15 Christmas and New Year’s Games for Any Family Size

You’re staring at another holiday gathering where half your family’s glued to phones while the other half argues about politics. I can tell you from years of hosting, the right games transform these awkward moments into genuine connection. Whether you’ve got three people or thirty, I’ve never seen a well-chosen activity fail to pull everyone together. The trick isn’t finding any game – it’s picking ones that actually work for your specific crowd, and I’ll show you exactly which ones deliver.

Holiday Charades With Christmas Movie and Song Themes

Save

Charades transforms any holiday gathering into an energetic competition that gets everyone laughing, and I can tell you that Christmas-themed versions create some of the most memorable moments you’ll have all season. You’ll dominate this game by preparing specific categories beforehand.

I’ve never seen a group resist acting out “Home Alone” or “The Grinch,” and Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” practically act themselves out.

Create separate card stacks for movies, songs, and holiday characters. You’ll want classics like “Rudolph” and “Frosty,” but don’t overlook newer hits like “Elf” or “The Polar Express”.

I can tell you that the real power move is mixing difficulty levels, throwing in challenging titles like “White Christmas” alongside easier picks that’ll keep younger players engaged and competitive. Just like creating Halloween decorations from simple dollar store materials transforms spaces on a budget, preparing charades cards with varying difficulty levels ensures every family member can participate and enjoy the festive game.

Christmas Carol Name That Tune Challenge

Music cranks up the competition when you shift from acting to listening, and Christmas Carol Name That Tune will test everyone’s holiday music knowledge in ways that surprise even the most confident players. I can tell you this game separates casual listeners from true carol connoisseurs faster than any other holiday activity.

Play just the first three notes of “Silent Night” or the opening instrumental of “White Christmas,” then watch family members scramble to identify songs they’ve heard thousands of times. I’ve never seen anything expose knowledge gaps quite like this challenge.

Start with obvious classics like “Jingle Bells,” then progress to trickier selections like “Carol of the Bells” or “The Christmas Song.” You’ll discover who actually knows their holiday music versus who just hums along mindlessly each December.

Holiday Memory Tray Game

Save

Memory games reveal who possesses genuine observation skills versus those who think they’re more perceptive than reality proves, and the Holiday Memory Tray Game delivers this truth with surgical precision during your Christmas gatherings.

You’ll place fifteen holiday items on a tray, allow guests thirty seconds to study them, then cover everything. I can tell you that watching confident relatives stumble over basic details creates unforgettable entertainment. The competitive tension builds quickly as people realize their memory isn’t as sharp as they assumed.

Essential items for maximum challenge:

• Small ornaments, candy canes, and miniature Santa figures
• Holiday spices like cinnamon sticks and star anise
• Wrapped gift boxes and ribbons in various colors
• Religious symbols, bells, and seasonal decorations

I’ve never seen a game expose overconfidence faster than this one does. After the game concludes, consider switching your device backgrounds to cozy winter screen wallpapers featuring these same charming holiday elements to extend the seasonal magic throughout your celebration.

Festive Scavenger Hunt Around the House

While seated games test mental sharpness, getting people moving throughout your home transforms the entire house into an interactive playground that reveals hidden treasures and forgotten decorations. I can tell you that creating a festive scavenger hunt requires strategic thinking about your space and participants.

Start by listing holiday items already scattered around your house: ornaments, candy canes, holiday cards, or wrapped gifts. I’ve never seen kids move faster than when they’re hunting for a hidden reindeer figurine. Create clues that lead from room to room, building excitement with each discovery.

The thrill of discovery transforms ordinary holiday decorations into exciting treasures that send children racing through every corner of your home.

For adults, make riddles more challenging: “Find where Santa’s cookies await his midnight snack” leads to the kitchen counter.

You control the difficulty level, the pace, and the final prize that awaits the winner. Consider incorporating Easter traditions like decorated eggs into spring holiday hunts to extend the seasonal fun beyond Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

Christmas Story Building Circle

Save

After everyone settles back into their chairs, you can transform simple storytelling into a collaborative masterpiece that reveals surprising creativity from even the quietest family members. I can tell you that this game consistently brings out hidden talents, creating magical moments you’ll retain long after the holidays end.

Start with a Christmas-themed opening sentence, then pass the story clockwise. Each person adds exactly two sentences before handing it off. I’ve never seen a family activity that builds such genuine connection while exercising everyone’s imagination simultaneously.

