25 Fun Christmas Party Games Everyone Will Enjoy

Looking for fun Christmas party games to keep everyone entertained this holiday season? Whether you’re planning a family Christmas party, getting together with friends, or hosting a festive celebration, these Christmas party games are a great way to bring everyone together.

From silly challenges and quick-fire guessing games to team competitions and fun gift-exchange ideas, there’s a mix of games for different ages, group sizes, and party styles. Some games need little more than a few household items, while others make a Christmas gathering feel extra special.

Pick a few favorites, gather everyone together, and get ready for plenty of Christmas fun!

Funny Christmas Party Games

If you want to get everyone laughing, start with these silly Christmas party games. They’re ideal for breaking the ice and getting guests involved without much prep.

Christmas Yes or No Game

You’ll need: Tape to mark a line on the floor and a list of yes-or-no questions or calls.

This simple elimination game is easy to set up and gets trickier as players try to keep up. Make a line on the floor and ask everyone to stand behind it. Designate one side as “yes” and the other as “no.”

The caller shouts “yes” or “no,” and everyone must quickly move to the correct side. Anyone who chooses the wrong side is out. Keep calling out answers until only one player remains.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Cup

You’ll need: Plastic cups and enough space for everyone to stand safely.

Players stand opposite one another, with a cup placed between each pair. A caller shouts body parts such as “head,” “shoulders,” “knees,” and “toes,” and everyone touches the named part. When the caller shouts “cup,” both players race to grab the cup. The player who gets it wins that round.

Play several rounds, pairing winners against winners to turn it into a tournament. Make sure everyone has enough room to move without bumping into furniture.

Holiday Spelling Bee

You’ll need: A list of Christmas words and paper for keeping score.

Test your guests’ festive vocabulary with a Christmas spelling bee. Prepare a list of words, starting with easier choices such as Santa, reindeer, and snowman, before moving on to trickier words such as mistletoe and gingerbread.

Take turns asking each player to spell a word aloud. Award one point for each correct answer, and keep going until everyone has had a turn or the list runs out. The player with the most points wins.

This is an easy option for a mixed-age gathering because you can adjust the difficulty to suit the players.

Potato Butt Race

You’ll need: Potatoes, sturdy chairs, and enough space for a safe race.

This is a wonderfully silly team challenge for a group that doesn’t mind getting a little ridiculous.

Divide everyone into two teams and place a potato on a chair at each end of the playing area. The first player sits on the potato, picks it up without using their hands, and carries it to the opposite chair. They must then drop it onto the chair before running back to tag the next teammate.

The first team to complete the relay wins.

Keep the playing area clear, use sturdy chairs, and adapt the challenge for anyone who finds sitting or running uncomfortable.

Balloon Cup Race

You’ll need: Balloons, plastic cups, and a table or clear playing surface.

Set up a row of plastic cups and challenge players to move them along a table using the air from a balloon. Players inflate their balloons and blow air toward the cups, trying to push them across the finish line.

You can play individually or divide everyone into teams and turn it into a relay. The first player or team to move all their cups across the finish line wins.

Try it before your party to make sure the balloon-and-cup setup works as intended, and adjust the distance to suit your players.

Christmas Relay Race

You’ll need: A few festive props, such as Santa hats, gift boxes, or Christmas decorations.

Split everyone into teams and set up a simple relay course. Players take turns completing a Christmas-themed task, then return to tag the next person.

For example, players could put on a Santa hat, carry a wrapped gift to a marker and back, or carefully transport a bauble using a spoon. Give each team the same tasks and equipment to keep the competition fair.

The first team to finish all their turns wins. Make the challenges as simple or silly as you like.

Christmas Guessing and Team Games

These games are great when you want everyone to join in, whether you’re sitting around a table or splitting into teams.

Christmas Fish Bowl Game

You’ll need: Paper slips, pens, a bowl, and a timer.

The Christmas Fish Bowl Game combines guessing, acting, and wordplay into one team competition.

Write Christmas-related words, characters, films, and songs on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Divide the group into two teams. Players take turns drawing a slip and helping their team guess the answer.

You can play several rounds using the same words, changing the rules each time—for example, describing the word, acting it out without speaking, and finally giving only a single-word clue. Award points for correct guesses and add up the scores at the end.

Find the original game and instructions at Christmas Fish Bowl Game.

Christmas Mystery Bag Game

You’ll need: An opaque bag and 8–12 small Christmas-themed objects.

Fill a bag with objects such as a Christmas decoration, ribbon, pine cone, candy cane, or small unbreakable ornament. Players take turns reaching in without looking and identifying an object by touch alone.

