Christmas Day family game ideas focus on inclusivity, ensuring that children, parents, and grandparents can all participate and enjoy the moment together. These games emphasize togetherness, simplicity, and joy rather than competition alone. Classic activities like board games, card games, or puzzles bring families together around the table, encouraging conversation and cooperation. Interactive games such as Christmas bingo, holiday-themed charades, or “Pin the Nose on the Reindeer” are especially popular because they are easy to understand and fun for all ages. Families can also enjoy storytelling games, where each person adds a sentence to a Christmas tale, sparking creativity and laughter.
Physical games like snowball toss (using soft balls), relay races, or indoor scavenger hunts help burn off energy, especially for younger children. These shared activities strengthen family bonds, create cherished traditions, and offer a break from screens and busy schedules. By focusing on participation and joy, family-friendly Christmas games turn the holiday into a warm, memorable experience filled with laughter, love, and togetherness.
Christmas Day Family Game Ideas
Christmas Treasure Hunt
Credit@srubee
A festive scavenger hunt filled with Christmas-themed clues hidden around the house or garden.
It encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and excitement for all ages.
Perfect as a morning activity before gifts or after lunch.
How to Play:
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Prepare a series of written clues with Christmas riddles that lead players from one hiding spot to another, ending at a “treasure” like chocolates or small gifts.
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Divide players into teams, mixing adults and kids to ensure fairness and cooperation.
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Give the first clue to each team and explain that clues must be solved in order without skipping.
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Set boundaries for where clues are hidden to keep the game safe and organized.
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The team that finds the final treasure first wins, but everyone can share the prize to keep the spirit joyful.
Christmas Charades
Credit@artofit.org
Description:
A classic charades game with a festive Christmas twist.
It sparks laughter, creativity, and lots of silly acting.
Great for large family gatherings.
How to Play:
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Write Christmas-related words or phrases (e.g., “Santa stuck in chimney,” “decorating the tree”) on small slips of paper.
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Divide the family into two teams and decide the order of turns.
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One player picks a slip and silently acts it out without speaking or making sounds.
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The player’s team must guess within a set time limit, usually one minute.
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Award points for correct guesses and rotate players so everyone gets a turn.
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The team with the most points at the end wins.
Pass the Christmas Parcel
Credit@kiddopartybali
Description:
A holiday version of the traditional pass-the-parcel game.
It builds suspense and excitement with every layer unwrapped.
Ideal for kids and adults alike.
How to Play:
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Wrap a small prize in multiple layers of wrapping paper, placing small challenges or treats between layers.
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Seat everyone in a circle and play Christmas music.
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Pass the parcel around the circle while the music plays.
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When the music stops, the person holding the parcel unwraps one layer.
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Continue until the final prize is revealed.
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To make it fun for adults, include funny dares or trivia questions in the layers.
Christmas Bingo
Credit@cfa5thstreethwy
Description:
A relaxed and inclusive game suitable for all ages.
It adds festive excitement without too much movement.
Perfect after a big Christmas meal.
How to Play:
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Create bingo cards with Christmas-related words or images such as “snowman,” “bells,” or “reindeer.”
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Give each player one card and some markers or coins.
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Call out items randomly from a prepared list.
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Players mark off items as they are called.
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The first player to complete a row, column, or full card shouts “Christmas Bingo!”
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Double-check the card and award a small festive prize.
Guess the Christmas Song
Credit@homeandkind
A music-based game full of nostalgia and holiday cheer.
It tests memory and listening skills.
Great for music-loving families.
How to Play:
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Prepare a playlist of Christmas songs and play short clips of each song.
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Divide players into teams or let them play individually.
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Play each clip for 5–10 seconds only.
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Players must guess the song title (and artist for bonus points).
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Keep score on paper so everyone can see the progress.
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The team or individual with the highest score at the end wins a festive reward.
Christmas Pictionary
Credit@stcharles.parish.peru
Description:
A drawing game that brings out creativity and laughter.
No artistic skills required—funny drawings are encouraged.
Perfect for mixed-age groups.
How to Play:
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Prepare a list of Christmas-related words or phrases.
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Divide the family into teams and provide paper and markers.
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One player from a team draws the word without speaking or writing letters.
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The rest of the team guesses within a time limit.
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If guessed correctly, the team earns a point.
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Rotate drawers so everyone participates.
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The team with the most points wins.
Christmas Trivia Quiz
Credit@greathomemaking.com
Description:
A knowledge-based game covering Christmas traditions, movies, and history.
It encourages learning and friendly competition.
Ideal for teens and adults.
How to Play:
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Prepare a list of Christmas-themed questions with varying difficulty levels.
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Divide players into teams and appoint one person as the quizmaster.
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Ask questions one at a time and allow teams a short discussion period.
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Teams write down or call out their answers depending on preference.
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Award points for correct answers and keep score.
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Include bonus rounds or tie-breaker questions for extra excitement.
Snowman Stack Challenge
Credit@evanrosenman
Description:
A hands-on, fast-paced game that’s fun and energetic.
It works well indoors or outdoors.
Great for kids and competitive adults.
How to Play:
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Provide materials such as plastic cups, marshmallows, or balls to build “snowmen.”
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Set a timer for a fixed duration, such as one minute.
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Players must stack items to form the tallest or most stable snowman.
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No glue or support tools are allowed.
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When time runs out, measure or judge the snowmen.
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The tallest or most creative snowman wins.
Christmas Gift Wrap Relay
Credit@gracedgirl.com
Description:
A lively team game that combines speed and teamwork.
It’s chaotic, funny, and highly entertaining.
Best for families with enough space.
How to Play:
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Divide players into teams and give each team wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and a box.
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Each team member completes one wrapping step before tagging the next player.
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Players must work in order without skipping steps.
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The relay continues until the gift is fully wrapped.
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Judges assess speed and neatness.
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The fastest team with a reasonably wrapped gift wins.
Santa Says
Credit@alexandrabreck
Description:
A Christmas-themed version of “Simon Says.”
It’s simple, active, and perfect for younger kids.
Keeps everyone laughing and alert.
How to Play:
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Choose one person to be “Santa.”
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Santa gives commands starting with “Santa says,” such as “Santa says touch your nose.”
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Players must only follow commands that include “Santa says.”
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If a player follows a command without the phrase, they are out or perform a funny forfeit.
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Rotate Santa so everyone gets a turn.
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The last player remaining wins the game.