39 Entertaining & Fun Party Games for Christmas in 2024
When it comes to creating unforgettable holiday memories, party games for Christmas are the perfect way to keep everyone entertained. Whether you're hosting a family gathering, a friends' night in or a festive office party, Christmas games add a layer of fun and excitement to the celebration. From classic games with a holiday twist to unique new ideas, there's something for every crowd, young or old, to enjoy.
Whether you're looking for lighthearted challenges, team competitions, or games that are quick and simple to play, this list of Christmas games will have everyone feeling the joy and spirit of the season.
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- Adult Party Games for Christmas
- Christmas Party Games for Large Groups
- Christmas Party Games for Families
- Funny Christmas Party Games
- Indoor Party Games for Christmas
- Outdoor Party Games for Christmas
Adult Party Games for Christmas
1. Christmas Karaoke
If you're looking to add a musical twist to your party games for Christmas, Christmas Karaoke is the perfect choice. Gather your guests and challenge them to sing their favorite holiday hits. From classics like "Jingle Bell Rock" to modern songs like "All I Want for Christmas Is You" or Michale Buble’s specials. This game is sure to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. You can either make it a competition with a judging panel or keep it light-hearted and let everyone enjoy the fun without pressure.
2. Christmas Cocktail Competition
Nothing says festive fun quite like a Christmas cocktail competition. As one of the best adult party games for Christmas, this activity invites your guests to show off their bartending skills. Set up a mini bar with holiday-themed ingredients — think cranberry, cinnamon or peppermint — and let everyone create their own signature Christmas cocktails. Once the drinks are ready, taste-test them all and crown the best holiday mixologist with the best Christmas cocktails. It’s a fun and creative way to get everyone involved, and, of course, the cocktails add to the holiday spirit.
3. Holiday Trivia
For a game that mixes knowledge with festive fun, Holiday Trivia is a must. Whether your guests are holiday movie buffs, Christmas song experts or simply love random holiday facts, this game will challenge and entertain them. You can create categories ranging from Christmas traditions around the world to iconic holiday pop culture moments. Best of all, it’s easy to customize to fit your audience with Christmas movie trivia questions, making it the perfect addition to any holiday party.
4. Gift Wrap Challenge
Looking for party games for Christmas that combine creativity and competition? A gift-wrapping challenge can be the perfect way to get everyone’s hands moving. All you have to do is set up a station with gift-wrapping materials and give each participant a random object to wrap — think of items like a broom or a basketball for extra difficulty. The goal is to wrap the object as quickly and beautifully as possible.
5. Holiday Never Have I Ever
One of the adult party games for Christmas that never fails is Holiday Never Have I Ever. Your guests have to share their holiday-related secrets. Whether it’s “Never have I ever re-gifted a present” or “Never have I ever gone Christmas caroling,” this game will spark fun conversations, and it’s an excellent ice breaker game.
6. Christmas Cookoff or Bakeoff
How do you throw a fun adult Christmas party? By hosting a Christmas Cookoff! In this friendly competition, your guests can show off their culinary skills with their favorite holiday dishes. Whether it’s baking festive cookies or preparing the perfect holiday roast, everyone brings their A-game to the kitchen. You can have different categories for appetizers, desserts and drinks, with the group voting on the best dish in each category. Get a headstart by taking an online cooking class.
7. Most Likely To
Another exciting game to add to your list of Christmas games is "Most Likely To." This game is all about getting to know your friends better but with a holiday spin. Everyone takes turns reading out statements like "Most likely to eat all the Christmas cookies" or "Most likely to show up late to the Christmas party." The group then votes on who fits the statement best.
Christmas Party Games for Large Groups
8. Holiday Cookie Decorating Contest
One of the most creative (and delicious) Christmas activities is a Holiday cookie decorating contest. Set up a station with sugar cookies, frosting and a variety of festive decorations, and let your friends channel their inner artist. Each person can decorate their cookies with holiday themes, from snowmen to reindeer, and the best part is that everyone gets to snack on their creations afterward.
9. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
If you're looking for interactive and energetic Christmas party games for large groups, a Holiday Scavenger Hunt is a fantastic option. Create a list of holiday-themed items, such as ornaments, candy canes and Christmas stockings, and hide them around your party venue. Split everyone into teams and set them loose to find as many items as they can within a time limit.
10. Name That Tune
What are some games you can play at a Christmas party that get everyone involved? Name That Tune is a fantastic choice, especially for music lovers. This game challenges guests to guess the name of a Christmas song after hearing only a few seconds of it. You can make it more exciting by creating teams and competing against each other. From classic carols to modern Christmas songs, this game is a great way to spread holiday cheer while keeping the energy up at your party.