Give each player a short time to guess as many objects as possible. Award a point for each correct answer, and the player with the highest score wins. Choose objects with noticeably different shapes and textures to make the game more enjoyable.

See the original idea at Christmas Mystery Bag Game.

Christmas 5 Second Rule

You’ll need: A timer and a list of Christmas-themed prompts.

Can you name three Christmas songs, three things you’d find on a Christmas tree, or three popular Christmas treats in just five seconds?

Read a prompt aloud and give the player five seconds to name three answers. If they manage it, they earn a point. If they get stuck, move on to the next player. Prepare a mixture of easy and more challenging categories so everyone has a chance to score.

Find more ideas at Christmas 5 Second Game.

Christmas Family Feud

You’ll need: Christmas survey questions, answer sheets, and a way to keep score.

Split everyone into two teams and challenge them to guess the most popular answers to Christmas-themed survey questions.

Ask questions such as “Name something people put on top of a Christmas tree” or “Name a food people leave out for Santa.” Teams take turns suggesting answers, and you award points based on your prepared list.

The team with the highest score wins. This is a good choice for a larger gathering because players can work together to come up with answers.

Get Christmas question ideas at Christmas Family Feud.

Guess Who? Christmas Edition

You’ll need: Sticky notes or cards and a pen, or Guess Who Christmas Printable Cards.

Write the names of Christmas characters on cards, such as Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, or Buddy the Elf.

Give each player a card without letting them see the name, then attach it to their forehead or hold it where everyone else can see it. Players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to figure out which character they are.

The first player to guess their character correctly wins, or you can keep playing until everyone figures out their identity.

Find the original game at Guess Who? Christmas Party Game.

Guess What’s in the Stocking

You’ll need: A Christmas stocking and several small objects.

Fill a stocking with a selection of small items, keeping them hidden. Players take turns feeling the objects through the fabric and writing down what they think is inside.

Once everyone has had a turn, reveal the contents and award one point for each correct guess. The player with the most points wins. Choose a mixture of familiar and unusual objects to make the game more challenging.

See the original idea at Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Stocking Game.

Christmas Gift-Exchange Games

If your party includes a gift exchange, turn it into part of the entertainment. These games add surprise and make choosing or opening presents more exciting.

Christmas Sock Exchange

You’ll need: A wrapped pair of fun Christmas socks for each participant.

A sock exchange is a playful alternative to a traditional gift swap. Ask everyone to bring a wrapped pair of Christmas socks, perhaps filled with small treats or inexpensive surprises.

Place the gifts together and let players take turns choosing a package. Use a simple pick-and-open format, or add swapping rules if your group enjoys a little friendly competition. It’s an easy way to organize a themed gift exchange without needing expensive presents.

Find gift ideas and instructions at Christmas Sock Exchange.

Christmas Unwrap the Gift Game

You’ll need: A small prize wrapped in several layers of wrapping paper and some music.

Wrap a prize in multiple layers of paper and have everyone sit in a circle. Start the music and pass the parcel around the group. When the music stops, the person holding the parcel removes one layer.

Start the music again and continue until someone unwraps the final layer and wins the prize. For an extra twist, place a small treat or a silly instruction between some layers.

Read the original instructions at Christmas Unwrap the Gift Game.

Oven Mitt Christmas Unwrapping Game

You’ll need: A wrapped gift, bulky oven mitts, and a timer. How difficult can unwrapping a present be? Try doing it while wearing a pair of bulky oven mitts! Wrap a small gift and have players take turns trying to unwrap it while wearing the mitts. Set a short time limit, or let the next player take over when a timer runs out.

You can also add a dice rule: one player tries to unwrap the present while the next player rolls a die and takes over when they roll the agreed number. The player who unwraps the gift wins. Choose wrapping that’s challenging but not impossible to remove.

Christmas Saran Wrap Ball Game

You’ll need: Plastic wrap, small prizes, treats, and a pair of dice.

Wrap small prizes and treats in layers of plastic wrap to make a large ball. The more layers you add, the longer the game can last. Players sit in a circle.

One player starts unwrapping the ball while the next player rolls the dice, trying to roll doubles. When doubles appear, the ball passes to the next player, who continues unwrapping. Anything that falls out during a player’s turn is theirs to keep. Continue until all the prizes have been revealed.

For younger children, use easy-to-open layers and avoid tiny prizes that could be choking hazards.

See the original game at Saran Wrap Ball Game.

Deck of Cards Gift Exchange

You’ll need: A deck of playing cards and a wrapped gift for each participant.

Give everyone a playing card or have players draw cards in turn. Follow rules that assign each card a gift-exchange action, such as choosing a new gift, swapping with another player, or passing a gift to someone else.

