Are you looking for festive and free Christmas party games that the whole family will love? You’re in the right place.
You’ll find many exciting party games perfect for Christmas and New Year's Eve, including Rudolph racing, Christmas bingo and penguin skittles! Find out more about each game and how to play below.
Every game on our list can be played at home for free, usually using items that you already have around the home. We’ve also picked fun games that the whole family can get involved with.
Which Christmas party game will you choose to play this season?
24 exciting Christmas party games
1. Rudolph ring toss game
Kids will enjoy both making and playing this Christmas game. Red Ted Art will show you how to construct your reindeer ring toss game in just a few easy steps.
All you’ll need is a cardboard box and some paints, as well as pipe cleaners for the rings.
2. Christmas bingo game
Bingo! It’s a classic party game and perfect for Christmas. You can download these free Christmas bingo templates from Crazy Little Projects.
It's a great activity for kids and adults alike, you’ll just need to decide on the prize.
3. Christmas emoji guessing game
Can you guess what word or phrase the emojis are? This is an entertaining game to play with the kids. You can download the free quiz template from Paper Trail Design.
4. Potluck Christmas tree
This game can be adapted for both kids and adults. You’ll need plastic cups and balloons, plus treats (or challenges) to go inside the cups. Each player then takes turns choosing a cup and reaching inside for their surprise.
What you put inside is up to you. Chocolates, drinks (for the adults), or maybe a funny challenge or forfeit, like singing a Christmas carol at the top of your lungs!
5. Penguin skittles
This one is a simple crafting activity as well as a game! Download the free penguin printables and construct your own skittles set.
6. Rudolph racing game
For this activity, the kids will need to decorate balloons before they race them along a line of string. The air inside the balloons will propel them along, and whoever makes it to the end first is the winner.
You can find the full guide at 123 Home School 4 Me.
7. Ping pong prize game
In this game, each member of the family pours a bucket of ping pong balls onto the table, and if a ball rolls into a cup placed at the end of the table, they receive the prize.
In this example, the prizes are different amounts of money, but you could just as easily use chocolate or sweets instead, or you could even have forfeits if a ball lands in a certain cup. Watch the video from Benson Bros.
8. Christmas guess who game
Play Guess Who but make it festive with this printable version by Childhood 101. The free download contains all your favourite winter characters like Olaf, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph.
9. After Eight challenge
This is a quick and silly Christmas game to play after dinner.
Grab your After Eight (or similarly unbranded) mint thin and place it on your forehead. Each player must move it down their face and into their mouth without using their hands. It’s harder than it looks!
10. Pin the nose on Rudolph
Instead of pin the tail on the donkey try pin the nose on Rudolph! Use the free printable from Always Moving Mommy and play at home.
11. Pass the parcel Christmas style!
Pass the parcel is traditionally played at birthdays but who's to say you can’t play at Christmas time? It’s also a great option to do instead of Christmas crackers.
Insert a small or funny gift in each layer and don’t forget to include a paper Christmas hat. Get the music on and start passing it around.
Elf on the Shelf ideas
Is the Elf visiting your home this year? Check out our round-up of the best Elf on the Shelf ideas.
12. Hook the candy canes
This is a quick-fire competitive game where each person has a plate of candy canes. Using your mouth only, the aim of the game is to hook each candy cane and move it to a new plate.
Whoever moves all their candy canes first wins.
13. The Cereal Box Challenge
This game will have you laughing until you cry! All you need is a cereal box and good balance.
The aim of the game is to pick up the cereal box from the ground using your teeth only. Each round, tear a bit off the box to make it smaller and keep going until only one person can do it. They’re the winner!
Find the rules and more at Girls Friendly Society.
14. Christmas tree decorating game
The kids will love this game! Grab some wrapping paper, ribbons and tinsel and wrap up a family member.
If you have a big family you can split up into teams and each team decorates one person. Who will be the quickest?
Get top tips and inspiration from Hello Wonderful.
15. Jingle bell toss
For this one, you’ll just need some plastic cups and a bit of cardboard. Then you use bells, balls or anything else you’ve got to toss into the cups. Whoever gets the most points wins a prize.
See more over at Holidappy.
16. Snowball shooters
Another simple activity for the whole family is making these DIY snowball shooters from MomBrite.
Each person gets a shooter and whoever can launch their cotton ball or marshmallow furthest across the room wins.
17. Christmas escape game
You might have done an escape room before, but you can play this one for free and from the comfort of your own home! Download your Christmas escape game with Lock Paper Escape.
18. Christmas joke teller
Make your family giggle with these silly joke tellers! Grab your free download from Persia Lou.
19. Christmas quiz for all the family
Merry quizmas! It’s time to get your trivia on, Christmas-style. Get the free download from Wanderlust Chloe, which contains 50 free quiz questions suitable for the whole family.
20. Santa beard Christmas game
Who can create the most full and fluffy Santa beard? Give it a go with Get Your Holiday On’s unique Christmas game idea.
21. Guess how many sweets are in the jar
Each person guesses how many sweets or chocolates are in the jar, and whoever guesses correctly (or is closest) wins the treats inside.
Get the free printables to make it festive from Skip to My Lou.
22. Christmas scavenger hunt
Christmas is famously the season of giving, so why not turn giving gifts into a game? Hide homemade Christmas ornaments or tasty chocolates around your house, pop clues in a box and let little ones dig out the hidden treasures.
Or give your guests a trip down memory lane by printing out photos they feature in - you can write your cryptic clues on the back.
For more information on how to create your own Christmas scavenger hunt, head over to Scavenger Hunt.
23. Name That Tune
Put your loved ones' music knowledge to the test this Christmas by playing Name That Tune! This game is super simple to organise, but it's great fun and fantastic for getting everyone involved.
Select your favourite Christmas anthems, from cheesy Christmas pop hits to traditional carols, then play the first few seconds of each song and have your guests guess the tune.
24. Christmas charades
Last but certainly not least, a party game classic - charades! Give this beloved game a festive theme by acting out all your favourite Christmas films, songs and characters (such as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!)
Christmas party games that the whole family can enjoy
Christmas party games are great for bringing the family together, and for winning lots of sweets or chocolates! With our round-up, you’ll find something for kids of all ages, and every game is free to play.
Christmas crafts for kids of all ages
If your little ones love arts and crafts, check out our Christmas crafts for kids round-up for plenty of inspiration that will make them feel festive.
