your Christmas party a hit? Jump straight to our list of fun, easy-to-play games that will keep your guests entertained
1. White Elephant Gift Exchange
To set up a White Elephant gift exchange, each guest should bring a wrapped gift. These gifts can range from fun, quirky items to more desirable presents, depending on the group’s preference. Gifts should be kept anonymous, with no tags indicating who brought which gift. Place all the wrapped gifts in a central location, such as a table or under a Christmas tree, to create a festive display.
Before starting, ensure that each player draws a number. This number will determine the order in which they get to choose a gift. It’s also helpful to have a set of rules in place regarding gift-stealing, such as how many times a single gift can be stolen and whether or not the game ends with the first player getting the chance to swap gifts.
How to Play:
- Draw Numbers: Each player picks a number from a hat or container to decide their turn order. The player with number 1 starts, followed by the rest in numerical order.
- Choosing a Gift: The first player selects a gift from the pile and opens it in front of everyone. This sets the game in motion.
- Subsequent Turns: The second player can either choose a new, unopened gift or steal the opened gift from player 1. If a player’s gift is stolen, they must select a new wrapped gift from the pile to open.
- Gift-Stealing Rules: A gift that has been stolen can only be stolen a set number of times (typically 2 or 3) before it becomes “frozen” and cannot be stolen again. This adds strategy to the game, as players must decide whether to risk stealing or choose an unknown gift.
- Ending the Game: The game continues until all players have taken their turns. To keep things fair and engaging, some variations of the game allow the first player (who had no opportunity to steal a gift) to swap their gift with any unfrozen gift at the end.
Tips for a Great Game:
- Gift Variety: Encourage guests to bring a mix of gifts, from humorous to practical, for a blend of laughter and excitement.
- Themed Gifts: Add a twist by choosing a theme for the gifts, such as “kitchen gadgets” or “cozy items.”
- Gift Budget: Set a spending limit that suits everyone’s budget to ensure fairness.
The White Elephant gift exchange is a beloved tradition at Christmas parties, filled with good-natured competition, surprise twists, and plenty of laughs as players strategize and react to unexpected steals and reveals.
2. Christmas Charades
Christmas Charades is a festive spin on the classic game of charades that’s perfect for adding fun and energy to any holiday party. To set it up, prepare a set of Christmas-themed actions, phrases, or characters written on slips of paper. These could include holiday activities like “wrapping presents” or “building a snowman,” famous holiday songs like “Jingle Bells,” or classic Christmas characters such as “Santa Claus” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Place these slips in a bowl or hat from which players can draw during their turn.
Arrange the guests into teams or let them play individually, depending on the size of the group. Create a comfortable space where players can stand and act out their phrases while others have a clear view for guessing.
How to Play:
- Draw a Phrase: The first player draws a slip of paper from the bowl without showing it to anyone else. They then have a few seconds to plan how they will act out the phrase.
- Act It Out: Without using any spoken words or sounds, the player must act out the phrase while their team (or the whole group, if playing individually) guesses what it is. Gestures, facial expressions, and creative miming are all encouraged to convey the phrase.
- Guessing Time: Set a timer, typically for 1-2 minutes. The team has until the timer runs out to guess the phrase correctly. If they guess it within the time limit, they earn a point.
- Switch Turns: Once the phrase is guessed or the time runs out, move on to the next player or team. Continue playing until everyone has had a chance to act out a phrase, or set a number of rounds to keep the game structured.
- Winning: The team or player with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins.
Christmas Charades Ideas:
- Christmas Songs: “Deck the Halls,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Silent Night”
- Holiday Activities: “Caroling,” “Baking cookies,” “Hanging stockings”
- Christmas Movies/Characters: “The Grinch,” “Buddy the Elf,” “Kevin from Home Alone”
- Festive Actions: “Sipping hot cocoa,” “Decorating a Christmas tree,” “Opening presents”
Tips for a Great Game:
- Keep It Simple: Ensure the phrases are clear and easily recognizable for all players.
- Use Holiday Props: Add a little fun by allowing props like Santa hats or candy canes for acting.
- Encourage Creativity: Players can use body language, pointing, and exaggerated movements to make their charade more engaging.
Christmas Charades is an engaging and inclusive game that serves as an excellent icebreaker at holiday gatherings. It’s full of laughter and fun, bringing out the holiday spirit as players try their best to mime out beloved Christmas traditions, songs, and characters.
3. Holiday Trivia
Holiday Trivia is a fun, interactive game that tests guests’ knowledge of Christmas and other holiday traditions. To set up, prepare a list of questions based on holiday movies, songs, traditions, history, and fun facts. The questions can vary in difficulty to keep the game balanced and engaging. Create categories, such as “Holiday Movies,” “Christmas Carols,” “Festive Traditions,” and “Christmas Around the World,” for added variety.
Split guests into teams of 3-5 people, depending on the size of the group, to encourage teamwork. Make sure to have a scoreboard, a timer, and any other items needed for keeping track of scores and time limits for answering questions.
How to Play:
- Divide Into Teams: Split your guests into equal teams and assign each team a name or number. Explain the rules, including how points are scored and any time limits for answering questions.
- Ask a Question: The host reads a question aloud to the teams. Depending on your preference, you can let one team answer at a time or allow all teams to write down their answers and reveal them at the same time.
- Answering and Scoring: Teams discuss their answers and respond within a set time limit, typically 30-60 seconds. Correct answers earn points, and the host keeps track of each team’s score on a scoreboard or piece of paper.