• Set a timer for 45 seconds per person to maintain momentum
• Choose festive themes like Santa’s mishaps or reindeer adventures
• Write down each contribution to preserve your family’s unique creation
• End when the story naturally concludes or everyone’s contributed twice

Just like Halloween story time activities, you can use different voices for each character in your Christmas tales to boost engagement and bring the collaborative story to life.

Holiday Trivia Tournament

Building on that creative energy from storytelling, competitive spirits naturally emerge when you introduce a structured trivia challenge that tests everyone’s holiday knowledge. I can tell you that dividing into teams creates an immediate power dynamic that transforms casual conversation into focused competition.

You’ll want categories like Christmas traditions, holiday movies, winter celebrations, and New Year’s customs. I’ve never seen a group more engaged than when someone confidently answers “Frankincense and myrrh” only to discover they missed the third wise man’s gift. Create point values from 100 to 500, with harder questions worth more.

The key is mixing obvious questions with challenging ones. Everyone knows Rudolph’s story, but can they name all eight original reindeer? This balance keeps every player invested, competitive, and strategically thinking about their next move. Consider awarding themed prizes like holiday treats or festive stickers to maintain excitement throughout the tournament.

Gift Wrap Relay Race

Save

Once the trivia dust settles down, you’ll discover that nothing breaks up mental fatigue quite like getting people moving with their hands in a frantic gift-wrapping competition. I can tell you from experience that this relay transforms even the most reserved family members into competitive machines.

Nothing breaks up mental fatigue quite like getting people moving with their hands in a frantic gift-wrapping competition.

You’ll divide into teams and set up identical wrapping stations with these essentials:

• Wrapping paper rolls, scissors, and tape dispensers
• Empty boxes of varying awkward shapes and sizes
• Ribbon spools and pre-made bow collections
• Timer set for two-minute lightning rounds

Each teammate races to wrap one item before tagging the next person. I’ve never seen anything quite like watching Uncle Bob struggle with a soccer ball while Grandma demolishes a jewelry box with military precision. For an even more challenging twist, try adding a blindfolded threading station where participants must thread ribbon through gift tags without being able to see. The winning team claims first dibs on dessert.

Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest

Three dozen sugar cookies spread across your dining table create the perfect canvas for evoking everyone’s inner artist, and I can tell you from years of hosting these contests that the results range from masterpieces to delightful disasters. You’ll need royal icing in multiple colors, sprinkles, candies, and small plastic bags for piping.

Set up individual decorating stations with paper plates, plastic knives, and wet towels for cleanup. I’ve never seen participants more focused than when they’re creating edible art. Establish categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Use of Color,” and “Funniest Design” to guarantee everyone wins something.

The competition brings out people’s competitive sides while building lasting memories through shared creativity and laughter. Transform the decorated cookies into lasting holiday memories by taking photos of each creation before displaying them as your holiday centerpieces alongside other festive decorations.

Holiday Pictionary With Seasonal Themes

While cookie decorating brings out artistic talents, Holiday Pictionary With Seasonal Themes harnesses your group’s dramatic flair and quick-thinking skills in ways that’ll have everyone doubled over with laughter.

Holiday Pictionary transforms any gathering into entertainment gold, unleashing dramatic flair and quick-thinking skills that create doubled-over laughter for everyone involved.

I can tell you this game transforms any gathering into pure entertainment gold. You’ll need paper, markers, and prepared holiday prompts that challenge players’ creativity.

• Christmas movies – “It’s a Wonderful Life” becomes hilarious stick figures
• Winter activities – Watch someone attempt drawing “building snowmen”
• Holiday traditions – “Hanging stockings” sparks wild interpretations
• Seasonal foods – “Gingerbread house” creates artistic masterpieces

I’ve never seen a game generate such competitive energy. Players frantically sketch while teammates shout increasingly desperate guesses. The combination of time pressure and seasonal themes creates moments of pure chaos that bond families together through shared laughter and good-natured competition.

For added holiday fun, players can even act out their drawings by practicing different movements like a ghost’s gliding motion or a zombie’s stiff walk to give additional clues.

New Year’s Resolution Guessing Game

How well do you really know the people closest to you when it comes to their secret aspirations and goals? This New Year’s resolution guessing game reveals surprising truths about your family members while building deeper connections.

Have everyone secretly write down three real resolutions they’re considering for the upcoming year. I can tell you, people get brutally honest when they think anonymously. Mix all papers in a bowl, then take turns reading each list aloud while others guess who wrote it.

