🎄 21 Holiday Games for Families That Everyone Will Love
Looking to add extra joy to your next holiday gathering? These 21 holiday games for families will bring laughter, connection, and a whole lot of fun — no matter the age.
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, New Year’s, or a cozy winter night in, these holiday games for families will keep the laughter going strong.
Get ready to turn your living room into the ultimate festive playground.
This post may contain affiliate links. Full privacy policy and disclosure here.
🎯 Classic Holiday Games for Families
These timeless games never go out of style. They’re great for multi-generational gatherings where everyone wants to get involved.
1. Christmas Charades
Act out holiday-themed phrases like “wrapping presents” or “sledding down a hill.” You can grab a ready-made Christmas charades card set on Amazon for quick prep.
2. Holiday Bingo
Use printable Christmas-themed bingo cards or snag a Christmas Bingo set. Hand out candy canes or stickers as prizes.
3. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Print a reindeer face and blindfold players for this silly spin on a classic. Or try this adorable wall game version.
4. Snowball Toss
Use white pom-poms and buckets or buy a snowball toss kit for hours of active fun.
🤪 Silly Minute-to-Win-It Style Holiday Games
Short attention spans? These fast-paced games are perfect for holiday chaos.
5. Candy Cane Hook
Try to hook as many candy canes as you can in under one minute — no hands allowed!
6. Jingle Bell Shake
Fill a tissue box with jingle bells, strap it to your waist, and shake until empty. This ready-made kit makes setup a breeze.
7. Ornament Stack
How many ornaments can you stack on top of each other without them rolling away? Use unbreakable ones!
👨👩👧👦 Holiday Games for the Whole Family (Yes, Even Grandma)
These holiday games for families are low-key enough for the grandparents but still engaging for kids and teens.
8. Holiday Trivia
Use a printable sheet or ask Alexa to quiz you on Christmas facts! Or try this fun holiday trivia card set.
9. Who Am I? (Christmas Edition)
Tape a card with a holiday character to each person’s back. They ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are.
10. Guess That Christmas Song
Play 5 seconds of a Christmas tune — the first to guess wins a treat!
📦 Low-Prep Games Using What You Already Have
Last-minute gathering? These ideas use things you likely have at home.
11. Gift Wrap Race
Race to wrap a box with oven mitts on. Add bows for bonus points.
12. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
Use two chairs, antlers (or coat hangers), and rings made from pipe cleaners or glow sticks. Or grab a blow-up version.
13. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Hide holiday items around the house and give clues — use our Christmas scavenger hunt printable or create your own.
🧊 Outdoor Holiday Games for Families
Burn off that cookie energy with these winter-friendly outdoor ideas.
14. Snowman Slam
Stack white cups and knock them down with a snowball. Try this Snowman Slam kit for easy setup.
15. Sled Race (No Snow? Use Laundry Baskets!)
Kids sit in sleds or baskets and get pulled by a teammate. Best on a safe, snowy or grassy slope.
16. Frozen Treasure Hunt
Freeze small toys or bells in ice blocks. Kids can dig them out with warm water and spoons.
🖍️ Creative & Quiet Holiday Games for Downtime
Perfect after dinner or when younger kids need a calm moment.
17. Christmas Pictionary
Draw festive phrases and guess what they are. This Christmas-themed dry-erase game is reusable and great for groups.
18. Holiday Mad Libs
Print free versions or grab a Christmas Mad Libs book to get everyone giggling.
19. Story Round-Robin
Start a holiday story and go around the room adding one sentence at a time.
🍭 Holiday Games with Treats Involved (Yes, Please)
Let’s be honest — sugar makes everything more fun.
20. Build-a-Gingerbread Contest
Use kits or graham crackers and frosting. Pair this with these fun snack ideas for a full edible experience.
21. Cookie Decorating Competition
Offer plain sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles. Everyone decorates, and someone judges categories like “Silliest” or “Most Festive.”
🎁 Want More Holiday Joy?
These festive ideas pair perfectly with:
- Tips to Volunteer as a Family During Christmas
- 50 Sweet Christmas Thank You Messages
- The Ultimate List of the Best Christmas Books for Kids
- 11 Cute Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy This Christmas
❓FAQ: Holiday Games for Families
What are some fun holiday games for large families?
Try games like Holiday Bingo, Christmas Charades, or team sled races. These work well with big groups and need little setup.
How can I make holiday games more exciting for teens?
