Fun Christmas games are the most exciting to play during the holiday season. Whether it’s a board game, gift exchange, or a classic with a twist, fun Christmas games make a perfect excuse for a gathering of loved ones. Bring everyone together with one of Postable’s 42 suggested holiday games. Most of the following competitions and contests are Christmas themed, enhancing the jolly fun — so you can’t go wrong with whichever you play.
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Fun Christmas games for groups
Gift-giving Christmas games
White Elephant
White Elephant is a recognizable holiday game. First, everyone at the party brings a wrapped gift. Second, participants pick a number out of a hat to designate the gift-picking order. Third, when it’s their turn players can pick a random wrapped gift from the pile, or steal an unwrapped gift from another player.
Secret Santa
Another fun Christmas gift-giving game to play this season is Secret Santa. Christmas party attendees pick another attendee’s name out of a hat before the gathering. Party-goers pick out a gift for their person, then, everyone exchanges presents revealing each others’ secret Santas.
Musical chairs and gifts
Christmas music and gifts in one game — sounds like a blast. Set chairs up in a circle and have participants in them. Participants then pass around a gift as your perfect Christmas playlist sounds. When the music pauses, the person with the gift in hand, takes it home.
Ornament exchange
What’s great about an ornament exchange is the elimination of gift-picking stress. Sometimes it’s hard to find gifts for other people with a price point, but with a specific item for the exchange – there are no Christmas worries.
Pet-centric gifts
Host a whole pet-themed party around a pet-centric gift exchange. Announce one requirement: pets must come dressed up as Santa’s little elves.
Easy holiday games
Hot coal gift passing
It’s like hot potato but with a prop piece of coal! The last one with it in hand gets a piece of coal for Christmas!
Guess the Number
Fortunately, players can enjoy this game for several holiday contests and competitions. The premise is simple — choose a candy or item, put as many as you can into a glass jar or container, and note the total of items. Friends and family then guess the total number of candies and whoever guesses the closest number wins a prize.
Santa Says
This is an easy and fun Christmas game to play this season because it’s just like Simon Says but festive! Do what Santa says and don’t do what he doesn’t. The last one standing wins.
Name that scent
Use what you have! Round up your favorite scented candles and oils, grab a blind fold, and have participants guess which scent is which.
Charades
Almost every one knows this parlor game! Quick review: participants act out a word to their team and their teammates try to guess what the word is.
Christmas competitions
Sled race
Most likely, your kids are racing sleds already this season. Though trust us when we say, there’s nothing like sled racing on Christmas day.
Rudolph Race
Here’s how to play the Rudolph Race. You’ll need Vaseline, a picture of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and small furry red pom-poms. Players then prep their nose and Rudolph’s with a little Vaseline. Then, players must attach a red pom-pom to their nose (without their hands) and race each other to stick it on Rudolph’s nose far away!
Christmas wrapping race
Christmas wrapping races entail wrappers attempting to gift wrap funky shaped objects the fastest. This is a great way to reuse wrapping paper from Christmas morning.
Candy cane hunt
Think of the Candy cane hunt like an Easter egg hunt…but with various sized candy canes.
Snowman stack
At the next Christmas party, encourage party-goers to stack marshmallows before putting them in their hot cocoa. Tallest marshmallow Snowman wins.
Christmas games for kids
Pin the Nose on the Reindeer
You’ve heard of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, right? Well, it’s like that but Pin the Nose on the Reindeer!
Tic-tac-toe
The game is simple and so are the tools you need for it. Draw the hashtag on a piece of paper and use Christmas objects for the X’s and O’s.
Snowball fight
Fresh air, snow, and exhausting the kids is the perfect recipe for a memorable December afternoon.
Guess who!
Firstly, print or draw several pictures of prominent Christmas figures. Then have the kids ask yes or no questions regarding the figure in the hidden picture. “Yes, the person has a red hat with white pop-pom!”
Freezing Christmas dance game
Get the kids to dance to some classic Christmas music. Pause the music occasionally to signal the children to “freeze!” The last kid to stop dancing when the music stops is eliminated. The last child dancing wins the prize!
