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Top 18 family games to play this Christmas
Take a look at our top picks for the top 18 family games to make your Christmas celebrations extra special. These games range from classic board games to fun, easy-to-learn activities that bring laughter and bonding moments for all members of the family.
Classic Board Games
Monopoly: Christmas Edition
Monopoly: Christmas Edition is a festive twist on the classic Monopoly game, designed to bring holiday cheer into the game’s competitive fun. This special version includes Christmas-themed properties, tokens, and cards, which makes it a perfect addition to the holiday season.
How to play:
- Christmas-Themed Properties: Instead of buying streets or famous locations, you purchase iconic Christmas-related locations such as Santa’s Workshop, the North Pole, or holiday villages.
- Holiday-Inspired Tokens: The player pieces are festive symbols like a Christmas tree, Santa's hat, a reindeer, a snowman, candy cane, or a sleigh. These fun tokens add a charming, seasonal touch to the game.
- Christmas Cards: The traditional "Chance" and "Community Chest" cards are replaced with holiday-themed tasks and events. For example, "Find a stocking full of gifts, collect £200!" or "You helped Santa deliver gifts—move to Santa's Workshop."
- Festive Money and Houses/Hotels: The game money features seasonal designs, like snowflakes or candy canes. The houses and hotels are replaced with gingerbread houses or Christmas cottages, enhancing the holiday theme.
- Special Holiday Rules: Some versions introduce unique holiday rules or bonuses. For example, you might receive extra money when you pass "Go" on Christmas Eve or get gifts (cards or money) under special conditions.
Pictionary
Pictionary: Christmas Edition is a fun, creative way to enjoy the holidays with family and friends! It’s just like the classic drawing and guessing game, but with a festive twist to match the Christmas season.
How to play:
Set-Up
- Split into teams (at least two).
- You’ll need a whiteboard or paper and markers/pens to draw.
- Create Christmas-themed Pictionary cards with words or phrases related to the holiday season.
Christmas-Themed Categories
Include categories that match the Christmas season. Examples:
- Christmas Movies: "Home Alone," "The Grinch," "Elf"
- Holiday Characters: Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman
- Christmas Songs: "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," "Frosty the Snowman"
- Holiday Objects: Christmas tree, candy cane, snowflake, stocking
- Festive Activities: Decorating the tree, wrapping gifts, building a snowman
Scrabble: Holiday Edition
Scrabble: Holiday Edition is a festive twist on the classic word game, adding a Christmas-themed touch to your family’s Scrabble experience. The objective remains the same—forming words with letter tiles to score points—but with fun holiday elements that bring a festive atmosphere to your game night.
How to play:
Holiday-Themed Word Bonuses: In this edition, players are encouraged to form holiday-related words like “Santa,” “snowflake,” “reindeer,” “mistletoe,” or “gifts.” You can add special bonus points for any Christmas-themed words to make the game more festive.
Themed Tiles or Board Design: The letter tiles may feature holiday decorations, like snowflakes, Christmas trees, or candy canes. The game board might also have a Christmas look, with festive colours like red, green, gold, and white, and possibly themed sections like “Santa’s Sleigh” for double or triple-word points.
Holiday Word Lists: You can create a holiday word list to reference throughout the game to enhance the Christmas vibe. These could be:
- Christmas Carols: "Jingle," "Bells," "Noel," "Joy," "Silent"
- Holiday Foods: "Turkey," "Pie," "Cookies," "Eggnog"
- Winter Words: "Snow," "Frost," "Icicle," "Winter"
- Christmas Symbols: "Elf," "Angel," "Star," "Tree," "Wreath"
Special Holiday Rules: Introduce custom holiday rules to make the game more fun:
- Double Points for Festive Words: Any word related to Christmas (e.g., “Santa,” “Reindeer,” or “Ornament”) gets extra points.
- Holiday Power-Ups: Players can use “gifts” (like bonus tokens or cards) to double their points or swap out tiles.
- Holiday Challenges: Challenge players to spell a holiday-related word every turn. Failure results in a small penalty (like missing a turn or losing points).
