You want your kids off their screens, your family actually laughing together, and your house feeling cozy instead of tense. The right games to play at christmas can do all of that in one night.
As a mom, I know that pressure you feel. You plan food, outfits, photos, and still worry your kids will say they are bored by 3 pm. So let me make at least one piece easier for you by walking you through simple, high impact games to play at christmas that work for mixed ages, busy moms, and tiny attention spans.
You will find fast games for little kids, clever ones for teens, options for grandparents, and even low effort ideas for exhausted parents. You can pick two or three, prep them the night before, and be ready for the kind of Christmas you actually want to remember.
Table of Contents:
- How To Choose The Right Christmas Game For Your Family
- Fast And Easy Games To Play At Christmas With Kids
- Christmas Party Games For The Whole Family
- Screen Friendly Games To Play At Christmas For Teens And Tech Lovers
- Gift Exchange Games To Play At Christmas
- Cozy Conversation And Card Games For Grown Ups
- Active And Silly Games To Burn Off Christmas Energy
- Creative Games To Play At Christmas For Makers And Story Lovers
- Party Game Ideas With A Little Extra Edge For Adults
- Simple Set Up Tips So Your Games Actually Happen
- Where To Find More Christmas Game Ideas Moms Actually Use
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
How To Choose The Right Christmas Game For Your Family
Before we jump into ideas, think about your real life house on Christmas Day. Are your kids still little and wired on candy canes, or are you trying to win over grumpy teenagers?
Look at your space too. Do you have a big living room for movement games, or is everyone squeezed around a small table? Knowing that will help you pick the christmas games that feel fun, not stressful.
| Family Type | Best Game Style | Prep Level |
|---|---|---|
| Young kids (ages 3 to 7) | Simple movement, I Spy, bingo, quick crafts | Very low |
| Mixed ages | Team games, trivia, scavenger hunts | Low to medium |
| Teens and adults | Gift exchange, party card games, mystery games | Medium |
If you like to keep up with current ideas from other parents, the Christmas section at Mumsnet is a good place to peek for trends, jokes, and what actually works in real homes.
Fast And Easy Games To Play At Christmas With Kids
You do not need a huge plan to keep younger kids happy. A few ten minute games spaced through the day can change the mood for everyone.
1. Christmas I Spy Printable
If you need a quiet moment to stir gravy or feed a baby, this one saves you. Print a festive I Spy sheet, give your kids crayons, and watch them hunt for candy canes, christmas trees, and stockings.
You can grab a ready to go Christmas I Spy sheet online. Tape the pages to clipboards and turn it into a mini competition, with a simple prize like picking the movie that night.
This simple game keeps them occupied while you finish wrapping or cooking. It helps them focus on the holiday decor around them.
2. Pin The Nose On Rudolph
This is the holiday cousin of the classic birthday party game. Draw or print a large reindeer face and stick it on the wall at kid height.
Use a red sticker dot or small circle of paper with tape on the back for each child. Blindfold them gently with a scarf, spin them once or twice, and let them try to place Rudolph’s nose in the right spot.
It is an easy game that results in plenty of giggles. You can even add reindeer antlers to the blindfold for extra fun.
3. Candy Cane Hunt
Think Easter egg hunt, but with red and white stripes and no plastic eggs. Hide candy canes around the living room, under couch cushions, in shoes, and on tree branches.
Kids go wild for simple searching games, and you do not need fancy prizes. You can watch as the canes hide in plain sight or difficult spots depending on the child’s age.
For more winter hunt ideas, you can see how families set up indoor hunts at The Hub Riverside. It is a great way to use your existing holiday decor as hiding spots.
Christmas Party Games For The Whole Family
Now let’s move to the games that get cousins, grandparents, and in laws actually talking to each other. These are your main event games to play at christmas for big groups.
4. Christmas Family Feud
A round of christmas family feud is perfect for bringing everyone together. You act as the host and read holiday-themed questions while two teams compete to guess the most popular answers.
You can create questions like “Name a popular Christmas carol” or “Name something you find in a stocking.” This type of game works well because it sparks debate and laughter among family members.
You can find pre-made cards online to make hosting easy. The winning player team gets bragging rights for the rest of the night.
