20 Fun Christmas Party Games to Liven Up Your Holiday Bash

I love hosting Christmas parties, but I always worry about that moment when the initial chatter dies down. You know, when guests have had a snack, grabbed a drink, and are now just kind of standing around. That’s where a good party game comes in. It’s the perfect icebreaker and the best way to get everyone laughing and mingling.

Over the years, I’ve collected a bunch of game ideas that work for all sorts of crowds, from big family gatherings with kids to smaller get-togethers with just adults. In this list, I’m sharing 20 of my absolute favorite Christmas party games to help you make your next holiday event unforgettable.

1. Christmas Charades or Pictionary

You can’t go wrong with a classic. I like to give Charades or Pictionary a festive twist by creating a list of Christmas-themed words and phrases beforehand. Think things like “Frosty the Snowman,” “baking Christmas cookies,” or “getting stuck in the chimney.”

I write them on slips of paper and toss them into a Santa hat. Then, I split my guests into two teams. One person draws a slip and has to either act it out (Charades) or draw it (Pictionary) for their team to guess. It’s always hilarious to see people try to act out “reindeer flying.”

2. Minute to Win It Challenges

These are my go-to for high-energy fun. The concept is simple: complete a silly challenge using holiday-themed items in 60 seconds or less. One of my favorites is “Jingle Bell Toss,” where players have to bounce jingle bells into a set of plastic cups.

Another fun one is “Candy Cane Hook ‘Em,” where players hold a candy cane in their mouth and try to hook other candy canes from a bowl. I usually set up 3-4 different stations and have guests rotate. It gets super competitive and makes for some great photo opportunities.

3. DIY “Pin the Nose on Rudolph”

This is a homemade version of the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” and it’s always a hit, especially if you have kids at the party. I get a large piece of cardboard or poster board and draw a big picture of Rudolph’s head, but I leave off his famous red nose.

Then, I cut out a big red circle from construction paper and put a piece of double-sided tape on the back. Each player gets blindfolded, spun around a few times, and then has to try and stick the nose in the right spot. I make sure to write each person’s name where their nose landed.

4. Two Truths and a Lie: Christmas Gift Edition

This is a fantastic icebreaker for smaller groups where people might not know each other well. I ask each guest to think of three Christmas gifts they’ve received in their life: two that are real and one that’s a lie.

For example, I might say, “I once received a unicycle, a pet rock, and a lifetime supply of socks.” The other players then have to guess which gift is the lie. It’s a great way to spark conversations and learn some funny and surprising things about your friends. I’ve heard some wild stories with this game!

5. The “Who Am I?” Christmas Edition

I love this game because it gets everyone talking right from the start. As each guest arrives, I tape a piece of paper to their back with the name of a famous Christmas character on it (like Santa Claus, The Grinch, or Buddy the Elf).

The guest doesn’t know who they are, and the goal is to figure it out by asking other people “yes” or “no” questions. For example, “Am I a human?” or “Do I live at the North Pole?” It encourages everyone to mingle and interact, and it’s always fun to watch the moment of realization when someone finally guesses their character.

6. White Elephant Gift Exchange

A gift exchange game is a must for many holiday parties. My favorite is White Elephant because it’s more about fun than getting the “perfect” gift. I set a low price limit, usually around $15, and encourage guests to bring a quirky, funny, or weird gift.

Everyone draws a number to determine the picking order. The first person chooses a wrapped gift from the pile. The next person can either steal that gift or pick a new one. A gift can only be stolen a few times (I usually say three) before it’s “locked.” It gets hilariously competitive.

7. Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt

If the weather isn’t too cold, this outdoor game is a blast. I split my guests into teams and give them a list of specific Christmas decorations they need to find in the neighborhood. The list might include things like “a blue-lit Christmas tree,” “an inflatable snowman,” or “a house with more than five reindeer.”

The teams have to take a photo of each item as proof. The first team to get back with photos of everything on the list wins. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and see all the festive lights.

8. Human Christmas Tree Decorating

This game is perfect for all ages and guarantees a lot of laughs. I divide everyone into teams and give each team a “decorating kit” filled with things like streamers, tinsel, ornaments made of paper, and tape. One person on each team volunteers to be the “tree.”

The rest of the team then has one or two minutes to decorate their human tree as festively as possible. At the end, I have a little fashion show and award a prize to the best-decorated “tree.” The pictures from this are always priceless.

9. Virtual Christmas Bingo

With friends and family spread out, a virtual game is essential. Last year, I hosted a virtual party and Christmas Bingo was a huge success. I created custom bingo cards with festive squares like “Someone wearing a Santa hat,” “A decorated tree in the background,” or “Someone’s pet makes an appearance.”

I emailed the cards to everyone beforehand. During our video call, guests would mark off squares as they saw them. The first person to get a BINGO won a digital gift card that I sent them right after the call.