Fun Christmas contests
Christmas cookie decorating
Pick the judges, bake the cookies, and prepare the frosting and sprinkles for your next Christmas cookie decorating contest. Creativity and connection is what Christmastime is all about, the decorator with the highest rated cookie takes home the prize.
Gingerbread house contest
At another level of competition and challenge by making the decorating contest a Gingerbread house contest!
Ugly sweater contest
An ugly sweater contest is an engaging theme for any holiday party. Invite your friends and family to wear the ugliest festive sweaters they have and the ugliest one gets bragging rights!
Neighborhood Christmas decoration contest
Undeniably, organizing a neighborhood Christmas decoration contest takes more coordination and dedication than anything else. Though, it is possible! If you are close with your community, take the initiative to organize a block-wide contest.
Christmas bake-off
There’s no need for limitations during Christmastime, so host a bakeoff! Participants bring homemade baked goods to your party and the best one gets a trophy.
Fun virtual Christmas games
Jingle all the way bingo
Include family and friends that are far away from the Xmas party by playing bingo! To play, start by sending out bingo sheet PDFs, call the players via Zoom, and include those at the party.
Name the Christmas song
Create a Christmas playlist so everyone can guess the name of the songs! The person with the highest points wins even if they’re on the computer.
Christmas trivia
Connection is a huge part of Christmas, connections with your family and friends as well as your internet connection. Trivia is one of those games you can play with people in person and online.
Naughty or nice?
Draft several statements participants can relate to. For example, “This year I ran a red light,” or “I donated to charity this year.” Each player then totals their naughty and nice statements and whoever has the most for each — wins the title of naughty or nice!
Holiday “Never Have I Ever”
A festive twist on the party favorite. Play “Never Have I Ever” with those at the party in person and with those attending online. Players start with 3 fingers and anytime the host announces a “Never Have I Ever” statement they agree with, the players put a finger down. The person who runs out of fingers first, loses!
Adult Christmas games
Christmas movie drinking game
Players can customize this game to their liking. Drink every time Buddy from “Elf” says “Christmas.” Take a shot whenever the Grinch says he hates Christmas. Or even take a sip when Rudolph’s nose lights up. Be creative!
Christmas cocktail competition
The gist? Everyone comes to the party prepped with a cocktail recipe to make for the others. The best Christmas-themed cocktail wins.
Dirty Christmas “Mad Libs”
In addition, play dirty Christmas “Mad Libs” for a stocking of laughs! Low maintenance and naughty, perfect for Christmas.
Lots of layers
Guests at the party can participate in this Christmas game with lots of layers. Each participant puts on as many layers of clothing as possible, then, it’s a race to take off as many pieces of clothing as fast as they can. The first person to wear their almost birthday suit wins!
Hats off to Santa!
In this holiday game, everyone at the party participating wears a Santa hat. Someone is designated the leader and whenever the leader takes off their hat, the rest of the Santas must follow suit. The last person to notice has to take a sip of their cocktail.
Name-brand games to play at Christmas
Checkers or Chess
Don’t forget about one-on-one games for quality time with your loved ones. Picture this now: sitting in front of a roaring fire, fuzzy slippers on, dominating your partner at Chess.
Old Maid
You can pick up this old school card game at any toy store. It gives Scrooge/Grinch vibes which makes it a decent option for a fun Christmas game.
Cards Against Humanity or Apples to Apples
These two games are variations of the same concept. Whether you’re interested in playing the nice or naughty way, these two group card games are fun for all.
Scrabble
Quiet, classic, and perfect for a foursome, Scrabble should always be on the table when considering fun Christmas games to play with your loved ones.
Boggle
Similar to Scrabble, Boggle is one of the best Christmas games for a fun winter’s night.
Candyland
Sweet treats and Christmas go together like red and green. Candyland emulates all the sweet vibes Christmastime should have.
Uno
Make Uno even more fun by picking up the giant card version.
Finally, no matter what game you play this upcoming season, understand the true spirit of Christmas is connecting with loved ones. Our team at Postable knows this for a fact, which is why we share Christmas tips and tricks on our blog like new season’s greetings to use this year. Check out our Christmas card collection and more blogs about the most wonderful time of the year today.
