The best Christmas party games are simple to explain, easy to set up and fun for every age in the room. With a few printed cards, a pen each and a scoreboard, you can turn any gathering, from a family Christmas Day to the office party, into an evening everyone remembers.
Key Takeaways
- Choose games that need no special skills, so children, grandparents and colleagues can all join in.
- Mix quiet games (bingo, categories) with lively ones (charades, Who Am I) to keep the energy right.
- Plan for about 15 to 20 minutes per game and three or four games in an evening.
- Print and cut out cards a few days before the party so the host can relax on the day.
- A running scoreboard and a small prize or certificate give the whole night a fun finish.
Christmas is the one time of year when the whole family, and sometimes the whole office, is in one room with nothing to do between the food and the presents. Party games fill that gap. They break the ice when guests do not know each other well, they give children something to look forward to, and they get people away from their phones. The trick is picking the right games and having everything ready before the doorbell rings.
What Makes a Good Christmas Party Game?
Before choosing your games, think about who is coming. A good Christmas party game usually ticks most of these boxes:
- Quick to explain: if the rules take longer than a minute, people lose interest.
- Works for mixed ages: younger children can play in a team with an adult.
- Little or no equipment: printed cards, pens and paper are all you should need.
- Flexible numbers: it should work with four people or twenty.
- Festive: Christmas words, characters and carols make even a familiar game feel special.
Six Christmas Party Games Everyone Can Play
1. Christmas Bingo
Bingo is the easiest game to run for a big group. Each player gets a card with a grid of Christmas words, such as snowman, tinsel, reindeer and mince pie. The caller draws words one by one and players mark them off. The first person with a full line shouts "Bingo!" and wins the round. Play a few rounds: one line, two lines, then a full house.
Host tip: make sure every card is different, or you will get several winners at once. A free centre square speeds things up for younger players.
2. Christmas Would You Rather
Read out a question card, such as "Would you rather eat sprouts for every meal or never open a present again?", and everyone picks a side. Ask a few people to explain their answer. There are no points, just plenty of laughter, which makes it a perfect warm-up game while guests arrive or between courses.
3. Who Am I?
Each player holds a card to their forehead (or has it stuck on their back) without looking at it. The card shows a Christmas character, animal or thing, like Rudolph, a gingerbread man or a Christmas pudding. Players take turns asking yes or no questions to work out who or what they are. It works brilliantly with mixed ages because the clues come from everyone.
4. Christmas Charades
Charades is a classic for good reason. Split into two teams. One player picks a card and acts it out without speaking while their team guesses within a minute. Use categories to keep it varied: Christmas actions (wrapping a present, building a snowman), Christmas Day moments (pulling a cracker, falling asleep after dinner) and carols. Award a point for each correct guess.
5. Christmas Top Answers
Inspired by family TV quiz shows, this team game asks questions such as "Name something you hang on a Christmas tree". Teams try to guess the most popular answers, and the more popular the answer, the more points it scores. The host keeps a hidden answer sheet and reveals each answer with a bit of drama. It is a great game for older children, teenagers and adults.
6. Christmas Categories
Draw a letter card, then everyone has a few minutes to write one answer for each festive category, such as a Christmas food, something red or a Christmas film, all starting with that letter. Players score a point for each answer and a bonus for answers nobody else wrote. It is a calm, clever game that works well after a big meal.
How to Plan Your Christmas Games Night
A little planning goes a long way. Here is a simple running order for an evening of two to three hours:
- Warm-up (as guests arrive): Would You Rather, so latecomers can join in at any point.
- First main game: Christmas Bingo, which gets everyone sitting down and playing together.
- Active game: Charades or Who Am I, to get people up and laughing.
- Break for food and drinks.
- Team game: Top Answers or Categories, with scores added to the board.
- Finale: announce the champion and hand over a certificate or small prize.
Our guide on how to plan Christmas without the stress shows how to fit the party into the rest of your December plans, from food shopping to wrapping.
Party Games for Different Groups
Family Christmas Day
Mix the generations into teams so that each team has a child, a parent and a grandparent. Keep rounds short and save the louder games for before dinner, when energy is high. Bingo and Categories are ideal for the slow, cosy hours after the meal.
Office Christmas Party
Choose games that are inclusive and easy to join without knowing anyone well. Bingo, Top Answers and Would You Rather work well because nobody is put on the spot. Charades in teams is a good icebreaker for colleagues from different departments. Keep it light and let people choose whether to take part.
Children's Christmas Party
Children love Who Am I, Charades and Bingo. Read the cards aloud for younger players, keep turns quick and give everyone a small reward, not just the winner.
Christmas with Friends
For a games night with friends, add a little competition. Keep a scoreboard running all evening and let the winning team choose the next game or the film.
Prizes and Scorekeeping
A scoreboard pinned to the wall or propped on a shelf adds a surprising amount of excitement. Record points after each game and reveal the overall winner at the end. Prizes do not need to cost much: a chocolate coin, the last mince pie, the right to choose the Christmas film or a printed champion certificate all work. If you are watching your spending, our Christmas budget planner guide explains how to set a festive budget and stick to it.
Get Everything Ready in Advance
The day before the party, print your games, cut out the cards and put each game in its own envelope or clip with a label. Gather pens, a timer (your phone is fine) and something to hold the bingo calling cards, such as a bowl or a Christmas hat. Put the instructions for each game on top so anyone can step in as host.
The Christmas Party Games Pack gives you all six games in this guide in one 30 page A4 PDF: Christmas Bingo with 20 unique cards, a caller sheet and 40 calling cards; 24 Would You Rather cards; 24 Who Am I cards; 36 Charades cards in three categories; Christmas Top Answers with host answer sheets and a team score sheet; and the Christmas Categories game with letter cards and player sheets. It also includes how to play instructions for every game, a party scoreboard for up to 10 players or teams and a Party Games Champion certificate. It is not tied to a year, so you can print it again every Christmas.
Planning the whole season? The Christmas Planner and Party Pack helps you organise your December calendar, budget, gift and card lists and dinner timings, with gift tags and place cards for the big day.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Christmas party games for adults?
Christmas Top Answers, Categories, Charades and Would You Rather are all popular with adults. They are quick to explain, work in teams and get plenty of laughs without needing any special equipment.
What Christmas games can the whole family play together?
Christmas Bingo, Who Am I and Charades work brilliantly for mixed ages. Put younger children in a team with an adult so everyone can take part.
How many games should I plan for a Christmas party?
Three or four games is usually enough for an evening. Allow about 15 to 20 minutes per game, plus time for food, drinks and a winner's announcement.
What are good office Christmas party games?
Choose inclusive games that nobody has to perform in alone, such as Christmas Bingo, Top Answers in teams or Would You Rather. They help colleagues mix without putting anyone on the spot.
How do I play Christmas bingo?
Give each player a different bingo card. The caller draws Christmas words one at a time and players mark them off. The first to complete a line calls "Bingo!", then you can play on for two lines and a full house.
Can I print the games again next year?
Yes. The Christmas Party Games Pack is not dated, so you can print the cards and sheets for your own parties every Christmas.