10. Christmas-themed Kahoot! Quiz

For a more tech-savvy crowd, a quiz on Kahoot! is a fantastic option. I create a multiple-choice quiz with questions about Christmas traditions, movies, songs, and history. Everyone joins the game on their phone, and the questions are displayed on a shared screen (like a TV or through a video call).

Players earn points for answering correctly and quickly. It gets really competitive, and I always learn a few new facts myself. I usually prepare a small prize for the winner to add to the excitement.

11. Holiday Wine or Beer Tasting

This one is strictly for the adults, and it adds a touch of sophistication to the party. I ask each guest or couple to bring a bottle of their favorite holiday-themed wine or beer (think spiced ales or a nice red). I cover the labels and number each bottle.

Then, I pour small tasting portions for everyone and provide scorecards where they can rate each one and write down tasting notes. At the end, we unveil the bottles and see which one was the crowd favorite. It’s a great conversation starter.

12. Christmas Movie Trivia

I’m a huge fan of Christmas movies, so this game is one of my personal favorites. I prepare a list of trivia questions from popular holiday films like Home Alone, Elf, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Questions can range from easy (“What’s the name of the Grinch’s dog?”) to hard (“In A Christmas Story, what is the secret message Ralphie deciphers?”).

I split the guests into teams and read out the questions. The team with the most correct answers at the end wins bragging rights for the rest of the night.

13. Christmas Carol Lyric Challenge

This game tests everyone’s memory of classic holiday tunes. I play just a short snippet—maybe the first five or ten seconds—of a well-known Christmas carol. The first person or team to correctly shout out the name of the song gets a point.

To make it more challenging, you can also play a line from the middle of the song or even just the instrumental version. It’s amazing how many songs people recognize but can’t quite name right away. I always have a festive playlist ready for this one.

14. Ugly Sweater Contest

An ugly sweater contest is more of an activity than a game, but it’s a holiday party staple for a reason. I make sure to mention the contest on the invitation so everyone comes dressed in their tackiest holiday attire.

During the party, I have everyone who wants to participate line up for a “runway” show. Then, I let the crowd vote for the winner by applause. I always have a fun, over-the-top trophy ready for the person with the most outrageously ugly sweater. It’s a simple way to get everyone involved.

15. Holiday Scavenger Hunt (Indoor Edition)

If it’s too cold to go outside, an indoor scavenger hunt is just as fun. I create a series of clues, with each one leading to the next. The clues are often riddles related to Christmas or specific objects in my house.

For example, a clue might say, “I have a face but no eyes, and hands but no arms. Find your next clue where I tell the time.” The answer would be a clock. The final clue leads to a prize, like a box of chocolates or a small gift basket.

16. Guess the Christmas Carol: Emoji Edition

This is a modern and fun twist on a classic game. I create a list of popular Christmas carols represented only by emojis and display them on a screen or a printout. For example, a rock emoji, a bell emoji, and another rock emoji (🔔🎸🔔) would be “Jingle Bell Rock.”

I give everyone a sheet of paper and a few minutes to write down their guesses for each one. It’s challenging, creative, and perfect for a crowd that loves their smartphones.

17. Holiday-themed Bingo

You can never go wrong with a classic game of Bingo. I create or download bingo cards filled with Christmas-related words or images, like “candy cane,” “reindeer,” “mistletoe,” and “hot chocolate.”

Then, I act as the caller, pulling words out of a hat and announcing them. The first person to get five in a row and yell “BINGO!” wins a prize. It’s a low-key game that’s great for a mixed-age group, allowing people to chat and relax while they play.

18. Christmas-themed Board Games

Sometimes, the best party activity is just sitting around a table with a good board game. I have a few holiday-themed favorites, like “The Santa Claus Game” or “Christmas-Opoly.” I also like to adapt regular board games.

For example, you can play a game of “Ticket to Ride” but use a custom rule that everyone has to hum a Christmas carol on their turn. It’s a more relaxed option for smaller groups or for winding down at the end of the night.

19. The Saran Wrap Ball Game

This game is chaotic in the best way possible. I make a giant ball by wrapping layers of plastic saran wrap around a central prize, like a gift card. As I wrap, I add smaller prizes like candy, cash, or trinkets between the layers.

To play, one person starts unwrapping the ball while another person tries to roll doubles with a pair of dice. As soon as they roll doubles, the dice and the ball are passed to the next person. Whatever prizes fall out while you’re unwrapping are yours to keep!

20. Two Rooms and a Boom: Holiday Edition

This is a social deduction game that’s perfect for a large group. I assign everyone a character card secretly. There’s a “Santa” (the Boom) and an “Elf” (the President). Everyone is split into two rooms. The goal of the “Naughty” team is to make sure Santa is in the same room as the Elf at the end of the final round.

The “Nice” team wants to keep them apart. Players have a few minutes each round to talk, lie, and trade hostages between rooms to achieve their goal. It’s full of suspense and strategy.

Conclusion

No matter which games you choose, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the time with your loved ones.

Consider your guests, the space you have, and the overall vibe you’re going for. A little planning goes a long way in making your party a festive and memorable celebration for everyone.