Is your Christmas gathering in need of a little more laughter and a little less formality? Look no further! While the food, music, and decorations set the scene, it’s the shared moments of joy and merriment that truly make the holiday memorable. And what better way to create those moments than with a collection of uproariously games to play at Christmas?
If your Christmas gathering is in need of more moments like that, less formality, and more genuine connection, you’ve come to the right place!
From chaotic relay races to guessing games that will have everyone in stitches, I’ve rounded up the best activities to ensure your holiday is filled with cheer.
This year, move beyond the standard routine and break the ice with these 9 funny Christmas games designed to get everyone giggling. So, gather your family and friends, embrace the silliness, and get ready to discover your new favorite tradition.
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9 funny Christmas games ideas
Let’s see some funny games to play at Christmas and make your holiday party unforgettable
1) Christmas charades
A classic with a festive twist! It’s hilarious, gets everyone moving, and requires zero setup. Perfect for all generations.
What you need: A bowl, slips of paper, and a timer.
How to play: Everyone writes down 2-3 Christmas-themed words, phrases, or actions on slips of paper (e.g., “decorating the tree,” “Santa getting stuck in a chimney,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells”). Fold them up and put them in a bowl. Split into teams. Players take turns drawing a slip and acting out the clue without speaking or making sounds while their team guesses. Set a timer for 1-2 minutes per turn.
2) The gift wrap relay race
This is one of my favorite funny Christmas games. A chaotic and hilarious team challenge. It’s fast-paced, silly, and you get to laugh at everyone’s terrible, rushed wrapping skills.
What you need: Two small, identical boxes, wrapping paper, tape, and bows for each team.
How to play: Divide into two teams. Each team gets a box, wrapping paper, tape, and a bow. The first player in line must wrap the box completely (paper on and taped). They then pass it to the next person, who must unwrap it completely. The next person wraps it again, and so on, until the last person on the team finishes. The first team to have their last player successfully unwrap the box wins!
3) Christmas movie trivia showdown
It’s the ultimate test of holiday film expertise that turns friendly competition into hilarious debates, perfect for those competitive friends who live for the details in Elf and Home Alone.
What you need: A prepared list of 20-25 trivia questions, paper, and pens for each team.
How to play: Divide into teams of 2-4 players. Read each question aloud and give teams about 30 seconds to huddle and agree on an answer. After each round (about 5 questions), have teams swap papers to grade another team’s answers as you read the correct ones aloud. This not only keeps everyone honest but adds to the fun banter and friendly rivalry!
4) “What’s in the stocking?” guessing game
A sensory game that’s great for kids and adults alike. I would say very simple, mysterious, and it really gets the Christmas senses tingling.
What you need: A stocking, 10-15 small Christmas-themed objects (e.g., a pinecone, a candy cane, an ornament, a jingle bell, a cinnamon stick).
How to play: Place one object inside the stocking without anyone seeing. Pass the stocking around. Each person gets to feel the outside of the stocking (no peeking!) for 10-15 seconds and must guess what’s inside. After everyone has had a feel, reveal the object. The person who guessed correctly gets a point. Play multiple rounds with different objects.
5) Christmas movie Pictionary
The Christmas movie Pictionary is for the artists and movie buffs in the family. It’s creative, competitive, and leads to some wonderfully terrible drawings.
What you need: A whiteboard or large pad of paper, markers, a timer.
How to play: Similar to charades, but you draw instead of act. Write down the names of popular Christmas movies or characters on slips of paper (“Elf,” “Home Alone,” “The Grinch,” “Rudolph”). Split into teams. A player from one team draws a slip and has 60 seconds to get their team to guess the movie by drawing clues. No letters or numbers allowed!
6) The candy cane hunt
Like an Easter egg hunt, but festive, it’s an energetic activity that gets everyone searching and is a sweet treat for all.
What you need: A bunch of candy canes (or any small, wrapped Christmas candy).
How to play: While everyone is in another room, hide candy canes all around the main living area. You can make it easy for little kids (in plain sight on low shelves) and harder for adults (tucked inside a book, on a window ledge). On “Go!”, everyone rushes to find as many candy canes as they can. The person with the most wins a small prize.
7) “Name that tune: Christmas edition”
A musical battle for the ages. It’s full of nostalgia and festive cheer, and it’s amazing how quickly you can recognize a song from just a single note.
What you need: A playlist of Christmas songs, a device to play them.
How to play: Divide into two teams. Play just the first one or two seconds of a well-known Christmas song. The first team to correctly name the song gets a point. For a harder version, play a short clip from the middle of the song. You can also have rounds where teams have to hum or sing the next line for bonus points.
8) The “left-right” Christmas story game
A passive game with a fun, unpredictable prize element. It’s easy, inclusive, and the chaotic passing of gifts is always a laugh.
What you need: Two wrapped, generic gifts (like nice mugs, boxes of chocolate, or lottery tickets) and a short story.
How to play: Have everyone sit in a circle, each holding their own gift (or one they brought for a gift exchange). Read a pre-written Christmas story that is filled with the words “LEFT” and “RIGHT.” Every time the word “left” is said, everyone passes their gift to the left. Every time “right” is said, everyone passes their gift to the right. At the end of the story, whatever gift you are holding is yours to keep! (You can find many free printable stories online by searching “Christmas Left Right Game”).
9) Christmas scattergories
This is a brain-teaser that sparks creativity and leads to some hilarious and desperate answers. A quick-thinking word game.
What you need: Paper, pens, a timer, and a list of categories.
How to play: Create a list of Christmas-themed categories like: “Christmas Food,” “Things on a Tree,” “Reindeer Names,” “Christmas Movies,” “Things You Find in a Snowball,” etc. Pick a random letter of the alphabet. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes. Everyone must try to write a word for each category that starts with the chosen letter. Score a point for each unique answer.
Wrap up
As the final string of lights is hung and the last cookie is frosted, remember this: aim for connection, not perfection.
I tell you from experience, the very best holiday memories aren’t made from stress, but from spontaneity, from the moments we let our guards down and simply enjoy each other’s company.
So, as your guests arrive, take a deep breath. Linger by that hot chocolate bar for a chat. Don’t be afraid to be the first one on the makeshift dance floor. And most importantly, lean into the joy and laughter that come from those funny Christmas games.
Whether it’s watching your dignified uncle get wrapped in toilet paper or hearing the collective groan during a tricky trivia question, these are the moments that will become your favorite stories for years to come.
Here’s to a party filled with warmth, great cheer, and the kind of laughter that makes your stomach hurt. You’ve got this! Now go be the amazing host we both know you are.
