15 Fun and Hilarious Christmas Games to Play with Friends

Playing games is one of the quickest ways to get everyone in the holiday mood. Whether you are planning a cozy get-together or a big festive party, a few fun games can turn an ordinary evening into a celebration filled with laughter and memories. From active challenges to silly charades and creative gift exchanges, these ideas will bring plenty of cheer to your Christmas gathering.

Good party games help break the ice and get people talking, especially if not everyone knows each other well. They keep guests entertained and create that joyful atmosphere everyone loves this time of year. With just a little planning, your home can feel like a winter wonderland full of fun and laughter.

Below you will find some easy and hilarious Christmas party games that fit every type of group. Whether your friends love quick contests, creative competitions, or clever guessing games, these activities will keep the energy up all night long and make your celebration truly unforgettable.

Outdoor Christmas Games

When you are hosting your celebration outdoors, take advantage of the open space and fresh air. If there is snow, you can make snow angels, build a snowman, or organize a snowball match between teams. You can also plan a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt with hidden items and fun clues for teams to solve. It is a playful way to enjoy the season while keeping everyone active and laughing.

Movie Drinking Game

Host an adult-only movie night with a Christmas twist. Choose a favorite holiday movie and decide on a few common words or actions that will trigger everyone to take a sip. For example, you can drink whenever someone says “Santa” or “Christmas,” or whenever someone gives a gift or shares a kiss. It is a lighthearted and funny way to enjoy holiday films together.

Spoon and Ornament Race

This energetic game is perfect for getting everyone up and moving. Split your guests into teams and create a small obstacle course inside your house or outside if the weather allows. Each player must balance an ornament on a spoon as they make their way through the course, then pass it to the next teammate without dropping it. If someone drops their ornament, they have to start their leg of the race again. The first team to have every player complete the course wins. It is easy to organize, fun to watch, and full of festive excitement.

Holiday Who Am I

Write down the names of well-known Christmas characters or festive items on sticky notes. Each player sticks a note on another person’s forehead without looking at what it says. Players take turns asking yes or no questions to figure out who or what they are, such as “Am I a movie character?” or “Do I exist in real life?” The first person to guess correctly wins. You can play it as a separate game or mix it into other activities for added fun.

Name That Tune

Guessing Christmas tunes is always a favorite activity for any group size. Create a playlist of holiday songs and assign one person as the DJ to play short clips. See who in your group can name the song first after hearing only a few seconds. You can make it more interesting by adding a theme, such as songs from Christmas movies, children’s Christmas classics, or any song that mentions winter.

Cookie Decorating Contest

Bring out everyone’s creativity with a cookie decorating competition. Set up a table with sugar cookies, frosting, sprinkles, and candies, then let guests design their masterpieces. You can set a theme like Winter Wonderland or Santa’s Workshop, or challenge everyone to recreate a specific design. For a fun twist, choose a winner for categories such as Most Creative, Funniest Design, or Best Overall.

Secret Santa Exchange

Secret Santa is a classic holiday tradition that works perfectly for friends, coworkers, or families. Each participant draws a name and brings one thoughtful gift for that person. It is an easy way to make sure everyone receives something special without spending too much. To make organizing simpler, you can use the MySanta online generator to draw names, create wishlists, and even set gift exclusions for couples. It also lets players send anonymous messages to their assigned Santas, adding a little mystery and excitement to the exchange.

Christmas Memory Game

This game is a fun icebreaker that also gives everyone’s memory a good workout. Gather an assortment of Christmas items such as ornaments, candy canes, small toys, bells, or decorations, and place them on a tray. Show the tray to everyone for about 30 seconds, then cover it and give guests one minute to write down as many items as they can remember. The player who recalls the most items wins. It is simple to set up and always sparks plenty of laughs and conversation.

White Elephant

If you want your gift exchange to be full of laughter and friendly competition, play the White Elephant game. Everyone brings a wrapped gift of the same value, preferably something humorous or unusual. Players take turns choosing a gift from the pile or stealing an opened one from someone else. You can decide how many times each gift can be swapped and even set a fun theme for all the presents. It is one of the most entertaining ways to mix surprise and laughter at your party.

Christmas Icebreakers

If you are bringing together friends who have not met before, start with some simple icebreaker games that help everyone relax and connect. Try playing “Two Truths and a Lie,” where each person shares two true facts and one false one, and the group guesses which is the lie. You can also ask each guest to share a favorite Christmas memory or something they love most about the holidays. These easy games encourage conversation and help set a warm and friendly tone for the evening.

Blindfold Christmas Drawing

This silly and entertaining game is great for larger groups. Give each player a white paper plate and a marker, then have them hold the plate on top of their head. One person calls out instructions for what to draw, like a Christmas tree, a reindeer, or Santa himself. Everyone has to draw without looking, and the person with the most accurate (or funniest) drawing wins. It is quick, lighthearted, and sure to make everyone laugh.

Virtual Christmas Games

If you are celebrating with friends from afar, there are still plenty of ways to have fun together. Host a virtual Christmas trivia game with questions about movies, music, and traditions, or play a festive version of bingo over video chat. You can also organize a virtual Secret Santa using the MySanta platform and send gifts by mail. These games are easy to set up and bring plenty of holiday cheer, even from a distance.

Wrap the Gift

Gift wrapping is a must during the holiday season, so why not turn it into a fun contest at your party? There are so many ways to play. You can challenge guests to wrap items with unusual shapes like a table lamp, football, or coffee maker. Guests can compete alone or in pairs, and the first one to finish wrapping their gift completely with a ribbon on top wins. For an extra challenge, tie one guest’s right hand to another’s left hand and have them work together using only their free hands to wrap one gift.

Christmas Charades

This classic game never gets old and fits perfectly into any holiday party. Divide everyone into teams and take turns acting out Christmas-related phrases, songs, movies, or characters without speaking or using letters. The first team to guess correctly earns a point, and the person who acted it out goes next. The first team to reach twenty points wins. It is an active and hilarious game that always gets everyone laughing and in the Christmas spirit.

Board Game Tournament

If your group loves board games, finish the year with a Christmas game tournament. Ask everyone to bring their favorite board game and set up multiple tables so groups can play at once. Winners from each table can then compete against each other to find the ultimate champion of the night. Some fun options include What Do You Meme? Merry Dissmas if your group enjoys roasting, Christmas Monopoly for a festive twist on a classic, Masters of Mystery Christmas for a themed murder mystery, or The Gin Game for anyone who enjoys a good cocktail challenge.