11. Holiday Costume Contest
Elevate your party games for Christmas with a holiday costume contest. Encourage guests to come dressed in their most festive outfits — whether it's an ugly Christmas sweater, a Santa suit, a reindeer costume or their best Rhyme Without Reason ideas (with a Christmas twist). Once everyone has arrived, hold a mini fashion show and let the group vote on the best costume. This game not only adds a fun visual element to your party but also gets everyone into the holiday spirit from the moment they arrive. Pets can, and should, also be contestants.
12. Christmas Bingo
When it comes to Christmas party games for large groups, Christmas bingo is a classic that everyone can enjoy. Customize your bingo cards with holiday-themed images or phrases, such as Santa Claus, Christmas lights or mistletoe, and hand them out to guests. As the game progresses, everyone will be on the edge of their seats, waiting to shout, "Bingo!"
13. White Elephant Gift Exchange
For a fun and unpredictable twist at your party, consider organizing a white elephant gift exchange, which is also perfect for work Christmas party ideas. In this gift swap, each guest brings a wrapped present and participants take turns choosing a gift to open or "stealing" an opened gift from someone else. The catch? The more coveted the gifts, the more they’re likely to change hands.
Christmas Party Games for Families
14. Gingerbread House Competition
Among the best Christmas party games for families is having a gingerbread house competition! Each person or team can build and decorate their gingerbread house using icing, candy, and other festive decorations. Set a timer to add excitement and see who can craft the most festive or outlandish design.
15. Christmas "Guess the Gift"
Test your family's guessing skills with Christmas "Guess the Gift"! Wrap a variety of mystery gifts in creative ways, and have players guess what’s inside by shaking, touching or simply using their intuition. This is one of the most engaging Christmas party games for families, offering a fun way to build anticipation and excitement around the holiday season.
16. Santa Says
A Christmas twist on the classic "Simon Says," Santa Says is an energetic game that will get the whole family moving. Have "Santa" give commands like, "Santa says clap your hands" or "Santa says hop on one foot." But watch out — if "Santa" gives a command without saying "Santa says," anyone who follows the command is out! This game fits perfectly into any list of party games for Christmas, offering lighthearted fun for all ages.
17. Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
Keep traditions alive with the best ugly Christmas sweater ideas. Hold a contest or an entire ugly sweater party. Each family member should wear their most outrageous holiday sweater and let the family vote on the "ugliest" one. Whether they’re handmade or store-bought, these sweaters are sure to spark joy. Add categories like "most creative" or "best DIY" to keep the contest interesting. This game is a family favorite that guarantees festive fun.
18. Christmas Charades
What are the old-fashioned Christmas parlor games? One of the classic games is Christmas charades! To play it, all you have to do is create a list of festive phrases, Christmas movies or holiday characters, and let players act them out while the others guess. It's a timeless family favorite that guarantees laughs and memories.
19. Christmas Craft Station
Set up a Christmas craft station for all ages to enjoy! From creating personalized ornaments to decorating holiday cards, this hands-on activity allows everyone to showcase their artistic side. It's an ideal choice for families who enjoy crafting DIY Christmas decorations, DIY Christmas ornaments or DIY Christmas gifts, and it makes a perfect addition to your lineup of party games for Christmas.
20. Who Said It?
Who Said It? is a fun game that challenges players to match famous Christmas quotes or holiday song lyrics with the correct character or singer. Write down quotes from beloved Christmas movies, songs or stories, and have players guess who said each one. It's a perfect way to bring out the competitive side of family members while celebrating the holiday spirit.
Funny Christmas Party Games
21. Rudolph Race
Get ready for some festive competition with the Rudolph Race! In this game, players attach red noses (like Rudolph's) to their faces using petroleum jelly or double-sided tape and race to a finish line without the nose falling off. It’s one of the most energetic and funny Christmas party games, guaranteed to have everyone cracking up as they try to keep their noses in place while running.
22. “Guess the Christmas Smell” Game
As the name suggests, “Guess the Christmas Smells” is all about identifying signature Christmas smells. To play it, you need to blindfold players and have them sniff various holiday scents like pine needles, cinnamon, peppermint or fruitcake. The challenge is to identify the scents correctly, but the real fun comes from the funny guesses that often follow. This is one of the most entertaining, funny Christmas party games, perfect for testing your guests' noses, as, believe it or not, it’s harder than it seems.
23. Holiday Mad Libs
Bring out the creativity and laughter with Holiday mad libs! This holiday version of the classic word game invites participants to fill in the blanks with funny adjectives, nouns, and verbs, creating hilarious holiday-themed stories. Whether you’re playing with family or friends, this game is sure to be a hit in your lineup of party games for Christmas, generating wild stories to share.
24. Santa’s Secret Dance
In Santa’s secret dance, players must secretly copy one "Santa" as they dance to Christmas music, while one player who isn’t in on the secret has to guess who the leader is. This game is perfect for all ages, making it a fun addition to your party games for Christmas.