The power here lies in understanding what drives people around you. I’ve never seen a game create more meaningful conversations afterward. You’ll discover your teenager wants to learn investing, or your spouse dreams of starting a business. Knowledge equals influence.

Many families discover shared financial aspirations during this game, from building emergency funds to paying down debt, which can spark collaborative goal-setting for the new year.

Christmas Ornament Craft Competition

Since everyone claims they’re “not crafty,” a Christmas ornament competition levels the playing field and brings out hidden creativity you didn’t know existed. I can tell you this simple challenge transforms any gathering into an engaging powerhouse of innovation.

Set up craft stations with basic supplies and watch people discover skills they never knew they had. You’ll need:

• Clear glass or plastic ornament balls
• Acrylic paints, glitter, and small decorative items
• Ribbon, markers, and adhesive gems
• Timer set for 30-45 minutes maximum

I’ve never seen anything quite like the focused determination that emerges when you announce prizes for categories like “Most Creative” or “Best Use of Materials.” People who normally avoid crafts suddenly become competitive artisans, producing ornaments that’ll surprise everyone, including themselves.

Consider using battery-operated tea lights inside clear ornaments to create stunning luminous decorations that add a magical glow to your finished creations.

Holiday Bingo With Family Traditions

Save

After creating those memorable ornaments, you can shift the energy with Holiday Bingo that celebrates your family’s unique traditions instead of generic holiday references. I can tell you, this personalized approach creates deeper connections than standard holiday games.

Create bingo cards featuring your family’s specific rituals: “Dad burns the cookies,” “Grandma tells the pickle ornament story,” or “Someone argues about gift wrapping techniques.” You’ll control the game’s pace while watching relatives laugh at inside jokes that outsiders wouldn’t understand.

I’ve never seen a holiday game generate more storytelling than this one. Each called square triggers family memories, making everyone active participants rather than passive observers. The winner gets bragging rights, but honestly, everyone wins when you’re celebrating what makes your family distinctly yours.

Festive Dance Freeze Game

While Holiday Bingo gets everyone talking, the Festive Dance Freeze Game transforms your gathering into pure kinetic joy that burns off holiday meal calories and sugar-fueled energy. I can tell you, this game creates instant energy that gets even reluctant relatives moving.

You’ll need upbeat holiday music and someone controlling the pause button. When music stops, everyone freezes like Christmas statues. Last person moving sits out one round.

• Start with familiar carols – “Jingle Bell Rock” gets everyone comfortable
• Mix in different tempos – slow ballads followed by energetic pop songs
• Add themed poses – call out “reindeer” or “snowman” during freeze moments
• Create elimination rounds – winners face off for ultimate dance champion

I’ve never seen a game unite generations faster than this one.

Christmas Movie Quote Match-Up

Though dancing burns energy, Christmas Movie Quote Match-Up engages minds and sparks nostalgic conversations that bring families together around shared holiday memories. I can tell you this game transforms any room into a competitive arena where knowledge equals victory.

You’ll create cards with famous holiday movie quotes like “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings” or “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Players must identify the movie and character who spoke each line.

I’ve never seen a game generate such passionate debates about movie details. You can adjust difficulty by including obscure quotes for adults, simple ones for children. Award points for correct answers, bonus points for additional context. This mental challenge creates lasting connections through shared cinematic experiences.

New Year’s Time Capsule Creation Activity

Since meaningful reflection requires tangible reminders of our hopes and dreams, New Year’s Time Capsule Creation Activity transforms abstract resolutions into concrete keepsakes that families can rediscover together in years to come.

You’ll want each family member contributing personal items that represent their year and future goals.

• Memory items: Photos, ticket stubs, handwritten notes about favorite moments from the past year
• Goal artifacts: Written resolutions, drawings of dream homes, career aspirations on index cards
• Family predictions: Sealed envelopes containing guesses about next year’s major events or family milestones
• Time markers: Current newspaper headlines, popular song lyrics, today’s gas prices

I can tell you this activity creates powerful family bonds when you’re intentional about what goes inside.

I’ve never seen families more excited than when opening capsules years later, witnessing how dreams evolved into reality.

Conclusion

You’ve got nine fantastic games here that’ll transform your holiday gatherings from ordinary to unforgettable. I can tell you from experience, these activities work because they bring everyone together, regardless of age or family size. Don’t overthink it—pick two or three games that match your group’s energy level. Start with something simple like holiday charades, then build momentum. You’ll create those precious memories that last long after the decorations come down.