25 Christmas Party Games for Family, Kids and Work

Games that work in a living room full of cousins, a classroom on the last day of term, or a team party on a video call. Most need nothing but one phone.

The best Christmas party games are the ones everyone can join in under a minute: Christmas charades, holiday would you rather, the forehead guessing game with a Christmas deck, and a gift-wrap relay for the kids. Below are 25 games sorted by what kind of party you are hosting, with the number of players, what you need, and how long each one takes. Every game marked "on one phone" has a free Christmas deck you can open on this site and pass around the room.

Quick picks

Mixed ages, big group: Christmas charades or the forehead guessing game.
Around the dinner table: holiday would you rather or "most likely to".
Kids only: freeze dance, the gift-wrap relay and "name 3 things" in five seconds.
Work party or video call: holiday icebreakers, two truths and a lie, or a quick team trivia board.
After dinner, when everyone is full: imposter with the Christmas category, or the categories game.

Games you can play on one phone

These games have Christmas decks built in. Open the game, turn on the Christmas category, add the players' names and pass the phone. No app, no sign-up, and the cards do not repeat.

Christmas charades (4+ players, 20-40 minutes). Split into two teams. One player acts out a word such as "wrapping a present" or "building a snowman" while their team guesses before the timer runs out. The phone keeps score.
Forehead guessing game (3+ players, 15-30 minutes). One player holds the phone on their forehead. Everyone else gives clues for words like "Rudolph" or "eggnog". Tilt down for correct, up to pass.
Holiday would you rather (2+ players, 10-30 minutes). "Would you rather open one huge present or ten small ones?" Everyone picks a side and says why. Tap the side the room chose to keep a tally.
Most likely to (3+ players, 10-20 minutes). "Who's most likely to wrap presents at midnight on Christmas Eve?" Count down from three and everyone points.
Drawing game (4+ players, 20-40 minutes). One player draws a Christmas word on paper while their team guesses. The phone shows the word only to the artist.
Imposter (3-12 players, 15-30 minutes). Everyone sees the same Christmas word except one player. Take turns giving clues, then vote for the imposter.
Five-Second Challenge (3+ players, 10-20 minutes). "Name 3 things you hang on a tree" in five seconds. It sounds easy until the timer starts.
Categories game (2+ players, 15-30 minutes). Roll a letter, then write a Christmas song, a gift and a winter food that start with it.
Forbidden words (4+ players, 20-40 minutes). Describe "Santa" without saying "beard", "red", "presents", "North Pole" or "chimney".
Never have I ever (3+ players, 10-20 minutes). Family-friendly statements such as "never have I ever re-gifted a present". No drinking rules, just fingers down.

Classic Christmas games with no screen

White elephant gift swap (6+ players, 30-45 minutes). Everyone brings one wrapped gift under an agreed price. Players draw numbers. On your turn, open a new gift or steal one that is already open. A gift can only be stolen twice per round.
Gift-wrap relay (two teams, 10 minutes). Each team wraps the same odd object, such as a ball or a shoe, with one roll of paper and tape. Fastest neat parcel wins.
Pass the parcel (kids, 10 minutes). Wrap a small prize in many layers with a sweet in each layer. Pass it while music plays; whoever holds it when the music stops removes one layer.
Christmas song guess (4+ players, 10 minutes). Hum the first line of a carol. The first person to name it hums the next one.
Reindeer ring toss (kids, 10 minutes). One player wears a headband with paper antlers; others throw paper rings onto them.
Snowball fight indoors (kids, 5 minutes). Scrunched-up paper "snowballs" and two teams behind the sofa. Clean up counts as part of the game.
Christmas story chain (3+ players, 10 minutes). One person starts a story with "On Christmas Eve…". Everyone adds one sentence in turn.
Holiday freeze dance (kids, 10 minutes). Play Christmas songs and freeze when the music stops. Wobblers sit out.
Ornament hunt (kids, 15 minutes). Hide a set of paper or plastic ornaments around one room and give each child a colour to find.
Holiday bingo (any number, 15-20 minutes). Make cards with things that always happen: "someone burns the rolls", "a carol plays on TV", "the dog gets wrapping paper".

Games for work parties and video calls

Holiday icebreakers (any team, 10-15 minutes). One question each: best holiday food, a tradition from your family, the worst gift you ever got.
Two truths and a lie (3+ players, 15-20 minutes). Use a holiday topic, such as "your childhood Christmases". Others guess the lie.
Team trivia board (2 teams, 20-30 minutes). Six categories, three levels of points, one host. Arabic-speaking teams can use تحدي الفئات.
Holiday this or that (any team, 5-10 minutes). This or that with quick pairs like "hot chocolate or eggnog". Great as a warm-up.
Secret Santa reveal (any team, 15 minutes). Each person gives three clues about their Secret Santa before the reveal.

How to run a smooth Christmas game night

Mix calm and loud games. Start with a talking game while people arrive, play the noisy team games once everyone is there, and finish with something quieter like imposter or a story chain.

Keep rounds short. Ten to fifteen minutes per game keeps energy up. Stop while people are still laughing, not when they are tired of it.

Use teams to mix generations. Put grandparents and teenagers on the same team. Charades works especially well because the actor does not need to know modern slang or film titles.

Have a host. One person reads the rules, starts the timer and keeps score. On this site the phone does the scoring, so the host can play too.

Plan for the youngest player. Turn on the "Everyone" level in each game so the cards suit kids, and keep prizes small and silly.

Christmas games without a phone

Every game page on this site lists all of its questions and words in full. If you prefer paper, print the Christmas section of charades, would you rather or the drawing game, cut the list into slips and put them in a hat. The rules are the same.

Key takeaways

For a mixed group, start with charades or the forehead game.
Talking games such as would you rather and most likely to work best around the table.
Kids love short physical games: freeze dance, the wrapping relay and pass the parcel.
Keep each game to about fifteen minutes and switch before energy drops.

For more ideas that work all year, read our guide to family game night or see every game on the party games page.

25 Christmas Party Games for Family, Friends and Work