Party Games for Large Groups
Charades
Charades: Christmas Edition is a fun, high-energy way to bring laughter and holiday spirit to your family gatherings. The game works just like regular Charades, but with a holiday twist, where players act out Christmas-themed words or phrases, and others have to guess what they are miming.
How to play:
1. Set-Up:
- Split into two or more teams.
- Write down or print out Christmas-themed words/phrases on slips of paper and put them in a bowl or hat.
- Each team takes turns having one player draw a word or phrase and silently act it out within a set time limit (usually 1-2 minutes).
- The acting player cannot speak, use sounds, or write anything down—just gestures and movements.
2. Scoring:
- They score a point if the team guesses the correct word or phrase within the time limit.
- The game continues with teams taking turns until all the words are acted out. The team with the most points wins!
Heads Up!
The Chatsworth Christmas market is the perfect place to kick off your holiday shopping. With more than 100 stalls featuring a variety of Christmas gifts and decorations, along with live music, seasonal food, and drinks, it’s a delightful way to embrace the festive spirit in the stunning Peak District, surrounded by beautiful countryside.
How to play
1. Set-Up:
- You’ll need the Heads Up! app (available on smartphones) or make your own game using index cards or slips of paper with holiday-related words and phrases.
- Split into two or more teams.
- One player holds the phone (or a card) on their forehead with the word or phrase they need to guess facing the other players.
- The rest of the team gives clues to help them guess the word, but they cannot say it.
- If the player guesses correctly, they tilt the phone down (or place the card aside) to move to the next word. If they want to skip a word, they tilt the phone up (or pass the card).
- The goal is to guess as many words as possible within a time limit (usually 60 seconds).
2. Scoring:
- Teams alternate turns. Every correct guess earns a point, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Christmas Bingo
Christmas Bingo is a festive twist on the classic Bingo game that adds holiday cheer to your family gatherings! Instead of using numbers, players match Christmas-themed items on their Bingo cards. It's easy to set up and fun for all ages, making it a perfect game for kids, adults, and even mixed generations during the holidays.
How to play:
Create Christmas-Themed Bingo Cards Each Bingo card has a 5x5 grid filled with holiday-related images or words instead of the traditional numbers. You can either make your own cards or find printable Christmas Bingo cards online. Some examples of Christmas-themed items include:
- Characters: Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, The Grinch
- Decorations: Christmas tree, ornaments, wreath, stocking
- Holiday Treats: Candy cane, gingerbread man, cookies, hot chocolate
- Symbols: Snowflake, presents, sleigh, reindeer, fireplace
- Activities: Caroling, ice skating, building a snowman, wrapping gifts
You can even customize the Bingo cards with a mix of images, words, or both.
Prepare a Call Sheet or Bag of Symbols: To randomly select items during the game, create a set of matching symbols (like cards or slips of paper with the exact words or images on the Bingo cards). Place them in a bag or bowl, and randomly draw them out during the game.
Set the Rules
- Hand out Bingo cards and markers (such as festive holiday-themed items like mini candy canes or red and green tokens).
- The caller pulls one card or slip at a time, announces it, and players mark that item on their Bingo card if they have it.
- The objective is to complete a row, column, or diagonal (or a specific pattern like a full card, depending on the chosen rules). When someone completes the pattern, they shout "Bingo!"
White Elephant Gift Exchange
The White Elephant Gift Exchange is a popular and entertaining holiday party game where participants exchange humorous, quirky, or inexpensive gifts. The game is often filled with laughter, surprise, and playful "stealing" of gifts, making it an excellent activity for holiday gatherings with friends, family, or coworkers.
How to play:
1. Preparation:
- Set a gift budget: Typically, participants bring a gift within a specific price range (e.g., £10-£25). The gifts can be funny, quirky, or even something practical, but the aim is to keep it lighthearted.
- Wrap the gifts: The gifts should be wrapped to conceal their contents. Creative or misleading wrapping (like putting a small gift in a large box) adds to the fun.
2. Set the Rules:
- Drawing numbers: Each participant draws a number to determine the order of play. For example, if there are 10 people, each person gets a number between 1 and 10.