5. Christmas Charades And Pictionary
Charades and Pictionary sound basic, but there is a reason they show up in so many holiday guides. You can change the words to fit the ages at your table, and you need very little stuff.
Write holiday themed phrases on slips of paper. Think “wrapping presents,” “frozen driveway,” or “elf on the shelf disaster.”
Divide into two teams. One person acts or draws while their team tries to guess before the timer ends. If you like following step by step party plans, you can see how other parents run holiday Pictionary and charades nights in guides like the family party tips at Freshly Picked.
6. Christmas Bingo
Bingo is ideal if you have kids, grandparents, or guests with limited mobility. People can stay seated, nibble snacks, and still feel part of the fun.
You can make simple grids with icons like stockings, angels, and sleighs, or order a ready made Christmas bingo pack so you are not printing and cutting at midnight. Packs such as the Christmas bingo calling cards on Amazon show how popular this game is as a yearly family tradition.
This works as a great transition activity between dinner and dessert. It keeps the christmas party moving without requiring too much energy.
7. Minute To Win It Christmas Edition
If you have high energy kids or a house full of cousins, these short challenge games are gold. Each game requires sixty seconds and uses simple items from your pantry or dollar store.
One favorite is a peppermint candy and spaghetti challenge. Players try to pick up peppermint Life Savers with a dry spaghetti noodle they hold in their mouth.
You can see a full ready made kit with Christmas themed Minute To Win It ideas, plus printable cards, at The Chaos and the Clutter’s Christmas party kit. Grab some popcorn, set out easy appetizers, and let kids cycle through challenges.
8. Snowman Stack And Pong Balls
Another minute win style game is the snowman stack. You give players white cups and they must stack them as high as possible in one minute without them falling.
You can also use ping pong balls for a game of “snowball toss.” Set up cups at the end of a table and have the play kids bounce ping pong balls into the cups to score points.
If you don’t have ping pong balls, you can use marshmallows. It is a simple game that gets very competitive very quickly.
9. Build A Toilet Paper Snowman
This is silly, messy, and very much worth it. Split your christmas family into pairs. One person is the “snowman” and stands still.
The other wraps them from shoulders to ankles in toilet paper. Once the wrapping is done, kids stick on paper eyes, buttons and a carrot nose, and add a hat and scarf.
The fastest finished snowman wins. Keep a trash bag handy so clean up stays easy.
Related Reading: Best Family Christmas Gift Ideas in 2025
Screen Friendly Games To Play At Christmas For Teens And Tech Lovers
Trying to pull a teenager away from their console can feel like a losing battle. So use their love of tech instead of fighting it.
10. Digital Party Packs And Console Games
If you have a game console in your house already, you can switch it into party mode. There are nearly 700 games to play through PlayStation TV and similar setups, many of them easy party or quiz games.
Focus on family friendly party packs and quiz titles where one person uses the controller and everyone else shouts answers from the couch. You can also check pages that list popular games to play together if your kids like to research before they try something new.
If your teens love trivia or silly drawings, party style bundles from companies such as Jackbox Games are a good fit. One person streams the game to the TV, and everyone uses their phone as a controller.
11. Virtual Christmas Parties For Long Distance Family
Not everyone can be home for Christmas. You might have grandparents across the country or a partner working a holiday shift.
Virtual event companies now run seasonal online trivia, escape rooms, and office Olympics. For example, Unboxed Experiences hosts holiday games for teams, which can give you ideas you can copy on a smaller scale at home.
There are even online escape room sessions such as the Frosty themed experience from Breakout IQ, which lets big groups play together through their screens.
Gift Exchange Games To Play At Christmas
If your gathering includes adults, gift exchange games turn basic presents into something people actually remember. You just pick a price limit and choose the christmas game that fits your group.
12. White Elephant Or Dirty Santa
This style of exchange works well with older kids, teens, and adults. Everyone brings one wrapped gift within the agreed price range and adds it to a shared pile.
People draw numbers to see who goes first. The first person picks and opens a gift. Each new person can open a new gift or steal one that is already open.
Guides such as Dirty Santa rules from Southern Living explain clear house rules, including how often an item can be stolen.
