The holiday season is one of the best times of the year to gather with friends, family, and coworkers to celebrate. And while holiday dinners, cocktails, and gifts are fantastic, nothing gets people talking, laughing, and bonding quite like a great party game. If you’re hosting a Christmas party for adults, you want games that encourage mingling, competition, and plenty of laughter — without being too childish or complicated.
In this article, we’ll explore a range of Christmas party games for adults that are perfect for creating memorable moments, breaking the ice, and adding a dash of festive fun to your holiday gathering. From classic games with a holiday twist to completely original ideas, you’ll find plenty of ways to entertain your guests, no matter their interests or group size.
1. Christmas Trivia
One of the most timeless games for adults is trivia, and Christmas trivia is especially fun because it taps into everyone’s knowledge of holiday traditions, songs, movies, and pop culture. You can create your own list of questions or find pre-made Christmas trivia online.
How to Play:
- Divide your guests into teams.
- Ask a series of holiday-themed questions, such as “What is the name of the main character in A Christmas Carol?” or “Which Christmas song was originally written as a Thanksgiving song?”
- Award points for correct answers. The team with the most points at the end wins a prize.
Christmas trivia is a fun way to test your guests’ knowledge while keeping the atmosphere light and festive. You can even add humorous or unusual questions for a more laid-back vibe.
2. Christmas Charades
Charades is a classic party game that works perfectly for any occasion, and it’s especially great for adults at a Christmas party. The Christmas edition involves acting out holiday movies, songs, and traditions without speaking, while other players try to guess.
How to Play:
- Write down a list of Christmas-related prompts on slips of paper (e.g., The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Jingle Bells, decorating a Christmas tree).
- Players take turns drawing a prompt and acting it out without using words.
- The team or group that guesses correctly first wins the round.
Charades allows for plenty of creativity and hilarity, especially when players are tasked with miming actions that are familiar to everyone, like wrapping presents or attempting to ride Santa’s sleigh.
3. Holiday Bingo
This festive variation of the classic bingo game is a great way to bring some competitive spirit to your party. You can create or print your own holiday-themed bingo cards filled with Christmas images (like a Christmas tree, reindeer, snowman, mistletoe, etc.) or Christmas-related words.
How to Play:
- Hand out bingo cards and markers to all guests.
- The game host randomly calls out the holiday-related items or words.
- The first person to get five squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts “Bingo!” and wins a prize.
Holiday Bingo is easy to set up and works for groups of all sizes, making it a versatile game for any type of adult gathering.
4. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
While this might not be a “game” in the traditional sense, the Secret Santa gift exchange is an essential part of many adult Christmas parties. It combines the thrill of giving with a surprise twist.
How to Play:
- Set a price limit for gifts.
- Have each participant randomly draw a name to determine who they’ll be buying for. Keep it secret until the gift is opened.
- On the day of the party, each person presents their gift to their recipient. You can even add a twist by having participants guess who their Secret Santa is based on the gift they received.
Secret Santa encourages guests to think creatively, and the exchange itself always sparks laughs and conversations.
5. Christmas Movie Quote Game
Test your guests’ knowledge of iconic Christmas movies with this fun and competitive game. The idea is simple: you quote a line from a famous Christmas movie, and participants try to guess which film it’s from.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of famous Christmas movie quotes (e.g., “You’ll shoot your eye out!” from A Christmas Story or “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings” from It’s a Wonderful Life).
- Read the quote aloud, and the first person to shout the correct movie title wins a point.
- The person with the most points at the end wins a prize.
This game works well with a group who loves Christmas movies and can bring out everyone’s inner movie buff!
6. Christmas Pictionary
A holiday twist on the classic drawing and guessing game, Christmas Pictionary brings out your guests’ artistic (and often comedic) sides. Whether they’re good at drawing or not, everyone will have a blast.
How to Play:
- Write down a list of Christmas-related prompts (e.g., building a snowman, Santa’s sleigh, Christmas lights).
- Divide players into teams.
- One player from each team draws the prompt without using words, while the rest of the team guesses what it is.
- Set a timer (usually 60 seconds), and the team that guesses correctly first earns a point.
With Christmas-themed prompts, this game is sure to have everyone laughing — especially when the drawings get hilariously bad.
7. Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle
If your group loves to sing (or at least pretend to), the Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle is a fantastic way to bring some energy and humor to your party.
How to Play:
- Players select their favorite Christmas carol (or are randomly assigned one).
- Without actually singing, each participant performs a lip-sync version of the song. Bonus points for over-the-top dance moves, dramatic facial expressions, and Christmas spirit.
- After all performances are complete, the other guests vote on their favorite.
This game is guaranteed to bring laughter and spark the competitive spirit, especially if people really get into their performances.
8. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas-themed scavenger hunt is a great way to get everyone moving around and working together. This game works well if you have a lot of space at your venue, or you can even make it work for smaller spaces like your living room.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of holiday-related items to hide around the house or venue (e.g., a Santa hat, candy canes, Christmas ornaments).
- Divide guests into teams or let them play individually.
- Give everyone a set amount of time to find as many items from the list as possible. You can make it competitive by offering small prizes for the team or individual with the most finds.
A scavenger hunt not only gets guests out of their seats but also creates opportunities for teamwork and playful rivalry.
9. The Mistletoe Challenge
This one is all about embracing the romantic side of Christmas, but with a fun twist! It’s a perfect game for parties with couples or close-knit friends, and it’s guaranteed to generate laughs.
How to Play:
- Hang a piece of mistletoe in a central location.
- Challenge guests to get creative about how they can “pass under the mistletoe” — the goal is for guests to create funny and lighthearted “kisses” (without actually kissing) to fulfill the challenge.
- Set a timer for each round (around 30 seconds) and let everyone take turns coming up with the most entertaining or creative mistletoe moment.
The Mistletoe Challenge is a fun way to add a little cheeky charm to your Christmas party, without making anyone uncomfortable.
10. Christmas Would You Rather?
This game is perfect for sparking conversation and generating laughs. It’s simple to play and works with any number of participants. All you need is a list of “Would you rather?” questions with a holiday theme.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of Christmas-themed questions (e.g., “Would you rather have a snowball fight with Frosty the Snowman or decorate a tree with elves?” or “Would you rather only eat fruitcake or only drink eggnog for the rest of your life?”).
- Ask each question to the group or individual participants, and let them choose which option they prefer.
- There are no right or wrong answers, but the fun comes from the weird and funny scenarios that the questions create.
The “Would You Rather” game is a great way to keep everyone engaged and talking throughout your Christmas party.
11. Holiday Drinking Games
For those who enjoy a bit of festive cheer in liquid form, holiday drinking games are a fun way to raise the stakes at your Christmas party. You can adapt classic drinking games to fit the holiday theme.
Examples:
- Christmas Tree Flip Cup: Set up a flip cup game where each player must “decorate” a cup with Christmas stickers or small ornaments before flipping it.
- Santa’s Sleigh Pong: A Christmas twist on beer pong, where you use red cups (representing Santa’s sleigh) and ping pong balls decorated like snowflakes or Christmas ornaments.
As always, encourage responsible drinking and make sure everyone has a safe way to get home if alcohol is involved.
Conclusion
This Christmas, make your adult holiday gathering even more memorable with fun, festive party games! Whether you’re competing in Christmas trivia, lip-syncing carols, or racing in a scavenger hunt, the laughter and joy these games bring will make your celebration unforgettable. From laid-back games like “Christmas Would You Rather?” to lively activities like “Christmas Charades,” there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab some friends, pick your favorite games, and let the holiday fun begin!