- Special Rounds: Add excitement by including special rounds such as “Double Points,” where a question is worth double the usual score, or a “Lightning Round,” where teams have to answer as many questions as possible within a limited time.
- Final Round and Winner: Continue the game until all questions have been answered or a pre-determined number of rounds have been completed. The team with the highest score at the end wins and could receive a small prize or bragging rights as the holiday trivia champions.
Holiday Trivia Question Ideas:
- Holiday Movies: “In Home Alone, where does the McCallister family go on vacation?” (Answer: Paris)
- Christmas Songs: “What holiday song includes the lyrics ‘In the meadow, we can build a snowman’?” (Answer: Winter Wonderland)
- Christmas Traditions: “Which country is credited with starting the tradition of the Christmas tree?” (Answer: Germany)
- Festive Facts: “What is the name of the reindeer that guides Santa’s sleigh?” (Answer: Rudolph)
Tips for a Great Game:
- Mix Up Question Types: Include true/false questions, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions to keep things interesting.
- Add Visuals: If possible, use a screen to show holiday movie scenes or song lyrics as clues.
- Festive Atmosphere: Play holiday music in the background and decorate the room to enhance the festive mood.
Holiday Trivia is perfect for sparking friendly competition and laughter while celebrating the season. It’s an excellent way to engage guests of all ages and test their knowledge about beloved holiday traditions, movies, and songs.
4. Christmas Pictionary
Christmas Pictionary is an entertaining and interactive game that puts guests’ drawing and guessing skills to the test. Perfect for players of all ages, it adds a fun twist to the traditional Pictionary game with a holiday theme. Prepare a list of Christmas-themed words and phrases such as “Santa’s sleigh,” “mistletoe,” or “building a snowman.” You can adjust the difficulty of the words to cater to the audience and make the game accessible and engaging.
How to Set Up:
- Prepare Your Word List: Create a set of cards or slips with Christmas-related words or phrases. Examples include “gift wrapping,” “caroling,” or “hot cocoa.”
- Gather Supplies: You’ll need a whiteboard or large sheet of paper, markers, and a timer to keep the rounds on track.
- Divide Into Teams: Split your guests into two or more teams. Each team will take turns having one member draw while their teammates guess.
How to Play:
- Choose a Drawer: Each team selects a member to draw the word for that round. Rotate the drawer each turn so everyone has a chance to participate.
- Set the Timer: The drawer has a set time, usually one to two minutes, to illustrate the word without using letters, numbers, or verbal hints.
- Start Guessing: The team shouts out their guesses as the drawer sketches the clues. If they guess correctly within the time limit, they earn a point.
- Alternate Rounds: Switch teams and repeat the process with a new drawer and word for each round.
- Winning the Game: Continue the game for a predetermined number of rounds or until the word list is complete. The team with the most points at the end wins.
Christmas-Themed Word Ideas:
- “Nutcracker”
- “Christmas tree”
- “Elf on the Shelf”
- “Sledding”
- “Gingerbread house”
Tips for a Great Game:
- Adjust Difficulty: Include a mix of simple and challenging words to keep the game exciting.
- Keep It Festive: Play Christmas music in the background to set the mood and encourage holiday cheer.
- Add Special Rounds: Introduce a “Double Points” round with tougher words or a “Lightning Round” where teams guess as many words as possible in a short time.
Christmas Pictionary is a delightful way to add fun and creativity to your party. It encourages teamwork, sparks laughter, and ensures everyone leaves with great memories of the holiday gathering.
5. Santa Hat Game
Santa Hat Game is a simple, yet hilarious, party game perfect for breaking the ice and adding a touch of festive fun. This game requires minimal setup and keeps everyone alert and engaged. The rules are easy, making it suitable for guests of all ages and great for holiday gatherings of any size.
How to Set Up:
- Hand Out Santa Hats: Give each guest a Santa hat to wear. This is essential for the game and adds to the holiday spirit.
- Host’s Hat: The host wears a Santa hat as well, but with an important role — they’ll secretly lead the game by being the first to take off their hat.
- Set the Mood: Play holiday music or keep the room lively with conversation to create a casual atmosphere where guests aren’t paying too much attention to their hats.
How to Play:
- Stay Alert: Guests are encouraged to keep their hats on and act naturally while mingling and enjoying the party.
- The Sneaky Move: At some point during the party, the host quietly removes their Santa hat. Guests need to be observant because when the host’s hat comes off, everyone else needs to follow suit.
- Last One Out: The last guest to notice and remove their hat loses that round and could face a fun consequence or be “out” for that round.
- Repeat for Fun: The game can be played multiple times throughout the event, with the host choosing different moments to remove their hat for surprise and laughter.
Tips for a Great Game:
- Choose the Right Moment: The host should choose subtle, unexpected moments to take off their hat to keep guests on their toes.
- Add Light Penalties: Consider adding small, fun penalties for the last person to remove their hat, such as performing a silly dance or singing a Christmas carol.
- Keep the Atmosphere Light: This game is meant to be silly and enjoyable, so keep the energy playful.
Why Play Santa Hat Game?
It’s simple, requires no special equipment (just Santa hats!), and injects spontaneous laughter into any gathering. This game is perfect for any holiday event, as it keeps everyone guessing, watching, and laughing throughout the party.
Wrapping up your Christmas party with these fun and engaging games will ensure your celebration is truly unforgettable. These games are easy to set up, simple to play, and perfect for guests of all ages, creating laughter and joy that everyone will remember long after the party ends. With these ideas in your party arsenal, you’re all set for a festive gathering that spreads holiday cheer and brings people closer together.