- Gift selection: The first person selects a gift from the pile, opens it, and shows it to everyone.
- Stealing or unwrapping: The next person can either choose a new gift to unwrap or steal a gift that has already been opened. If their gift is stolen, they get to select another unopened gift or steal from someone else.
- Stealing limits: A gift can usually only be stolen three times (or another set limit), and after the third steal, the gift becomes "frozen" and can no longer be taken.
Who Am I? (Christmas Edition)
Who Am I? (Christmas Edition) is a fun and interactive guessing game perfect for holiday gatherings. In this festive version of the classic "Who Am I?" game, players try to figure out which Christmas-themed character, person, or item they’ve been assigned by asking yes/no questions. The goal is to guess who or what you are before anyone else.
How to play:
1. Setup:
- Write down the names of Christmas-related characters, objects, or themes on sticky notes or paper.
- Each player receives a note, and without looking at it, they stick it on their forehead (or have someone else tape it on their back) so that everyone else can see the name except them.
2. The Gameplay:
Players take turns asking yes/no questions to figure out who or what they are. For example:
- "Am I a character from a Christmas movie?"
- "Do I wear red?"
- "Am I a food?"
Players keep asking questions until they get a "no" answer. Once they receive a "no," the next player takes their turn.The first player to guess who or what they are wins, but the game can continue until everyone has figured out their character.
Interactive Games
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas Scavenger Hunt is a fun, interactive, festive game where players search for holiday-themed items hidden around the house (or outdoor space). It’s an exciting way to get everyone moving and is perfect for families, friends, or even larger groups at a holiday party. You can customize it for different age groups, making it as simple or challenging as you like.
How to play:
1. Choose the Location: Decide whether you’ll host the scavenger hunt indoors, outdoors, or both. Consider the space available, the weather, and the age group of participants. You can hide items around the house or the backyard or even spread the game across multiple rooms for added excitement.
2. Create a Christmas-Themed List: Make a list of holiday-related items for players to find. You can hide actual objects or use clues leading to different locations or items. The scavenger hunt can be done with:
- Physical objects (e.g., ornaments, candy canes, stockings).
- Riddles or clues leading to certain Christmas-themed spots or decorations.
3. Set the Rules:
- Individual or teams: Participants can play individually or form teams depending on the group size. This is an excellent option for larger gatherings or parties.
- Time limit: To keep the game exciting, set a time limit for finding all the items. Whoever finds the most items or completes the hunt first wins.
- Optional: Clues: For a more challenging hunt, create clues or riddles that players must solve to find each item. Each clue can lead to a location where the next item or clue is hidden.
4. Hide the Items: Once you decide on the items and locations, hide the objects around the house or yard. Ensure the difficulty level is suitable for the players—hide them in obvious places for younger kids and more creatively for older players.
Minute to Win It (Christmas Edition)
Minute to Win It: Christmas Edition is a fast-paced, fun game that challenges players to complete holiday-themed tasks in under a minute. This game is perfect for family gatherings, parties, or friendly competitions, and it’s great for all ages. The activities are simple to set up and can be done with items you likely have at home or can quickly obtain.
How to play:
Gather Supplies: You’ll need various everyday items to create challenges. Here are some ideas for supplies and challenges to get you started:
Choose Your Challenges: Select a series of holiday-themed challenges (or "games") that players must complete within one minute. Here are some ideas:
Christmas-Themed Challenges:
- Jingle Bell Toss: Players toss jingle bells into holiday-themed containers (like cups or bowls) from a set distance.
- Christmas Tree Stack: Using mini ornaments, players stack them into a Christmas tree shape without letting them fall.
- Candy Cane Hook: Players use a candy cane to pick up as many mini marshmallows as possible from one bowl and transfer them to another within one minute.
- Snowball Fight: Players must throw cotton balls (snowballs) from afar into a holiday-themed target (like a bucket or decorated box).
Set Up a Timer: Use a stopwatch or timer app to keep track of each minute.
- Explain the Rules: Briefly explain each challenge and the rules before starting the game.