13. Dice Gift Exchange Game
If your crowd hates hurt feelings from stealing, this option keeps the focus on luck. Sit in a circle with the wrapped gifts in the center.
Everyone rolls dice on their turn and follows a key, like “roll a three, pass your gift right” or “roll a six, trade with anyone.” Once the time ends, whatever gift is in your lap is yours.
The Christmas dice exchange idea, shared on Activitygift, has become very popular for big groups, because everyone stays included and laughing.
14. Plastic Wrap Gift Ball
This game takes more prep, but the payoff is huge. Wrap small candies, socks, pens, and trinkets in a long sheet of plastic wrap, creating a large ball.
Players sit in a circle. One person tries to unwrap as many layers as possible while the person next to them rolls dice.
Once they roll a set number, the ball passes on. Ideas like the plastic wrap gift game are featured as trendy picks in lists of Christmas games from Martha Stewart.
Related Reading: Top Christmas Gifts for Tweens: Fashion, Tech, Toys and More!
Cozy Conversation And Card Games For Grown Ups
After the kids go to bed, it is nice to shift to slower, deeper games. These work for a quiet Christmas Eve or a small gathering with friends.
15. Hygge Style Conversation Game
If you want real talks instead of small talk about weather, try question card decks. A popular option is The Hygge Game, which focuses on cozy, reflective prompts.
You can spread the cards out on the table and let each person draw a question. Use them as an excuse to talk about favorite childhood memories or goals for the year ahead.
This is a nice way to bond with family members you haven’t seen in a while. It strips away the chaos of the holiday party for a moment.
16. Couples Game Night
If Christmas includes a house full of adults, you might like light relationship focused games. For example, The Couples Game is built around funny and honest questions about how well you know each other.
Play after the kids are down with hot cocoa or wine. Keep the tone light and remember you are there to laugh, not keep score.
It helps you connect with your partner amidst the holiday stress. It brings the focus back to the two of you.
17. Classic Parlour And Card Games
Some families love older style games. You can dust off traditional card decks, or get fresh ideas from books that collect modern versions.
One that many parents on forums mention is a book of modern parlour games for families, such as Parlour Games for Modern Families. It has card and dice ideas if you feel stuck.
Games like Whist or Hearts are great options. You can play music softly in the background to set a relaxing vibe.
Active And Silly Games To Burn Off Christmas Energy
If your house is bouncing off the walls after dessert, these movement games help kids burn energy in a structured way. That matters if you are trying to avoid sibling fights before bedtime.
18. Ring The Reindeer Antlers
This one needs very little prep. Someone wears a soft antler hat, and everyone else tosses rings to try to land them on the antlers.
You can buy inflatable antler ring toss sets such as Ring the Reindeer Antlers or just cut cardboard circles to throw. Keep score or just cheer each other on.
It is one of those games that looks easy but is surprisingly tricky. The person left wearing the antlers usually ends up laughing the hardest.
19. Jingle Bell Toss Or Dice Based Games
Another easy hit is a jingle bell toss. Use cups or bowls at different distances, drop jingle bells in a bucket, and give points based on which targets people hit.
If your kids like to mix luck with movement, you can bring in a special holiday set of dice and make your own rules. For example, “roll a two and do a silly dance” or “roll a six and toss three bells.”
You can also use pong balls if you ran out of bells. It’s an easy game to customize based on what you have.
20. Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman Card Game
This fast card game uses cute illustrations that kids love. The aim is to react quickly based on the pictures played.
Games like Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman are nice for late afternoon when everyone is a little tired, but still wants to play something light.
It does not require much setup. It fits perfectly on a coffee table near the christmas tree.
Creative Games To Play At Christmas For Makers And Story Lovers
Not all kids want loud movement games. Some prefer to build, craft, or tell stories. These games give them space to do that, while still joining in with everyone else.
21. Gingerbread House Contest
Set up a decorating table and let kids build the “best” or “silliest” gingerbread house. You can keep judging categories kind and fun, like “most colorful roof” instead of “ugliest.”
Play music like upbeat carols while they work to keep the energy high. Ideas such as this show up again and again in guides to creative holiday fun.
