Nothing says the holidays like a room full of laughing family members and a little friendly competition. These Christmas party games work for all ages, need very little prep, and keep everyone playing long after the cookies are gone. Here are the first five to get your celebration started.
1. Christmas Ball Dice Game
Everyone loves a game with a surprise inside! Players roll the dice and hope to win a prize ball. It is easy to set up and gets everyone cheering. (4-12 players | 15 minutes | Ages 5+ | Low-cost)
Supplies Needed:
- Plastic ornament balls, small prizes or candy, and one die.
Setup:
- Number the balls 1-6 and fill each with a treat or small prize.
How to Play:
Players sit in a circle and take turns rolling the die. Whatever number you roll, you take the ball with that number. If the ball is already taken, you can steal it from another player! Keep rolling for a set number of rounds, then everyone opens their balls at the same time to reveal what they won.
2. Hungry Hungry Reindeer
This hilarious game is hard to play and even funnier to watch. Players race to scoop up as many “reindeer treats” as they can. Expect lots of laughter! (4-10 players | 10 minutes | Ages 6+ | Low-cost | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Reindeer antler headbands, plastic cups, and red pom-poms.
Setup:
- Scatter the pom-poms in the center of the play area and give each player a headband and a cup.
How to Play:
When you say “Go!”, players scoop pom-poms into their cups using only one hand. Keep the other hand behind your back for extra challenge. After 60 seconds, everyone counts their pom-poms. The player with the most pom-poms wins the round and can play again for a prize.
3. Christmas Cup Unstack
Don’t let this simple game fool you. It gets competitive fast, and players just can’t stop at one round. It’s a great pick for families who love a challenge. (2-8 players | 10 minutes | Ages 7+ | Free-Low cost | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- 6-10 red and green plastic cups per player.
Setup:
- Give each player a stack of cups and set a table for each player or team.
How to Play:
Players race to build a pyramid out of their cups, then unstack it back into a single stack. The first person to finish wins. If you knock your pyramid over, you must start again from the beginning! Play several rounds and see who can get the fastest time.
4. Golden Bell String Pull
This fun prize game is a great way to build excitement. Players pull a string and win whatever is attached. You decide how fancy the prizes are. (5-15 players | 10 minutes | Ages 4+ | Low-moderate budget | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Gold jingle bells, ribbon or string, small wrapped prizes, and a tablecloth.
Setup:
- Tie a bell to one end of each string and a prize to the other. Hide the prizes under a tablecloth, leaving only the bells and strings showing.
How to Play:
Players take turns choosing a string and pulling gently. Whatever prize comes out from under the cloth is theirs! Tell players they can only pull once. Mix in silly gag gifts and a few great prizes to keep everyone guessing.
5. Musical Candy Canes
Musical chairs gets a sweet holiday twist! This game is full of laughs and fast grabs, and it is perfect for large family groups. (6-20 players | 15 minutes | Ages 4+ | Low-cost | Indoor/Outdoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Candy canes, a speaker, and a Christmas playlist.
Setup:
- Place candy canes in a circle on the floor or a table, using one fewer than the number of players.
How to Play:
Players walk around the circle while Christmas music plays. When the music stops, everyone grabs a candy cane. The player without one is out. Remove one candy cane each round until a single winner is left.
6. Festive Ping Pong Showdown
Toss a ping pong ball and win a surprise! Numbered plates hide prizes and joke gifts, so every throw builds suspense. All ages can play. (3-12 players | 15 minutes | Ages 5+ | Low-cost | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Ping pong balls, paper plates, a marker, and small prizes or joke gifts.
Setup:
- Number the plates and place a prize under each. Arrange them on the floor or a table.
How to Play:
Players stand behind a line and toss a ping pong ball toward the plates. Whichever plate the ball lands on, that player wins the prize underneath. Give each player two or three tries. Swap in silly gag gifts for the adults to keep the laughs coming.
7. Just A-Swingin’ Cup Game
This game is crazy fun to play and even better to watch. Players swing a cup on a string and try to knock down a stack of cups. Get your phones ready to film! (2-8 players | 15 minutes | Ages 8+ | Low-cost | Indoor/Outdoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Plastic cups, string, tape, and a table.
Setup:
- Stack cups into a small pyramid. Tape a string to a cup and hang it from a doorframe or a ceiling hook.
How to Play:
Players take turns swinging the hanging cup to knock over the pyramid. They get three swings per turn. The player who knocks down the most cups wins. Keep the pyramid close to the swinging cup for younger kids.
8. In The Bucket Game
Kids and grown-ups both love this silly tossing game. Players try to land soft “reindeer treats” into a bucket while family members cheer and heckle. It is simple and gets loud. (4-12 players | 10 minutes | Ages 4+ | Free-Low cost | Indoor/Outdoor)
Supplies Needed:
- A bucket, brown pom-poms or soft balls, and masking tape.