- Divide into Teams or Play Individually: You can choose to play in teams or individually, depending on the number of players. Each participant or team takes turns attempting each challenge.
- Keep Score: Award points for each completed challenge. For example, you get 1 point for completing the task, and you can decide if bonus points will be given for style or creativity.
Celebrate the Winners: At the end of the games, tally up the points and award prizes or holiday-themed treats to the winners!
Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Pin the Nose on Rudolph is a delightful and festive twist on the classic party game "Pin the Tail on the Donkey." It's a perfect activity for holiday parties, family gatherings, or school events, and it’s great for kids and adults alike. This game encourages laughter, fun, and some holiday magic!
How to play:
1. Materials Needed:
- A large poster or drawing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (you can find printable versions online or create your own).
- A red pom-pom, sticker, or cut-out paper circle to serve as Rudolph’s nose.
- Blindfold (a scarf or bandana works well).
- Tape or thumbtacks to attach the poster to the wall.
- A marker (to mark where players have tried to pin Rudolph's nose).
2. Prepare the Area:
- Hang the Rudolph poster on a wall at a height accessible for all players.
- Ensure there’s enough space around the poster for players to move safely without bumping into furniture or other people.
3. Designate a Starting Point:
- Mark a starting line a few steps away from the poster where players will stand before being blindfolded. You can use tape or any visible marker.
Christmas Trivia
Christmas Trivia is a fantastic way to engage family and friends during the holiday season. It’s perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or as a fun activity on Christmas Day. Trivia can cover a wide range of topics, including Christmas traditions, holiday movies, songs, history, and more.
How to play:
1. Gather Your Group: Invite family, friends, or colleagues to join in the fun. You can play individually or form teams, depending on the group size.
2. Choose a Format:
- Multiple Choice: Give players several options for each question.
- True or False: Keep it simple with true/false questions.
- Open-Ended: Players write down answers without options.
- Buzzer System: If you have a larger group, consider using buzzers for a fast-paced game.
2. Create the Questions: Prepare a list of trivia questions and answers. You can categorize them into different rounds (e.g., Christmas Movies, Christmas History, Holiday Songs).
3. Decide on Prizes: Consider offering small prizes for the winners, such as holiday-themed treats, gift cards, or fun trinkets.
4. Set Up the Game Area: Arrange a comfortable space for everyone to sit together, and provide materials for note-taking if necessary (like pens and paper).
Holiday Family Feud
Holiday Family Feud is a festive twist on the classic game show that brings family and friends together for fun and laughter during the holiday season. This game is perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or any event where you want to create a lively atmosphere. Here’s how to set it up, some example questions, and tips for a successful game!
How to play
1. Gather Your Group: Invite family and friends to participate. You can play with two teams or more, depending on the group size.
2. Prepare the Game Format:
- You can use a PowerPoint presentation or a whiteboard to display questions and answers, but it’s not necessary.
- Assign a host to read questions and keep track of scores.
3. Choose Your Questions: Prepare a list of holiday-themed questions and their corresponding answers, similar to the original Family Feud game format.
4. Decide on Scoring Rules:
- Assign points based on the number of people who gave each answer.
- The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
5. Create a Fun Atmosphere: Decorate the playing area and consider playing some holiday music to get everyone into the festive spirit.
Games for Kids
Candy Cane Hunt
Candy Cane Hunt is a festive and exciting activity that brings joy to children and adults alike during the holiday season. Similar to an Easter egg hunt, this game involves hiding candy canes around a designated area for participants to find. It’s a fun way to celebrate Christmas and can be easily adapted for various age groups.
How to play:
- Candy Canes: Purchase an assortment of candy canes. You can use traditional peppermint or mix in flavoured candy canes for variety.
- Decorative Bags or Buckets: Provide bags or buckets for participants to collect their found candy canes.
- Clues or Riddles: If you want to add a challenge, create clues or riddles leading to the locations of some of the hidden candy canes.
- Decorations: Use festive decorations to mark the hunting area, creating a holiday atmosphere.
- Prizes: Consider giving small prizes to participants for finding the most candy canes or special candy canes hidden as “golden” candy canes.