Add time limits, small prizes, or tech twists like using a smartphone timer or playlist. Teens often love competition-based or fast-paced games.
Are there holiday games for families that don’t celebrate Christmas?
Yes! Most of these games can be easily adapted for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or secular winter themes. Just swap out the decorations and references.
What’s a good quiet game to play after dinner?
Holiday Mad Libs, Pictionary, or a story round-robin are great options when things start winding down.
Can you play holiday games without spending money?
Absolutely. Many games use items you already have at home — paper, tape, music, or cookies. The fun doesn’t have to be fancy.
Game Kits You Can Purchase
1. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Hide holiday-themed items like candy canes, ornaments, or small gifts around the house. Create simple clues or just let the kids loose to find them. You can grab a scavenger hunt set that comes with everything you need!
2. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
A holiday twist on Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Draw a reindeer or get a Pin the Nose on Rudolph kit, then let the blindfolded fun begin!
3. Holiday Bingo
Print out some holiday-themed bingo cards or get a festive Bingo game set. It’s easy, fun, and great for all ages.
4. Snowman Slam
Use empty cans or plastic cups to build a snowman, then let the kids take turns “knocking him down” with a soft ball or bean bag. You can get a pre-made Snowman Slam game if you’re short on time.
5. Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Nothing says holiday fun like a gingerbread house competition. Whether you bake them yourself or get a gingerbread house kit, it’s an activity that everyone can enjoy.
6. Ornament Guessing Game
Fill a jar with small ornaments and have everyone guess how many are inside. The winner gets a small prize or the honor of picking the next holiday movie to watch.
7. Christmas Charades
Write down holiday-themed actions or phrases and play a round of charades. If you’re feeling fancy, pick up a Christmas charades game for some ready-to-go fun!
8. Hot Chocolate Relay
Divide the family into teams, and have them race to assemble a cup of hot chocolate—one person grabs the mug, another the cocoa powder, and so on. The first team to make their hot chocolate wins!
9. Holiday Pictionary
Draw out holiday-themed words and have the family guess what they are. If you don’t have a dry-erase board, you can get a Pictionary set.
10. Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle
Pick a favorite holiday tune and let each family member lip-sync their heart out. Add props or costumes to make it even more fun! For some extra holiday cheer, grab some festive accessories.
11. Gift Wrap Relay
Give each team a roll of wrapping paper, tape, and a box. The goal? Wrap the gift as quickly and neatly as possible! You can find holiday-themed wrapping paper.
12. Holiday Movie Trivia
Test your family’s knowledge of classic holiday movies. You can even grab a Christmas movie trivia card game to get started!
13. Reindeer Ring Toss
Get a reindeer antler headband and toss rings onto the antlers! You can buy a Reindeer Ring Toss game for some simple and hilarious fun.
14. Snowball Toss
Make “snowballs” out of white socks or cotton balls and have a fun tossing competition. Or you can grab a snowball toss game.
15. Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest
Bake some sugar cookies and let everyone get creative with icing and sprinkles. A cookie decorating kit can make it even easier!
16. Christmas Freeze Dance
Play some holiday music and have the kids dance around the room. When the music stops, everyone has to freeze. The last one to stop moving is out until you have a winner. Here is a great playlist for this game.
17. Santa Hat Stack
How many Santa hats can you stack on your head before they all tumble down? Grab a pack of Santa hats to get in on the fun!
18. Christmas Memory Game
Set up a tray with various holiday items (ornaments, candy canes, etc.). Let everyone look at it for 30 seconds, then cover it up and see how many items they can remember.
19. Stocking Stuffer Relay
Divide into teams and race to fill stockings with small toys or candy. The first team to fill their stocking wins! Grab a few stocking stuffers to make it extra exciting.
20. Candy Cane Hunt
Hide candy canes all over the house and let the kids find as many as they can. You can get a set of festive candy canes to make this a quick and easy game.
21. Holiday Puzzle Race
Pick up a few holiday-themed puzzles and divide the family into teams. The first team to complete their puzzle wins! You can find holiday puzzles.
🎉 Final Thoughts: Make Holiday Memories That Stick
These holiday games for families offer something for everyone — from high-energy silliness to meaningful quiet moments.
You don’t need expensive supplies or over-the-top planning to enjoy the best holiday games for families year after year.
💬 Which game is your family’s favorite? Share in the comments — or tell us a new one we should try!
📌 Pin this post to save it for later (you’ll thank yourself next year!)