Setup:
- Place the bucket on the floor and mark a throwing line with tape a few feet away.
How to Play:
Players stand behind the line and toss pom-poms into the bucket. Give each player ten tosses per round. Count the successful shots and record the scores. The highest score wins. Move the line back each round to raise the challenge.
9. Marshmallow Straws
This game is perfect for competitive families. Players race to move marshmallows using only a drinking straw. Expect a couple of rematches! (2-10 players | 10 minutes | Ages 6+ | Free-Low cost | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Large marshmallows, straws, and two bowls per player.
Setup:
- Fill one bowl with marshmallows for each player and set an empty bowl a few feet away.
How to Play:
Players suck air through the straw to pick up a marshmallow and carry it to the empty bowl. Hands are not allowed. If you drop it, you start over. After 60 seconds, the player with the most marshmallows in the empty bowl wins.
10. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
This is the most fun Christmas group game ever, and the whole family can join in. It is a fast action game with a festive twist that keeps players on their toes. (4-20 players | 10 minutes | Ages 4+ | Free | Indoor/Outdoor)
Supplies Needed:
- A Christmas playlist and a small prize or candy for the winner.
Setup:
- Clear an open space and have players stand in a circle.
How to Play:
Play a Christmas song and have everyone sing and touch their head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Speed up the tempo each round. Anyone who makes a mistake sits out. The last player standing wins. This one is great for mixed ages and cooperative fun.
11. Candy Cane Hook Relay
Teams race to pass candy canes down a line using only their own hooked canes. It builds teamwork and gets surprisingly intense. Perfect for big groups. (6-20 players | 15 minutes | Ages 6+ | Low-cost | Indoor/Outdoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Large candy canes, and small rings or bracelets made from pipe cleaners.
Setup:
- Divide players into two teams and have each team stand in a line. Give every player a candy cane.
How to Play:
The first player in each line hangs a ring on their candy cane. They then pass it to the next player’s cane without using hands. If the ring drops, the team restarts from the beginning. The first team to reach the end of the line wins. Everyone gets a cane to keep afterward.
12. Wrap the Gift Race
This cooperative game tests speed and patience. Players wrap a box while wearing oven mitts, and the results are always hilarious. It is great for adults and teens. (4-12 players | 15 minutes | Ages 8+ | Low-cost | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Small boxes, wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, and oven mitts.
Setup:
- Place a box, paper, tape, and ribbon at each station. Give each player a pair of oven mitts.
How to Play:
When the timer starts, players wrap their box while wearing mitts. Set a three-minute time limit. Judge the wrapping on speed and neatness, and vote for the best-looking gift. Use a printable score sheet to keep rounds organized.
13. Christmas Charades
This classic game works for every age and every group size. Players act out holiday words without speaking, and the guessing never gets old. It is also a great icebreaker. (4-20 players | 20 minutes | Ages 6+ | Free | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Printable Christmas charades cards or slips of paper, and a bowl.
Setup:
- Write holiday words like “Santa,” “snowman,” and “mistletoe” on slips. Fold them into a bowl and split into two teams.
How to Play:
Players draw a slip and act it out while their team guesses within one minute. No talking or pointing at objects is allowed. Teams earn a point for every correct guess. The team with the most points after five rounds wins. Younger kids can use picture cards.
14. Snowball Toss Challenge
Here is a great indoor and outdoor option with no mess. Players toss soft white pom-poms or fake snowballs into targets for points. It works well for large and diverse groups of all abilities. (4-16 players | 15 minutes | Ages 3+ | Free-Low cost | Indoor/Outdoor)
Supplies Needed:
- White pom-poms or crumpled paper, three buckets or baskets, and masking tape.
Setup:
- Place the buckets at different distances. Label them 1, 3, and 5 points.
How to Play:
Players take five throws each from behind the line. Add up the points from each successful toss. The highest score wins. Younger children can stand closer to the buckets so everyone has a fair chance.
15. Who Am I? Christmas Edition
Finish with a fun guessing game that gets everyone laughing together. Each player wears a holiday character on their forehead and asks yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are. It works well in any group. (5-20 players | 20 minutes | Ages 7+ | Free | Indoor)
Supplies Needed:
- Sticky notes, pens, and a timer.
Setup:
- Write Christmas characters like “Grinch,” “Rudolph,” or “Elf” on sticky notes. Stick one on each player’s forehead without letting them see it.
How to Play:
Players mingle and ask each other yes-or-no questions to figure out their identity. Each person can only ask one question per person before moving on. The first player to guess correctly wins. Everyone who guesses right can pick a candy from the prize bowl.
These 15 Christmas party games make holiday gatherings easier and more fun for every age. Pick a few favorites, gather simple supplies, and let the laughter begin. Try two or three games at your next party and watch your family get into the holiday spirit!
