Best Christmas Party Games 2026: Top 8 Fun Picks Reviewed
We found the best christmas party games to spice up your holiday night. Grab your friends and let the festive laughter begin!
The 8 Best Christmas Party Games for Festive Fun! If you’re scrambling to find the perfect board game for your next holiday bash, we’ve got you. When we looked for the best christmas party games, we wanted ones that are easy to learn, fun for all ages, and give everyone that warm Christmas feeling. We also made sure each game keeps things light, brings people together, and doesn’t drag on forever—because no one wants to fall asleep by the eggnog. So gather your friends, pour some cocoa, and let’s see which christmas party games will make your party merry!
On this list:
8 Christmas-opoly
We grabbed Christmas-opoly for our annual holiday bash, and wow, it’s perfect for christmas party games! The Monopoly twist with candy canes and gifts makes it festive and silly. It’s not too complicated, so even our friend who thinks Free Parking is a real rule managed to keep up. It gets competitive, but in a jolly, stocking-stuffing way. Plus, everyone gets a good laugh trying to avoid Ebenezer’s Rent. If you want a classic game with a holiday twist, this is a surefire hit to bring everyone together and possibly end in a snowball argument about who gets to buy Santa’s Workshop.
7 12 Days
We played 12 Days just after finishing too many Christmas cookies. It’s quick, clever, and perfect for christmas party games. You exchange cards, aiming for the lowest total. The theme comes with pretty cards showing all those leaping lords and piping pipers. It’s light, so nobody gets lost and people can still chat, snack, and plot their gift-exchange revenge. It’s good if Uncle Bob hates long games, and it sets a festive mood without making your brain hurt. We like it as an easy start or a quick break between bigger games during our parties.
6 Santa’s Workshop
Our group loved pretending to be elves in Santa’s Workshop. If you want a christmas party game where people scheme and laugh, this is spot on. You assign elves around the workshop to make toys and maybe slack off a bit (like Carl always does). It’s got some strategy, but the silly theme makes it friendly for party gamers. Watching everyone rush to finish gifts before Christmas Eve adds good tension, and seeing who builds the best tricycle (or who fails at building a teddy bear) leads to a lot of teasing. Good for folks who like a bit of thinking mixed with festive chaos.
5 Christmas Tree
We found Christmas Tree brings out everyone’s inner decorator. Each player builds their own tree from cards, trying to match ornaments and lights for the most points. This is the type of christmas party game that sparks a bit of friendly rivalry—no one wants an ugly tree! It’s colorful, straightforward, and even our aunt who can’t stand rules picked it up fast. The game is as calming as listening to Mariah Carey for the tenth time, and it always becomes a conversation piece. It’s ideal for holiday gatherings where you want something that FEELS like Christmas.
4 Christmas Charades
If you need a christmas party game with instant action and laughs, Christmas Charades is a go-to. We always end up with Grandpa acting out ‘wrapping presents’ in slow motion, while kids giggle helplessly. No reading, no setup, just pulling cards and acting out all sorts of silly seasonal stuff. You’ll get to mime reindeer, elves, gingerbread, and more. It breaks the ice for any party and works for all ages. If the group is big and loud, this is a great pick—just don’t let your competitive cousin start keeping score, or it’ll turn into the Winter Olympics.
3 Elf: Journey from the North Pole
We played Elf: Journey from the North Pole and it was a total riot as a christmas party game. You help Buddy the Elf reach the big city, drawing paths and playing cards to steer him. The rules are simple, so after a few minutes, even the Grinches at the table are on board. It’s got just enough tricks and guessing to keep things interesting, and the theme makes everyone quote the movie. It’s great for families and anyone who wants a taste of the North Pole without freezing their toes off. A must-play for fans of the movie!
2 Reindeer Races
We picked Reindeer Races because it’s all about holiday cheer and friendly competition, just like The Grinch game. It’s simple, silly, and works well for families or friends who want a quick laugh at their Christmas party. We played this with our group and spent more time shouting at cardboard reindeer than we’d like to admit. If you want to replace The Grinch with something just as light and festive, this is a great pick.
1 Just One
We picked Just One because it brings the same thrill of word guessing and teamwork as Codenames, but with a much simpler rule set. We played it last Christmas and even Grandma (who thinks TikTok is a breath mint) could join in. It’s the friendliest pick for all ages, and nobody ever feels left out.