22. Christmas Mad Libs Story Time
If your kids love words, make your own fill in the blank stories. Write a short story about a Christmas mishap, leave blanks for nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and ask the family to call out silly words to fill the spaces.
Read the final story out loud. Expect giggles, nonsense, and at least one line about a flying pudding or grumpy snowman.
This is a wonderful way to involve shy family members. They can contribute words without being the center of attention.
23. Christmas Trivia Or Name That Tune
Older kids often enjoy being tested on movies and music. Put together a few trivia questions based on holiday films and christmas music.
You can split into teams and ask questions about old favorites and newer movies. Play snippets of songs and have the player team guess the title.
Holiday trivia and office party guides, such as the ideas at Sloshout, show how well trivia works in group settings. Include some easy questions so the little ones can answer too.
Party Game Ideas With A Little Extra Edge For Adults
If your evening gathering is adults only, you might want games with a bit more attitude or humor. Just be clear about the tone ahead of time.
24. Seasonal Card Games For Grown Ups
If you already own a Cards Against Humanity deck and your group is on board with darker humor, you can give it a Christmas twist. They often release seasonal packs that add holiday flavor to the jokes.
You can swap to lighter options if that style does not fit your crowd. There are also friendly “roasting” games such as Merry Dissmas which keeps jokes more playful and less sharp.
These party games help adults unwind after a long day of hosting. Just make sure the kids are asleep first.
25. Christmas Murder Mystery Night
For older teens and adults who like puzzles, a holiday murder mystery can fill a whole evening. Everyone gets a character to play, with secret clues and motives.
Companies such as Masters of Mystery offer ready to go Christmas themed kits. You just print the materials, read your part, and lean into the drama.
It turns your home into a theater stage. It is a memorable way to end the night.
Simple Set Up Tips So Your Games Actually Happen
You probably know this already. The hardest part is not picking games to play at christmas, it is making them happen between cooking, wrapping, and keeping small people from melting down.
Pick just two or three games for the day. One quiet, one active, and one for after dinner.
Prep everything the day before. That might mean printing sheets, setting a small bin of props near the tree, or ordering what you need in advance, like white pompoms for a fake snow toss game.
If family connection has felt a bit off this year, you might even like structured help such as a short series like 5 Days to Better Family Connection. It is easier to keep playful energy during games when you already have a plan for gentler days at home.
Related Reading: Best Christmas Gift Baskets for Families: Festive Picks
Where To Find More Christmas Game Ideas Moms Actually Use
If you enjoy seeing what other real parents do, big parenting hubs are full of extra inspiration. Places such as the Mumsnet Christmas section share chat threads about silly games, serious traditions, and last minute saves.
From there, you can branch into their other sections like parenting advice, food ideas, or honest product reviews if you decide to add a new board game to your cupboard.
Grandparent communities such as Gransnet are helpful as well, because they share low energy, chair friendly activities that still feel fun and social. These sites often discuss what game works best for multi-generational homes.
Conclusion
You do not need to plan a perfect, packed schedule. Two or three thoughtful games to play at christmas can shift the mood of the whole day.
Pick what fits your season of life. Maybe that is a candy cane hunt and Christmas bingo for young kids. Maybe it is a gift exchange and murder mystery for adults.
Or a mix of fast Minute To Win It rounds, digital games to play, and one cozy story based activity for everyone. Your kids will not remember every toy they unwrapped. But they will remember being wrapped up in toilet paper, racing to unwrap the plastic gift ball, or roaring with cousins during charades.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best games to play at Christmas for mixed ages?
Many families start with christmas bingo, charades, or a candy cane hunt because these work for kids, teens, and grandparents. - What easy games to play at Christmas can I set up last minute?
Christmas I Spy, Pin the Nose on Rudolph, and jingle bell toss are quick to prep and fun even in small spaces. - What are good games to play at Christmas for adults?
Gift exchange games, trivia, seasonal card games, and christmas murder mystery kits keep adults engaged after the kids go to bed. - What screen friendly games to play at Christmas work for teens?
Digital party packs, console quiz games, and virtual escape rooms help tech loving teens join the family fun. - How do I choose the right games to play at Christmas for my family?
Look at your space, ages, and energy level. Pick one quiet game, one active game, and one after dinner activity.