Explain the rules before beginning so everyone knows what each card means. Keep going until the group has completed the agreed number of turns and everyone has a gift. This is a fun way to add a little unpredictability to a Christmas gift exchange.

Get the rules at Deck of Cards Gift Exchange.

Christmas Price Is Right

You’ll need: A selection of Christmas items, paper, pens, and optional prizes.

Put together a selection of festive items, such as ornaments, wrapping paper, Christmas treats, or small decorations. Players must guess the price of each item without looking at the actual cost.

Write down everyone’s guesses, then reveal the prices. Award points to the player whose guess is closest without going over, if you’re using that rule. The player with the most points wins. You can also use the game to decide who gets first pick of a collection of small prizes.

Find the original game at Christmas Price Is Right.

Christmas Challenges and Minute-to-Win-It Games

These quick challenges are ideal for getting everyone moving, testing their skills, or adding a little friendly competition.

Rudolph Race

You’ll need: Materials specified in the Rudolph Races activity.

Turn a festive Rudolph-themed activity into a Christmas challenge. Set up the materials, explain the task, and let players compete to complete it or test their designs.

This one is particularly suited to families with children who enjoy hands-on activities and simple STEM challenges. Check the original instructions for the exact materials and setup before including it in your party plans.

Tallest Marshmallow Snowman Challenge

You’ll need: Marshmallows, toothpicks, and a timer.

Give each player or team a supply of marshmallows and toothpicks. Set a time limit and challenge everyone to build the tallest snowman they can. The snowman must stand on its own when time is up, so players will need to think about how to balance and support their creations.

Measure the finished snowmen to find the winner. This is a fun activity for family gatherings, although younger children will need supervision when using toothpicks.

Find the full challenge at Tallest Marshmallow Snowman Challenge.

Christmas Relay Challenges

You’ll need: Simple props suited to the challenges you choose.

If your group loves friendly competition, create a series of short, Christmas-themed relay challenges. Divide everyone into teams and give each team the same tasks.

Ideas include carrying a wrapped gift from one end of the room to the other, putting on and taking off a Santa hat, or transferring lightweight decorations between containers. Time each team or award points for completing each challenge.

Keep the tasks simple, and adapt them to the space and the people taking part. Find more inspiration at Christmas Relay Game Ideas.

More Christmas Party Game Ideas

Christmas Countdown Spelling Challenge

You’ll need: A list of Christmas words and paper.

This is another easy option if you want a seated game that requires little prep. Prepare a list of festive words and give players a set amount of time to write down as many correctly spelled Christmas words as they can.

For a team version, let everyone work together to make the longest list. You can also set a theme, such as Christmas foods, decorations, films, or songs.

Christmas Party Guessing Challenge

You’ll need: A collection of small objects and a container.

Place several Christmas-related objects in a container and challenge players to identify them without looking. To make this different from the stocking game, use a single mystery object per turn and give players a limited number of guesses.

Award points for correct answers and let the winner choose the next object.

Christmas Gift-Wrapping Race

You’ll need: Wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, scissors, and small boxes or awkwardly shaped objects.

Give each player or team the same wrapping supplies and a small object to wrap. Set a timer and see who can wrap their item before time runs out.

You can judge the results on neatness, speed, or creativity. For a silly variation, have players wrap with their non-dominant hand. Make sure everyone has safe access to scissors, or use pre-cut paper if younger children are playing.

How to Choose the Best Christmas Party Games

The best games depend on who is coming to your party and how much space you have. You don’t need to play every game on this list—just choose a few that suit your gathering.

• For a family Christmas party: Try the mystery bag game, Christmas Fish Bowl, or marshmallow snowman challenge.
• For adults and friends: The Saran Wrap Ball Game, gift exchanges, and Christmas Price Is Right can be great choices.
• For a larger group: Team games like Family Feud and relay challenges get more people involved.
• For a quieter gathering: Choose spelling, guessing, and seated games that don’t require everyone to move around.
• For a party with mixed ages: Offer a mixture of active and seated games, and let people join in at a level they’re comfortable with.

A little variety goes a long way. Start with two or three games, keep the rules simple, and have a few extra ideas ready in case everyone wants to keep playing.

More Christmas Ideas

Looking for more ways to make the festive season fun? Try more of our Christmas ideas:

• Fun Christmas Crafts & Activities for Kids
• Easy Christmas Treats
• Christmas Party Ideas
• Unique Christmas Traditions

Whether you’re planning a family get-together, a party with friends, or a festive afternoon with the kids, these Christmas party games can help make your gathering more memorable. Pick your favorites, get everyone involved, and enjoy the fun of playing together!