25. Christmas “Telephone” Game
Give the classic telephone game a holiday spin with the Christmas “Telephone” Game. Start with a festive phrase like “Santa’s sleigh is stuck on the rooftop,” and whisper it down the line. By the time the last person repeats the phrase out loud, the results are sure to be wildly different and absolutely hilarious.
26. Christmas Piñata
Spice things up with a Christmas piñata! Fill the piñata with holiday-themed goodies like candy canes, small toys or even funny holiday accessories, and let guests take turns trying to break it open. The fun comes when the piñata finally bursts, and everyone scrambles for treats. It's a fun, festive, and energetic addition to any Christmas party, perfect for kids and adults alike.
27. Holiday Spirit Awards
If you're hosting a holiday work party, consider adding some humor with Holiday Spirit Awards! Create light-hearted award categories like “Best Santa Hat,” “Most Festive Outfit,” or “Jolliest Laugh,” and hand out small prizes or certificates. It’s a fun way to recognize guests while keeping the mood light and festive, ensuring everyone gets a laugh and a moment in the spotlight.
Indoor Party Games for Christmas
28. Christmas Pictionary
When there's bad weather, the perfect solution is indoor party games for Christmas. Get the creativity flowing with a festive round of Christmas pictionary. Players draw holiday-related words or phrases, while their team tries to guess what it is within a time limit. No numbers or symbols make it that much more fun.
29. Christmas Movie Trivia
Test everyone's knowledge of classic holiday films with a fun round of Christmas movie trivia. Prepare a list of questions from beloved Christmas movies and see who can answer the most correctly. This is a perfect choice when looking for entertaining and engaging indoor party games for Christmas, as it sparks nostalgia.
30. Ornament Balancing Challenge
Add a fun twist to your holiday party with an ornament balancing challenge. Players must balance Christmas ornaments on a spoon and race to a finish line without dropping them. This fast-paced and competitive game is a fantastic option for party games for Christmas, perfect for both kids and adults looking to get active indoors.
31. Holiday Pass the Slipper
Bring back a traditional game with a holiday twist in Pass the Slipper! Players sit in a circle and pass a wrapped "slipper" (or small gift) around as music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the slipper is out, and the game continues until only one person is left. This is a fun and interactive option for indoor party games for Christmas, perfect for building suspense and excitement at your gathering.
32. Christmas Balloon Pop Relay
Liven up the room with a Christmas balloon pop relay. Split players into teams, and have them race to sit on and pop holiday-colored balloons. It’s a fun, fast-paced game that’s sure to get everyone laughing, and it works great in indoor settings where there’s space to move around.
33. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
A Christmas spin on the classic "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," Pin the Nose on Rudolph challenges players to stick a red nose on a large picture of Rudolph while blindfolded. It’s a simple, fun activity that’s especially popular with kids but enjoyable for all ages. This is an ideal choice for party games for Christmas, offering a festive and lighthearted way to entertain family and friends in an indoor setting.
Outdoor Party Games for Christmas
34. Snowman Building Contest
For exciting outdoor party games, if you’re lucky enough to have snow, take everyone outside to have the ultimate snowman-building contest. You can play an individual competition, or divide into teams and see who can build the best or most creative snowman within a set time.
35. Christmas Relay Races
Host a series of Christmas relay races with a holiday twist. Incorporate challenges like carrying presents or balancing ornaments on a spoon as players race to the finish line. This is a fantastic way to get everyone moving and is a great addition to your lineup of party games for Christmas for some high-energy fun outdoors.
36. Christmas Cornhole
Set up a festive version of cornhole by decorating the boards with holiday themes and using red and green bean bags. This outdoor favorite is easy to play and keeps everyone entertained. It’s a fun and competitive activity that works perfectly for guests of all ages and is a great outdoor option for Christmas parties.
37. Snowball Toss
If you’re celebrating outdoors in a snowy setting, the snowball toss is a must-try game. Set up targets and see who can throw the most accurate snowballs. If you don’t have snow, you can use soft white balls instead (or even balloons filled with water). This is a great way to add some friendly competition and excitement to your party games for Christmas, especially in a winter wonderland setting.
38. Santa’s Sack Race
Take the classic sack race and give it a festive spin by turning it into a Santa’s sack race. Players hop toward the finish line in sacks while dressed as Santa or elves. This hilarious game is a crowd-pleaser and a perfect addition to any collection of party games for Christmas, ensuring everyone has a good time.
39. Christmas Tug of War
Organize a Christmas tug-of-war, in which guests compete in teams using a festive holiday rope. To add a bit of fun, you can even have participants dress up in Santa hats or elf costumes. This is one of the simple yet fun outdoor party games for Christmas that keeps everyone entertained.
From family-friendly activities like the Gingerbread House Competition to hilarious challenges like the Rudolph Race, these party games for Christmas cater to every type of gathering — whether you’re hosting indoors or outdoors. They offer a great mix of creativity, competition, and classic holiday cheer, ensuring everyone stays engaged and entertained.
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