Santa Says (Simon Says)
Santa Says is a delightful holiday twist on the classic game Simon Says. It’s a fun and engaging activity perfect for family gatherings, holiday parties, and kids’ events during the Christmas season. The game promotes listening skills, coordination, and holiday spirit, making it an excellent choice for all ages.
How to play
1. Choose a Santa: Select one person to be "Santa." This person will give commands to the other players.
2. Gather Participants: Assemble all players in a space where they can see and hear Santa clearly.
3. Explain the Rules: Before starting the game, explain the rules clearly:
- The leader (Santa) will give commands starting with "Santa says..."
- Players must only follow the command if it starts with "Santa says."
- If Santa gives a command without saying, "Santa says," players should not follow that command.
- Players who follow a command without "Santa says" are out for that round (optional) or must perform a fun consequence (like doing a silly dance).
Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest
A Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest is a delightful and creative holiday activity for families, friends, and festive gatherings. It combines the joy of baking with artistic expression, making it an enjoyable experience for participants of all ages. Here's how to organize a successful contest, including tips, ideas for cookie designs, and judging criteria!
How to play
Materials Needed:
Cookies: Prepare or purchase plain sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, or other cookie varieties suitable for decorating. Consider using shapes like Christmas trees, stars, snowmen, and stockings.
Decorating Supplies:
- Icings: Different colours and types of icing (royal, buttercream, or piping gel).
- Sprinkles: Various shapes, colours, and sizes.
- Edible Decorations: Candy canes, chocolate chips, gumdrops, and candies.
- Tools: Piping bags, spatulas, and spreaders
Reindeer Ring Toss
Reindeer Ring Toss is a festive and entertaining game perfect for Christmas gatherings and family celebrations. It combines fun, skill, and holiday spirit, making it enjoyable for all ages. Here’s a detailed guide on how to set up and play Reindeer Ring Toss, including materials, rules, variations, and tips for a successful game!
How to play:
- Reindeer Antlers: You can purchase inflatable reindeer antlers or make your own using cardboard or pool noodles. If using cardboard, cut out antler shapes and attach them to a headband or a base.
- Rings: Use rings made from lightweight materials. You can use plastic rings or glow sticks or make your own using rope or pipe cleaners to create ring shapes.
- Base or Stand: If using inflatable antlers, you can secure them to a base like a bucket or weighted stand to keep them upright. If you want to create a more traditional tossing setup, you can build a stand with different heights to make the game more challenging.
- Markers: Use cones, tape, or other markers to designate the throwing area and distance.
- Prizes: Consider having prizes for participants, such as holiday treats or themed items.
Elf on the Shelf Hide-and-Seek
Elf on the Shelf Hide-and-Seek is a delightful twist on the traditional game of hide-and-seek that incorporates the beloved holiday character, the Elf on the Shelf. This game brings excitement, creativity, and holiday spirit to your family gatherings during the Christmas season. Here's a guide on how to play, tips for making it fun, and creative ideas for hiding spots!
How to play:
- Elf on the Shelf Doll: The classic holiday elf who "watches" over children and reports to Santa. If you don't have an official Elf on the Shelf, any small elf or Christmas figure can work!
- Hiding Spots: While you can set up the game anywhere in your home, consider areas that are safe and suitable for hiding.
- Hiding the Elf: The designated hider secretly places the Elf on the Shelf in a clever spot while the other players are distracted.
- Counting: Once the Elf is hidden, players close their eyes or turn around and count to a designated number. You can adjust the counting number based on the age of participants (e.g., 10 for younger children and 20 for older kids).
- Searching for the Elf: After counting, players spread out to search for the Elf. The first player to find the Elf wins the round!
- Celebration: Once the Elf is found, everyone can gather to celebrate. You can switch roles so the finder becomes the hider for the next round.
These games create a fun and cosy Christmas atmosphere with loved ones. Whether you prefer classic board games or interactive activities, there’s something on this list for everyone in the family to enjoy at an Away Resorts Park this festive season. You can also rent a fantastic range of board games at your holiday park to make sure Christmas stays extra special.