Are you in the Christmas spirit yet?

Christmas Day can be a mammoth event if you’re hosting a party, from ensuring everyone is fed and merrily watered to cleaning and entertaining your guests. Games are a perfect way to encourage your guests to mingle, have a laugh, and bond – regardless of their age.

We’ve rounded up some family-favourite Christmas games, although you can play these games with your mates or work colleagues too. They’re a brilliant way to break the ice and spread a bit of Christmas cheer.

1.      The Name Game

We’re all well acquainted with this classic game. Now, here’s the Christmas edition.

Write down the name of any Christmas character on a sticky note and stick it to the forehead of the person sitting to your left (no peeking!). The game will begin once everyone has their character.

Then, take turns to ask each other questions to help guess who your character is. Some Christmas questions to help you win could be “Do I live in the North Pole?”, “Am I a reindeer?”, “Do I make toys for a living?”

If you’re playing with work colleagues, why not put an alternative twist on your game? Make the ‘characters’ people from your company for more laughs and a way to get to know your workmates even better. You could ask “Who’s always late?” or “Who is the office chatterbox?”

 

2.      Guess Who?

Think you know your family? Break the ice even further this Christmas with a game of Guess Who?

Ask party guests to write down a few obscure facts about themselves to read out after a couple of hot toddies. Guests must try to guess who each fact belongs to. A game that promises to bring laughter, and a few surprises, to your dinner table.

3.      Christmas Charades

Everyone loves a good party game that gets players of all ages involved and encourages guests to get out of their shells, and out of their seats, by showing their competitive side. Two words. The second word sounds like… parades.

Yeah, you’ve guessed it. Christmas Charades.

The internationally loved party game is appropriate all year round but is particularly popular at Christmas time (see your cracker).

Some Christmassy ideas for you…

• Home Alone
• The Polar Express
• The Grinch
• Love Actually
• Gremlins
• It’s a Wonderful Life

4.      Pictionary – The Merry Musical Edition

This classic game can be played on paper, on a wipe-off whiteboard, or online. The best part is that there’s no minimum or maximum number of players for Pictionary but, of course, the more the merrier.

The non-verbal drawing guessing game requires very little setup but is filled with endless fun.

Here’s some inspiration for songs you can draw on your turn:

• Do They Know It’s Christmas?
• O Christmas Tree
• Last Christmas
• It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
• All I Want for Christmas Is You
• I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

If you are isolating over Christmas or are hosting a ‘digital Christmas’ with family from abroad, good news! Most of these games can be digitalised for online use to play over video call. If you need more virtual Christmas game inspiration, look no further.