Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
The holiday season is a time for joy, peace, and gathering with your loved ones—but there's always room for a little friendly competition, too! Perhaps you and your family have an annual white elephant gift exchange or have fun hiding the Elf on the Shelf all around your home. (Check out our collection of funny Elf on the Shelf ideas for even more hilarious places to put him!) These are some classics, but there are dozens of other festively fun Christmas games that are just as enjoyable for kids and adults alike.
Most of these games are based on classics that you play every day, like Scattergories and Jeopardy but with some extra holiday flair. A round of Reindeer Antler Ring Toss, Christmas Name That Tune, or "How Old Is Santa?" is fun for kids of all ages! Some of these Christmas activities even come with a handy-dandy free printable. No matter which game format you prefer—guessing games, memory games, movie references, or quizzing each other on Christmas trivia—there's guaranteed to be something for everyone on this list. Whether you want to put together a DIY Christmas game or buy something online, all of the Christmas games on this list will entertain you and your family this December.
Turn on your favorite Christmas music, slip into your matching Christmas PJs, and let the fun begin! Christmas game night might even turn into a longstanding family Christmas tradition.
1
Cookies for Santa Game
Look Mrs. Claus, no hands! Each player must wear a Santa beard, place a cookie on their forehead, and try to get it into their mouth using only their facial muscles. Whoever can complete the challenge first, wins!
Get the tutorial at Happiness Is Homemade.
2
Reindeer Scramble
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen...and that will help you solve this reindeer scramble! Make two teams and tell players that they will be spelling all of the reindeer names. The first team to unscramble and form all nine reindeer names wins!
Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do.
3
Santa Says
Santa says... touch your nose! This twist on the popular game Simon Says will have your little ones doing fun Christmas-themed actions like pretending to cut down a Christmas tree and having a play snowball fight.
Get the tutorial at The Resourceful Mama.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
4
Christmas Guess Who?
This is a great game for the whole family! Each player will place an index card containing a Christmas icon's name on their forehead and get clues from other players to guess who they are.
Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do.
5
Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Toss
To play this minute to win it game, place six mugs in a triangular formation at the end of a table. Ask players to stand at the other end of the table and attempt to toss a marshmallow into each mug in under a minute. No matter who wins, there will be plenty of hot cocoa to go around at the end!
Get the tutorial at Happiness Is Homemade.
6
Guess That Christmas Smell
From peppermints to pine needles to cocoa powder, Christmas is filled with so many delicious scents. To play this holiday guessing game, bottle your favorite Christmas smells, blindfold each player, and have them guess what the mystery objects are.
Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Get the whole family chatting and laughing with this pack of holiday-inspired conversation starters. It's also a great way to get to know each other even better!
8
Candy Cane Hook 'Em Game
Here's a game that'll really hook you and your family! It involves using your mouth to link together candy canes and transfer them into a bowl. Any player who can successfully move five candy canes in under one minute scores up to five points.
Get the tutorial at Happiness Is Homemade.
9
How Old Is Santa?
We know where Santa lives and the names of his trusty reindeer—but does anyone really know how old he is? That's the question you'll seek to answer when you play this cute game using table tennis balls and a pair of old rain boots.
Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
You'll meet the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future when you play this time-traveling adventure game. Up to four players can participate so it's perfect for a family or friend group of four!
11
Shave Santa's Beard
Everyone loves Santa's signature white beard, but you'll give him a whole new look with this minute to win it game! To play, each team will have a barber and Santa and compete to see who can "shave" their Santa the fastest.
Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do.
12
Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Tired of being cooped up in the house for Christmas? Bundle up and head outdoors for a fun holiday scavenger hunt that will take you all around your neighborhood.
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
White Elephant gift exchanges can get out of hand fast. To bring a little order to the chaos, try this Gift Grab game that lets the dice decide whether you can keep, trade, or return your gift.
14
Inflatable Reindeer Antler Ring Toss Game
Anyone can join in this reindeer game! Kids and adults alike will enjoy wearing these antler crowns and red noses as they try to land festive rings on the tines.
If your family enjoys a friendly roast from time to time, you'll love this mischievous game. It's all about mining your family memories for the funniest possible answers to the prompt cards.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
16
Trim the Tree
This ho, ho, hilarious game will put everyone's tree decorating skills to the test! Split into teams then choose one person from each group to be the tannenbaum. Players will race to trim their tree using crepe paper, bows, and headbands for tree toppers. The prize goes to whoever finishes first!
Get the tutorial at Mum in the Mad House.
Ever played Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza? If so, you'll definitely want to try the Christmas version. If not, then your family is in for quite a treat! The super popular game is played like this: Each player takes turn flipping a card while saying one of the five holiday-themed words. As soon as there's a match between the card and spoken word, players race against each other to slap the pile of cards. The last one to do so takes all the cards. The first person to run out of cards wins the game!
Family Feud is the ultimate game of friendly competition, so you know this festive version is sure to drum up some fun during your holiday celebrations. Who knows, you might love it so much that it becomes a yearly Christmas tradition!
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
19
Christmas Name That Tune Game
If Christmas carols are your jam, listen up! There are a few ways to play this musical guessing game. You can make a Christmas songs playlist and see who can guess each tune the fastest. Or, you can challenge each player to hum the song and then have everyone else guess!
Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.
20
Christmas Scattergories
Keep with the classics and turn the beloved family game into a Christmas-themed night of excitement! Scattergories is ideal for playing with your kids after Christmas dinner or as a holiday classroom game if you're a teacher.
Get the tutorial at Creations by Kara.
Rebecca Norris
Contributing Writer
Rebecca Ravee Norris is a freelance writer with a decade's worth of lifestyle media experience. Based out of the Washington metropolitan area, she covers everything from beauty and wellness to style and celebrity news. She is a graduate of George Mason University and has a B.A. in Media: Production, Consumption, and Critique, along with a minor in Electronic Journalism. When she's not writing, she can be found with her beloved Jack-Chi, Cash, working through reps at the gym, dreaming up her next home decor project, testing a new recipe, getting lost in the pages of a book, or catching up on her favorite shows.
